Intermediate electric mandolin recconmendation

[pintail78]

I play guitar, pedal steel and sometimes a mandolin in a group. I want to upgrade to an F style electric, spend 500-800 to get something decent (I have a not so good one now). It needs to sound really nice electrified. I was thinking of a Michael Kelly or a Washburn, any other ideas????

[Mandobart]

Do you want an acoustic electric (an acoustic you can plug in, which works great for playing with acoustic electric guitars and mic'ed vocals) or a solid body electric (recommended if you are playing with electric guitars and drums?) If its the former you want, you can spend a lot less adding a pickup/internal mic to your existing mando. However, I've found that depending on the stage setup I can't crank up an AE enough to be heard when playing in a band with electric guitars, drums, horns, etc. without feeding back. For those playing environments, I use my solidbody electric. Check out the electric mando forum (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?53-Four-Five-and-Eight-String-Electrics)(yes there is a lot of stuff on this board below the "General" forum)

[mrmando]

Hondo solid body.

[Mandobart]

That Hondo (http://s671.photobucket.com/albums/vv80/thebabyguy/Hondo%20mandolin/?action=view&current=Hondo-01.jpg&&newest=1) looks great! Got any more info on them Martin? Price, availability, etc?

[mrmando]

They were made during a brief resurrection of the Hondo brand name in the late '80s/early '90s. I've had a couple. Not easy to find. Pretty well built for an import, and nice and loud. Sold them for $600 a pop, thanks to, if I say so myself, some inspired ad copy (http://emando.com/popups/Hondo.htm):

Eat a mango; dance the tango or the fandango with Miranda in a bandeau. Entertain Cassandra on the veranda with tales of hunting anaconda in Rwanda. Practice tae kwan do in your condo in Orlando. Watch a film with Brando, then drive to the gig with Rhonda in your Honda, and play a rondo on your Hondo. It's mondo mando for less dough. Forgive the innuendo.

My last Hondo, actually, ended up being part of a trade, but I did get at least $600 in trade value out of it.

[metamando]

Mandobart, I have a Hondo I would be willing to let go...lemme try this photo thing again...
Actually meant for Pintail

[metamando]

7878278783

[Folkmusician.com]

I tend to prefer starting with a nice acoustic mandolin and installing a pickup. You can then get a good pickup and more importantly, a good preamp. The preamp is the most important part in my opinion. I have no problem with onboard preamps/battery other than the fact that there is a lack of high-end mandolin sized versions readily available. There are plenty of pro grade external options that are not all that expensive.