Fender MandoStrat Solidbody Electric Mandolin

[NewsFetcher]

The Mandolin Cafe has posted the following news release:
Fender MandoStrat Solidbody Electric Mandolin

The classic Fender electric mandolin of the 1950s and '60s returns as the new Mando-Strat with an availability date in retail stores the first week of March, 2013.



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[JimRichter]

Ordered mine. having owned an original mint condition '63, I'm glad to see a reissue as the originals have gotten price prohibitive. I liked my '63 but couldn't justify keeping it when the vintage value appreciated significantly.

[Rodney Riley]

Ordered mine...

Great!!! Looking forward to some you-tube videos Jim...

[Jim Bevan]

Any ideas what the "updated and improved design for modern players" might be?

So, will the old ones now be called "Mando-Strats" too, or do you think the Mandocaster nickname will continue to be used?

[keebler]

no 8-string ver?

[Rengate]

This is awesome and long overdue. I wonder if there's any chance of a 5-string version.

[Mike Black]

So, will the old ones now be called "Mando-Strats" too, or do you think the Mandocaster nickname will continue to be used?

I'd still call it a Mandocaster.

[richardbradford]

...this could be fun, the Musician's Friend, Guitar Center and Music123 all list the MandoStrat for the same price, $299.99. Musician's Friend states they'll "Price Match",
Guitar Center states, "Guaranteed Lowest Price" and Music123 claims, "See a better price? We'll beat it". Is this one of those Zen koans I've hear about or am I having a flashback to one of my philosophy courses?. Regardless, looks like a fun little axe.

[journeybear]

Wondering whether to start kicking myself for spending nearly 3x the Musician's Friend price for my Ryder EM-44. I'm very happy with it, of course, and it does have two pickups, and the jack is in the side, but the Mandocaster - I mean, MandoStrat - has the classic, classy Fender style, and (presumably) sound. Next time I go to Miami, a trip to the Guitar Center is in order for some comparison shopping. Hmmm ... Will a MandoTele be far behind?

[sgarrity]

Want, want, want........but I'd need to buy an amp too

[F-2 Dave]

May just have to get me one. Wish they offered one in blonde. Maybe someday.

[journeybear]

I imagine if the initial runs sell well enough, more options will become available. Like a whammy bar.

[John Eischen]

Pre-ordered yesterday from Guitar Center. I've wanted one for 40 years or so.

[tkdboyd]

I am on the "notify me when it is available" email list...Maybe I should change that to Purchased, Send as soon as possible? Had thought about an solid body mando for a while now, this price point and "name" hard to pass up.

Since Mr. Richter is getting one, I won't volunteer a video or an audio clip :-)

[Perry]

Very tempting to pre-order especially at that price. But wondering what the intonation and general playability will be like? I may be too used to my Schwab 4 string to settle for less. Looking forward to some real world reviews.

[mtm]

yes, tempting to pre-order ... I was going to wait for reviews from a few cafe members who are at NAMM and said they would be seeing/playing it on Friday ... stay tuned....

so, remind me again, beside it being "Fender", the reason to get this over numerous similarly priced emandos is.....

[journeybear]

... presently nonexistent. I suggest you follow your own advice and wait for reviews.

[Don Stiernberg]

Is there a truss rod in the re-issue?

[Dave Hicks]

The demo sounds pretty good, but I think I'll stick with my Ryder EM44 as well - it has a pretty similar body shape but (to my eye, anyway) is a bit more graceful.

D.H.

[lukmanohnz]

... numerous similarly priced emandos is.....

I'm not well acquainted with the emando world. I'd greatly appreciate suggestions for comparably priced emandos that offer similar value to the Fender. I was leaning toward buying one of these, but your post has me wondering if I should shop around more before pulling the trigger...

[mtm]

I'm no expert on emandos, but, for example ... there's the Epiphone Mandobird IV, which seems to be difficult to find new (per my google just now) but lists for $199 at 'themusiczoo.com' (and many on eBay for ~$150), and then there's the Morgan Monroe MMT-1E (8 string) for $260 at 'instrumentalley.com' and many on eBay, and the Kentucky km-300E for $300 at 'musicians friend.com'. FYI, in response to a recent query by me about "why this fender", it was the "fender-ness" of it. And in agreement with another poster, "I want it, but I don't know why".....

[rico mando]

"I want it, but I don't know why".....

sounds like the beginning of a country song

[Darryl Wolfe]

Must have, but needs to be one of my pastels....fiesta red ...coral pink...foam green

[Spruce]

Must have, but needs to be one of my pastels....fiesta red ...coral pink...foam green

Yep, with a matching peghead...

[Spruce]

A few more...