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Thread: Alvarez a1-e

  1. #1
    Destroyer of Mandolins
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    Didn't notice any discussion of this emando here. #Anybody have one or tried it? #Looks pretty cool in a Plain Jane kind of way, and it's in my price range (sort of).

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  2. #2
    Registered User OregonMike's Avatar
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    "Reasonable acoustic sound"... without soundholes. Am I missing something here?

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  3. #3
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    I wondered about that too. I figured they meant you could hear it unplugged for practicing. I can't imagine playing it that way though.
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    It does look kind of cool without soundholes.

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    Tough to see in the photos whether the top and back are arched or flat.
    Cool idea. Probably gets an acoustic sound plugged-in, but no feedback to worry about.
    Can't imagine unplugged would be anything more than practice mode.
    Wye Knot

  6. #6
    Destroyer of Mandolins
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    From the shadows in the pics, I get the feeling it's arched, at least on the top. #I think I'd want to replace that ugly plastic volume knob with something a little nicer. #Just a chrome knob would do it. #Looks like a decent TLK case, so that's a plus for the price. #Too bad it doesn't include a basic tone knob.

    Unless somebody says it's a dog, I'll push the button next month or so and give a review. I kind of like it.



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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    I'm intrigued by it. Looks to be the equivalent of the Godin A8. Please do post a review. I'll be happy to reprint said review at emando.com.
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    This may not be helpful, but if you take away the knob (and the electronics) and give it F-holes, that my mando, which I love.
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  9. #9
    Destroyer of Mandolins
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    Steve, that's what I think I like about it. It looks like an acoustic. It has the classic lines and is very understated. It doesn't look like a scaled-down guitar. It doesn't want to be fancy. It wants to be a mandolin.
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  10. #10
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Piezo strip pickup, seems monitors would still ring the box.

    being about same price.
    I'd A/B it with the A8 [3 band EQ & volume and preamp]



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  11. #11
    Destroyer of Mandolins
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    Do you mean the Godin A-8? From what I've read I gathered that the Godin's three band EQ doesn't seem to change the tone much, so I assumed it was a wash.
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    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    I was referring to the Godin A 8.

    the tone sliders do a reasonable job, 9v battery onboard for pre-amp.
    ..universally add-on piezo buyers speak, also,. of their addition of a pre-amp.
    But if you got one already then it's not an additional cost.
    the RMC 4 pickups have a decent dry tone [dry=EQ flat]
    wasn't chirpy,
    ..better than the OEM in bridge piezo on my Lebeda F5.
    RMC pickups first encountered when I had them retrofitted to a one off 4 string I have,
    [split wired for Roland synthesizer]
    and their tone made the A8 attractive.
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  13. #13
    Registered User powercat's Avatar
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    How do Alvarez brand mandos compare to other imports, say Eastman. This particular mando looks quite similar to an Alvarez blonde A-style mando (f-holes, acoustic only) I've seen at Mass Street Music. I've always been a sucker for blondes.
    John

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  14. #14
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    thats more of an ..information about mandolins .. section topic, perhaps filing that within that section will get more action, as has been other, previous, compare A to B items..
    writing about music
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  15. #15
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Here's a good price on one of these, on eBay. No financial interest, naturally.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

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  16. #16

    Default Re: Alvarez a1-e

    I just picked up an A1-E off Craigslist. Great looking mando a tad on the quiet side so i took the cover plate off the back of the mandolin it sounds better. I may even work up the nerve to cut a soundhole in the front.


    Steve Showell

  17. #17
    the little guy DerTiefster's Avatar
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    Default Re: Alvarez a1-e

    @Steve:How's it working out so far? The only reason I could see for opening up the body is to make sound come out other than through the pickups. But it's intended as an emando. There is a very interesting optical/electronic relationship called the "reciprocity theorem" which states that something radiates (works for radio antennas as well as acoustic devices) about as well as it absorbs. A general physical principle intimately but subtly related to thermodynamic concepts and why perpetual motion machines have to date always failed. Making your mandolin radiate more sound when you pick the strings absolutely forces the thing to pick up sound from the environment and ring your pickup. There's probably a reason that Alvarez didn't put sound holes in it as a dedicated electric instrument. It should reduce feedback problems. Just my opinion.
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