Achieving Acoustic Electric Sound at Good Value

[alexmojo]

Hey everyone,

My name is Alex and I just came across this site a few days ago while searching to find my next mandolin! My first is a $50 no name mandolin I got a few months ago because I thought it would be cool to have and that one works well enough, but I found that I really like playing and would like to get a bit more serious about it.

Basically what I am trying to find is a quality acoustic electric beginner/intermediate mandolin, just something that will hold a tuning, have good intonation, and sound like a mandolin! There seem to be a lot of options out on the net but I am wary of getting an instrument I can't try. The music stores around me have very limited selection so I pretty much have to look online.

My range is around $100-$300, and I am willing to push it to $400 if its really worth it.

ANYWAY, first question!
Does anyone know how Oscar Schmidt is? The best value I have seen is the Oscar Schmidt OM10E
http://www.instrumentalley.com/Oscar-Schmidt-OM10E-Mandolin-p/os-om10e.htm

I know that most companies have a mandolin that is acoustic electric that is in the lower price range I am in, so if you have any experience with any of them please share!

Second question!
Would it be better to buy an acoustic and just add a pick-up? Which is the best quality pick up? The only thing I would have against a pick up would be the lack of volume control on my side unless I get a D.I. box or something, which is more money that I don't really have at the moment.

Overall, I would probably be using this more acoustically then electric so having a good natural sound is key. I might be being to picky but I am just trying to get the most bang for my buck.

Any feedback on anything I mentioned above would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

-Alex

[Tim2723]

Hi Alex and welcome!

In your price range ther are a few things to be conscious of. Buying sight-unseen is always dangerous. Deal with a company that has a good return policy. Call them up and talk to them about it directly. In your price range clinkers happen, and you need to be able to exchange it if there's a problem.

The Washburn/Oscar Schmidt mandolin is very similar to the Epiphone and Fender models out there. It has a magnetic pickup like an electric guitar. It won't have a perfect mandoln tone when plugged in. But they are OK for the money. If you get a good one they'll play fine for a beginning instrument, especially if you get the action adjusted and put good strings on it. But it's important not to have unrealistic expectations. They are not top-of-the line instruments, obviously.

Another option would be to get a pickup for your existing instrument. If you were to invest the $300-$400 in a quaity pickup and preamp, it would serve any mandolin you buy in the future.

Also keep an eye on the used market here at the Cafe. Some real bargains come up from time to time.

No acoustic-electric can, IMO, have it's optimum acoustic sound. You have to cut holes in it and cram it full of electronics. Adding a pickup to a good acoustic instrument gets you a lot farther down the road if you only need to plug in once in a while.

Personally, I'd recommend working with your present mandolin for a while longer while saving up. You really get what you pay for in the mandolin world. I like the Michael Kelly AE instruments very much, but they start around $700.

[mandroid]

Acoustic sound is the whole instrument moving air, that's sound waves..

pickup 101.
once you have a pickup on it, that pickup hears a lot of what is closest to
and much less of everything else ,

and the pickup puts out an electrical signal that at the end of the amplification chain moves a coil of wire in a magnetic field to move air..

soundboard pickup is in contact with the sound board , won't hear the air moving as a result of the pressure changes out of the sound hole .. like a microphone will .

For amplified band jobs with other amplified players, another one that bears mentioning is
Godin's A8, 4 pickups right under the string pairs in the bridge, EQ&Preamp onboard, 9v battery.
semi-hollow, a reverberant chamber inside, under the bridge, but no real sound-hole .
used they are about $600 ..

[JimRichter]

I agree. I've tried a variety of after-market transducers from the Schertler to the Radius and didn't like any of them. The best acoustic-electric solution I've found is the Godin A8. I still prefer to use my Kimble and a condenser mic if the venue will allow it; but, if I need to be loud or if feedback is an issue, the Godin A8 is the one.

And as far as price, I just bought a new one for $525. You can find low prices if you search. Used, they will realistically sell around $400 if you wait on ebay. If you check out the used section on guitarcenter.com, they had one for $375 just a few weeks ago. Still might be there.

[ELSOL102]

David Nichols from Custom Pearl Inlay told me about a mandolin for $400 that he sells...he is a luthier and has classes on how to make instruments in do inlays...he may be able to advise you on a mandolin in your price range...he's very nice...try calling or emailing him with your question.
Telephone: (518) 483-7685
Email: cpinlay@aol.com
Fax: (518) 483-5639

[alexmojo]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all your feed back. So because of the comments I guess I have decided to look for a good intermediate acoustic mandolin and then get a non-intrusive pick up to have for the few times I will be plugging it in. Sound is definitely important and I tried out a fender acoustic electric model with a built in pick up and remember it sounding duller and less resonant than my acoustic.

Any suggestions for a nice mando in the $300-$500 range? (I decided to up my price range and save a bit more, haha)

Also, does anyone have experience with non intrusive pick ups, which one is the best value?

[mandroid]

Non intrusive you mean like a stick on ? everything is using a piezoelectric wafer at modest price-points. lollypop on a string types with a built in plug is a start. dimarzio one brand,

fishman/schatten have the piezo piece set into the bridge, and then the jack clamps on the edge.
another sort that doesn't need holes , but may need have the substitute bridge set up for you.

those that use those type pickups, also buy a preamp, unless you own an acoustic amp that is designed to expect that kind of signal, like a piezo/magnetic switch on the input.

many back pages thru the years on this topic.. though

for most of the history of this topic you will find Equipment section speaks more about that stuff there , I reccomend reading back thru other post FAQS there.

[Tim2723]

I think you'll be glad you've made that descision, Alex. There's nothing wrong with a decent AE mandolin, but they are specialized tools for special tasks. Not always the best choice for someone starting out. Here's some perennial advice based on massive collected experience that's almost always guided newcomers right:

Look toward an A style mandolin, as these usually give the best bang for the buck.

Keep an eye on the used market, especially our classifieds section. Trading up is pretty commonplace, and there can be some real bargains to be had.

Include a little extra in the budget for a good set up. A properly set up entry-level mandolin will often outplay a more expensive one right out of the box.

Popular mandolins in your new price range include names like Kentucky, Eastman, J.Bovier, and a some others. Hang around with us for a little while and you'll soon get the gist of that part.

For non-instrusive pickups, there are a number of popular choices, but most important be prepared to spend in the neighborhood of $300 - $500, so keep playing and learning while you save up for that next step.

Welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy your time with us!

[Rob Gerety]

A used basic model Eastman is a nice instrument. Might find one in your price range.