Electric Mandolins for Post-Rock Music

[Wild Rover Phill]

Hey everybody. I'm pretty new to the mandolin (only been playing it for a few months), and I am absolutely loving it.
Now I love Bluegrass, Scottish Folk Music, and Irish Folk (as my username suggests), but a genre that I really love to perform is Post-Rock.
I haven't come across any Post-Rock bands that use a mandolin as a regular instrument, so I really don't have any idea of what kind of a set up I would need (I have no clue what kind of pick-ups or brands or anything that would be best)
The genre uses rock instruments but in a non rock way. The instrument's tones usually have a raw sound.
some examples of Post-Rock bands, so you can get an idea of the sound, are
Caspian- http://www.myspace.com/caspiantheband
Explosions in the Sky- http://www.myspace.com/explosionsinthesky
This Will Destroy You- http://www.myspace.com/thiswilldestroyyou

I was thinking about getting an electric mandolin kit and building a mandolin, so I could customize it.
I would be so appreciative of any advice on what kind of pick-ups I should use, and whether I should use just a 4-string or an 8-string. I have heard some people say that when it comes to electric mandos that 8-strings are not necessary, but I have heard others say that it helps and offers distinctive tones.
Also, I really like the A-type bodies, because of their unique look, but I am not completely opposed to F-types.
A kit I was looking at getting and perhaps putting different pick ups and other nick nacks on was the Saga MT-10.
Any advice on kits, or ready made electric mandolins, and set ups is greatly appreciated. I am not absolutely dedicated to the idea of building my electric mandolin either.
And I would like to eventually play the mandolin in shows, so a reliable mandolin is a must :grin:

[mrmando]

You should spend some time at emando.com and get more familiar with electric mandolins.

I don't know whether Blue October, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Arcade Fire, or Okkervil River would be classified as "post-rock," but they've all used mandolins of one kind or another.

[Michael Richmond]

...they've all used mandolins of one kind or another.

Add to that list, REM and The Cowboy Junkies. (Admittedly neither are post-rock acts.)

I think the real question for post-rock is what kind of tone you want. Crystal-clear, bright ringing tones to explicitly contrast with rock approaches, or heavy, fuzz and over-driven tones that are pure rock in sound but can be used in different ways with non-standard progressions, etc. I think you'll find that you can do both of these extremes with endless variation within the extremes with a mandolin. Another intriguing possibility for post-rock is the Mix, all carbon-fibre mandolin with an added pickup.

[roscoestring]

I put together a Saga (Tele style) kit. It was a four string. I've used it to play every type of music that I play from gospel, country, bluegrass, and rock. I'm not sure what post rock is. I'll have to look that up later. I also bought a Eastwood 8 string tele style mando. Of the two I prefer the sound of the Eastwood. It plays easier too. I changed the pickguard and placed the control a little farther out of the way of my picking hand and I swapped out the neck pickup for a rail type. I'll eventually swap out the bridge pickup too. I'm considering replacing the bridge but so far haven't had any problems with the original. Just hoping to improve the feel/sound. I'm playing the Saga in my avatar.

[Wild Rover Phill]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. You all were very helpful.

[Charlieshafer]

Having bought an electric from Martin, a Weber, I can vouch for his site (emando) as well as whatever he has for sale. I'll probably build an electric mandolin also, as it seems a lot less fussy than an acoustic. But, it helps to have the real deal in your hands to know what you need to pay attention to. Good luck if you build!!

[CES]

Cheap intro, but still fun and passable: Mandobird (I own and enjoy mine...my wife's favorite of my playing is Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring with heavy distortion...lot's of fun...), Goldtone

Slightly up the food chain but still entry: Mandocaster, Bluestar, J Bovier, etc...

Pro-level nice: Johnathan Mann's, Andrew Jerman, RonO (if you can find used...he had some serious customer service issues reported in other threads), older Fenders, and some would put the Boviers here as well...agree with checking out emando. com...lots of cool info and pics there!

I'm a hobbyist, ie NOT a pro...I find my 4 string Mandobird fits the bill for me. I don't think I'd like the 8 string with the bending and distortion I try to pull off with it, but some do like the eight stringers a lot. I wouldn't hesitate to play the mandobird out, but also could see me wanting a little more emando if I were really serious...

Give a lot of consideration to your amp selection, effects, etc (though if you're playing out you probably know that already)...the best emando played through a crummy amp will be less than stellar, while a mandobird through a nice tube amp can sound pretty nice...it's really a pandora's box, man!!

Good luck!

[Wild Rover Phill]

Thanks guys!
I'm a new member here and the community on this website is already proving to be extremely helpful and friendly :D

[Tom Wright]

You can check Andrew Hendryx' site for clips of him playing a Steve Ryder. I have a twin-pickup version of his EM-45, bolt-on maple neck. Great for either clear-clean, or maxed-out distortion, with stacked-humbucking single coils. I use it for jazz as well as rock sounds.