More ebay emandos

[delsbrother]

First:

A Big Headed Tele-styled eMando (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=3723809334&rd=1) Amazing quilt figure!

Or how 'bout:

A (left handed?) eDomra (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3724373339&rd=1) Dig the Vulcan-green pickups. Freaky!

Whoops, neither of these are 4-5 stringed.. sorry.

[mrmando]

Oh, they both have 5 strings (and 3 extra).

Barry Ford, who built the Tele-thingy, is also the builder of the infamous F-style mandobass.

[pklima]

Gotta wonder if that Soviet beast is a state factory product or was made by some individual craftsman. If it's the latter it might be a perfectly decent instrument. Gotta wonder if communist state factories ever made e-mandos... anyone know?

[John Rosett]

those pickups look like the pickups i've seen on a lot of old soviet guitars. usually, the insert is red, not green. it really looks "factory original" to me. if there was a shot of the back, you could tell for sure, as most of those soviet-made electrics have a large metal plate on the back with russian printing.
good luck bidding on it, and let us know if it plays in tune... john

[delsbrother]

The back:

http://i8.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/d2/27/63_1.JPG

I emailed the seller asking if it was really left handed, and she responded, "No, look at the strings!"

So I did... and yeah, it's seems to be strung up righty.. Do domras usually have the majority of the pickguard (and control knobs!?) ABOVE the strings? Weird.

http://i1.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/d3/75/82_1_b.JPG

[peterbc]

I'd guess it's a lefty strung like a righty.

[mrmando]

Can only report that I have a photo of a Russian e-mando just like this one over at emando.com, on the No Names page -- and it too has the control knobs on the bass side. Same goes for a photo of a third such instrument that I have collected but not posted.

I think the odds are in favor of the instruments' having been designed that way, ill advised as it might seem.

[mrmando]

Flying V (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3725080769&rd=1) by Dario Tucciarelli on eBay

Yum yum... wanna be the Randy Rhoads of the mandolin? (or heck, the Albert King of the mandolin?)

[Christian McKee]

I understand now why it's important to have a job that would leave me with a great deal of disposable income. It's so that I would be able to purchase mandolins like that one. Waaaaaant. I could even keep it in a closet until it came time for photo shoots and still be happy ;)

Taboot, Taboot,

Christian

[London Al]

Regarding that lovely Domra creation, putting the controls above the strings isn't ill advised when you consider Hendrix played strats 'upside down'.
Jimi hendrix could have had any instrument in the world, but he specifically wanted the controls above the strings because he found them easier to use like that.
To get access to the full on Hendrix vibe in this dep't you would need to have the pot's wired anti clockwise.
Anyway, has anyone ever seen an electric mandolin with a whammy bar?That coud really wind up the traditionalists!
Rock on emando fans everywhere!
Al

[berkeleymando]

Speaking of Jimi ...

http://jimi1970.homestead.com

[mrmando]

Anyway, has anyone ever seen an electric mandolin with a whammy bar?
Why yes, I have...There are a few such beasts at emando.com.

[delsbrother]

It's a Breadwinner! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3726617293&rd=1)

[pklima]

That Breadwinner looks pretty nice and very ready to swoop through the air. Good thing I play left-handed and it has a scroll or I'd be tempted.

Here's a 4-string beast with a 28" scale - definite emandocello potential:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16222&item=3727785373&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

[Mastersound]

Nah. I've already started making my Mandowinner... here's the roughed out body shape:

http://www.jupitercreekmusic.com/mandowinner.jpg

Ignore the neck.... I'm making a faux Ovation neck from jarrah to see just how stable it'll be with no truss-rod or stiffener.

[delsbrother]

Rob... COOOOOL! Are you going to have all the freaky switching that came on Breadwinners too? What scale is it gonna be? 4, 5, or 8 strings?

I first got into these when I started listening to Rage Against the Machine; Tom Morello played a couple.. Talk about a face only a mother could love..

Here's a Breadwinner Fanpage! (http://doremi.co.uk/breadwinner/)


PS Peter... Stop that. You're breaking my heart. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Mastersound]

Hi delsbrother

No notch filters for this one! I actually had a white Breadwinner back in the seventies (I had the clothes and hair to go with it too!) and always got oh so confused with the switches. It was my first "name brand" guitar... odd shape but very comfy to play.

This little thing will just have a push/push volume/tone knob and half a P-bass pickup, 4 strings and standard 353mm mando scale. I found a set of Gotoh mini tuners for a 12 string a while back at about half the usual price (they were NOS) so I've already drilled and reamed the headstock for them. I'm usually not into blatant ripoffs of other peoples' designs, but this thread and another one on the MIMF got me thinking about the Breadwinner shape, and a friend desperately want a mando in Flying-V style so they're my two current projects.

[London Al]

Hi delsbrother
re the "its a breadwinner" link, I've just nearly fallen off my chair!
I own one of those things! I bought it in 1992, its done hundreds of gigs had gallons of alcohol poured over it , and I'm so happy to find out the guy who made it is still doin them.If anyone has a query about them I'll be only too happy to talk about the instrument.
Mines black by the way.
Rock on Brit mandolins!
Al on the island

[delsbrother]

Hop to it! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3729781715&rd=1)

[mrmando]

TreeFrogs were made by Steve Cloutier of Minnesota. He's been inactive as a luthier for 6 or 7 years, so these instruments are not easy to find. That's the first one I've seen with the Baggs EQ in the front of it.

True or false: TreeFrogs are pictured on emando.com more than any other brand of electric mandolin...

[delsbrother]

True or false: TreeFrogs are pictured on emando.com more than any other brand of electric mandolin...
They're number one with a BULLET!

What do I win? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mrmando]

You win a copy of the first "Tekno Mando" sampler CD on Nonesuch Records...

[mrmando]

Here be the latest (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3731922150&rd=1).

[mrmando]

anyone got the skinny on this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=623&item=3732478102&rd=1)?

It looks like something the Wicked Witch of the West might have played.

Can't find anything on the Web about "Bob Brain."

[delsbrother]

Well, it's butt-ugly, if that helps! What is it with English emandoluthiers and really, really, really long headstocks?

[toddjoles]

Talk about an alien love child!!! Do you think he's trying to compensate for something?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif LOL!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[mrmando]

What?! A Jack Brown selling for $455?

While it is true that I gave Jack a listing at emando.com, I don't know where this seller got the idea that Jack "is well known in the E-mando community for his quality workmanship." This appears to be one of the Browns pictured at emando.com; I got my photos from the first eBay sale. I have heard from one owner of a Brown--either this one or the 4-string; he bought the instrument on eBay from (I think) Jack's son for $200 or less and told me it was pretty primitively constructed. This Brown is already going for more than I paid for my Bacorn -- and you know THAT's not right.

Just goes to show what well-written puffery and an attractive ad can do for you.

[mrmando]

Regarding the Bob Brain instrument, I wrote to Maartin Allcock--who, being a former member of both Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention, is well qualified to answer questions about instruments used by those bands. Here's what Maart had to say:


Yes indeed, Bob Brain built a wacky doublenecked bouzouki/mandolin for Dave Pegg (of both Fairport and Tull), which was featured on the cover of his solo album, "The Cocktail Cowboy Goes It Alone", back in 1982 or so. He also built the stairs in Dave's studio, which has now been sold.

I have to say that although Dave's doubleneck looked amazing, the length of the heads north of the nut made for unstable tuning and they weren't the most comfortable necks to play either. However, this was the only example of his work that I've seen, so I can't really comment on his work as a whole. Except the stairs, which I used on many an occasion, and even recorded them on Ralph McTell's track "The Islands" from his album "Sand In Your Shoes" as they made a loud creaking noise which was perfect as a sound effect of a creaking boat on that track...

[cascadepicker]

mrmando,
"He is well known in the E-mando community for his quality workmanship"
Can he get away with stating false info on Ebay?
Also, why did you give him a listing emando?

[mrmando]

Well, the statement's probably sufficiently vague to make a lawsuit difficult, and eBay's probably not going to get involved outside of any actual fraud. If there's an "e-mando community" outside of my Web site and this discussion board, I'd sure like to know about it. If we had an official organization with membership dues and our own lawyer, then we might be able to police such statements.

This same seller used some copy from emando without my permission in this ad (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3731050127). I'm tempted to send him a notice of copyright violation, but the fact is that I steal images from eBay all the time, so such a complaint might well backfire.

I gave Jack Brown a listing on emando because he builds electric mandolins. No endorsement or appraisal of an instrument's quality is implied by the mere fact that I gave the builder a listing. I have builders listed whose work I would never endorse. However, if someone asks me my opinion I'll be glad to give it. In Mr. Brown's case, I opine that $455 is too much to pay.

[mrmando]

Hm. I see that someone withdrew a bid on the Jack Brown e-mando auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3731051099), and the price is now down to $309.

Here's some text from an e-mail I received from Dave Voyles, who bought a 4-string emando by Mr. Brown. I hope Dave doesn't mind my posting this:

"They sold it to me for $175. It is a bit crude, especially his bridge set up. He cut down a regular compensated bridge saddle and glued the adjustment posts into the top of the mando. Also used a standard Gibson style tailpiece that he attached a steel block in that the strings go through."

[jbrendanadamson]

These ebay mandos are ending soon:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....1595425 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=308&item=3731595425)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....1597524 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=308&item=3731597524)

The builder's webpage: http://www.jupitercreekmusic.com/

I think he posted on this board right before he put them up

[Mastersound]

It's like sending your children off on their first day at school! If you do buy one please please please put a meaningful critique on here so I can see what other people think of my little beasts! I have thick skin!

[cascadepicker]

Look at this. Not much info

Ebay item number: 3732963744 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3732963744&rd=1#ebayphotohosting)

[mrmando]

Don't go there. By all accounts those things are awful.

[pklima]

So did anyone around here win that "alien love child", perchance? I'd love to hear how functional (or dysfunctional) it is.

[mrmando]

Dario Tucciarelli strikes again... (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3733854171&rd=1)

[berkeleymando]

Hi I don't know if it is legit for me to post this, but I just put up one of my emandos (an early 1990s Schwab five string) on Ebay, item no. 3737544501 . I'm happy to answer any questions about this instrument, let me know, I'd like it to find a good home.

[mandocaster]

Wow! that is a beatiful mandolin at a great price. The BIN is a great deal, even.

[mrmando]

Hey, berkeley -- I named my dog MAS. So I can say, "Down, MAS! Down!" and people think I'm talking to the dog.

Thanks for the emando.com plug, by the way.

[delsbrother]

OK, let's move this thing! I'd Buy-it-now except.. I REALLY can't justify another emando. However having just watched a Clash DVD I couldn't resist a black tele.

If any of you girly men snipes me (as opposed to BIN) I'm gonna open up a can of TEKNO whoopass on you. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[berkeleymando]

Its a nice one. I'm ashamed to note that now that I have my other Schwab I have hardly been using the five string and I need to fund my upcoming acoustic mandolin purchase, and other important things like rent and food. If anyone has any question feel free to pm me and I'll give you whatever info you would like about it.

[delsbrother]

Well, I wasn't sniped! But come on, guys, for $100 more just BIN! YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!

I, on the other hand, have been reduced to this.. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3737327066&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT)

[delsbrother]

OK, so somebody explain this to me... the guy who outbid me bid $775. On an $800 BIN. ? Then to outbid him someone else bid $807 (which killed the BIN). ??! The thing eventually goes for a still-reasonable $941... Now this is great for berkeleymando, but I think a few people flunked EBAY 101. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mrmando]

Ooh, an Earnest Junior Deluxe (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3740153608&rd=1)...

[Sellars]

Eko electric mandolin (http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3740296287) on the German Ebay site.

I read on mrmando's site that this is an italian instrument.

Any thoughts about its playability or value?

[mrmando]

Eko = cheapo. But certainly worth the current 7.50 Euros.

"Ideal für Countrymusic" ... love it!

[delsbrother]

No comment. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3740550022&rd=1)

[Magnus Geijer]

That's absolutely brilliant!

[mrmando]

Steve Wishnevsky never ceases to amaze.

[jbrendanadamson]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3741571004

[jbrendanadamson]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3740987580&rd=1

[mrmando]

Dude, it's not that hard to figure out how to post a link.

That's an Alan Gerrell mandolin -- I see he's making excuses about his instruments being "not perfect like a mandolin from a factory."

Um ... so his handmade instruments aren't up to the standards of a factory instrument.

I think that says it all.

[mrmando]

Defil from Poland (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3751145747&rd=1)
Gordon-Smith from England (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3751572527&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

[mandocaster]

The Gordon Smith looks intriguing. #The only thing I don't like is the bridge, which is non-adjustable for intonation. #If it could be had cheaply enough it would be worth having a good luthier replace it with something decent.

I notice that is a relist, and the original selling price was over $900. That seems pretty high, considering the quality of the finish and hardware.

[Mastersound]

Hi mrmando

If I'd been able to buy a Mandobird here in Australia I'd never have even started making my mandos. Mine are nowhere near factory standard... if your main criterion is the finish. Watch people go into a music shop and watch them as they look at instruments. They look for the style of instrument that they're interested in, then maybe take it off the wall (or hopefully ask first!) and then they look at the finish. If the grain is filled and even and suitably polished and shiny they show interest. With luck they might even ask to play it, but the first thing they look at is the finish. Fit is important (but less so). They'll have a bit of a strum or noodle, but if the finish is less than factory perfect it won't even be considered.

Of course some people look briefly at the instrument, then play it, and then finally look more closely at the finish and the name on the headstock. Those people are called musicians.

Things like solidbody electric mandolins are a niche market, especially outside of the US. If the builder is open and honest about the quality of their instruments and prices them to what they're honestly worth then I think everyone goes in with their eyes open and ends up happy.

I'm concentrating on making a playable instrument that won't let the buyer down, and at this stage my emandos are brushcoated with clear polyurethane. At some stage I'll invest the time and money into spray and polishing equipment and learning how to use it, but I don't want to put the cart before the horse.

Having said all that it is nice if the screw holes line up, body and neck shaping is consistent, and the tuners are installed the right way around! ;-)

Rob

[mrmando]

Rob, it wasn't the finish, per se, for which the excuses were being made. (Goodness knows I've owned my share of crudely finished instruments.) And the remarks about the mandolin in question did not address the finish, but the choice of wood, setup, playability, and intonation -- things that musicians look for.

[mrmando]

The Gordon Smith looks intriguing. The only thing I don't like is the bridge, which is non-adjustable for intonation. If it could be had cheaply enough it would be worth having a good luthier replace it with something decent.

I notice that is a relist, and the original selling price was over $900. That seems pretty high, considering the quality of the finish and hardware.
Well, the ad does say that the instrument's a second because the finish is crazed. Which isn't really a problem, considering that one must be crazed in order to want to play an electric mandolin.

High price on the previous listing probably had something to do with the brand name. It's supposedly a premium brand in the UK (I wouldn't know)--although if you hit the Gordon-Smith Web site it doesn't acknowledge that they've ever built an e-mando.

If Prince (that is, Prince, the artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince) were to shop for an e-mando, he'd surely like the look of the bass horn on that Gordon-Smith.

[delsbrother]

Eh, I should've checked this thread earlier; I would've sent 150 clams to Poland just for the thrill of owning a Defil. Would that make me a Defiler? Oh well, I'd rather grow up to be a Debaser anyway.

[mrmando]

Very cool (http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2275206211)
VERRRRRY cool (http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2275206214)

[mrmando]

And one more... (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=308&item=3753380804&rd=1)

Didn't realize Dave Schneider was getting that much for his mandolins. Anyone played one?

[pklima]

And then there's this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....47&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3753859047&rd=1)

To quote from another recent thread, truly bizarre and words fail me. And it's only a 3-day auction.

[delsbrother]

I'm IN! And I DARE any sniper to take me out. You gotta love the big knot right in the middle of the top. Who knew #2 pine would work as a tonewood?

BTW the tenor (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3753736244&ssPageName=MERC_BC_ReBay_Pr2_PcY_BID) is prettier.

[mrmando]

Those are the creation of one Tho X. Bui -- he's an engineer or something with a penchant for building stuff: bicycles, tables, chairs, violins ... and now THESE. I think he may be the next Steve Wishnevsky.

I'm in on both of them, not that I really expect to win. Not sure how I'd explain those axes to the wife.

[delsbrother]

I think you need this one more than me - good luck!

[mandocaster]

I'm feeling powerful, powerful enough to conquer something, and when I feel that way there is nothing better than playing a freaky Japanese electric mandolin.

Conqueror on EBAY (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3753777977&rd=1)

[mrmando]

Ah, the mighty Conqueror. Under how many brand names were those freaky Japanese mandos sold? Only Playerof8 knows for sure, and he ain't tellin'.

[pklima]

As if it wasn't confounding enough when it was listed for a dollar, that doubleneck sold for about twenty times for what I figured it'd be worth! There's apparently some demand for doubleneck e-mandos... four different people bid over $200.

[mrmando]

EM200 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3755325469&rd=1) for $3,300 on eBay.

Someone's dreamin'.

[mrmando]

And here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3755143680&indexURL=1&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting) is a nice little no-name Japanese job resembling a San Remo.

[mrmando]

The Schneider (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=308&item=3755423277&rd=1) is back for $200 less. Interesting how in the first ad, 75% of the seller's equipment had been stolen and now it's 90%.

Nothing like a good no-reserve Mandocaster (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3755570458&rd=1) auction to test the market...

And I love the look of Rob's Breadwinner (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3755229003&rd=1) e-mando, martinets notwithstanding.

[mrmando]

THO STRIKES AGAIN! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=3755588218&rd=1)

Hog-wild e-mando ... gotta love it!

[mikeomando]

Is it me or is there more creativity coming from mando builders than guitar builders? I've never seen a guitar that when you play it you are also strangling some poor hog. Choking a chicken, sure, but never strangling a hog.

[jefflester]

Looks like the Ryder 8-string Tele style that was in the classifieds is now up at Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....60&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3756133760&rd=1)

[delsbrother]

I must say, I like the new colors. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3756810883&rd=1)

And you can't discount the effect of demented pickups.

But I don't trust any seller who doesn't own a bulldog. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[delsbrother]

Uhhnnghhhh...4am...still wired.. must.. keep.. surfing..

Black and orange stray cat sittin' on a fence... (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3756970514&rd=1)

Good Lord! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3757113432&rd=1)

[mrmando]

Blue Kingston (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3758106994)

First one of these I've seen that wasn't a standard sunburst. Weird, eh? Ya think someone gave it a custom finish job?

[delsbrother]

I'm in! Who are they kidding? People pay EXTRA for that stripped neck look! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[zeke]

Good luck. That actually looks like a fun li'l guy.

[delsbrother]

Oh well, so much for that. Now I must not look again, lest I turn into a pillar of salt. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[delsbrother]

Wow! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3759297634&rd=1)

Wow Mk II (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47067&item=3759392096&rd=1)

[Christian McKee]

Wow indeed! That's SWEET! If I wasn't in the process of buying one of those inherently inferior "acoustic" mandolins, I might be all over that...

Christian

[michaell]

That five-string looks very nice. Is this a new builder?

[mrmando]

The 5-string builder is one Mike Atkinson (http://www.mlatkinson.com/). Very nice-lookin' stuff on his Web page.

But what if I were to tell people that you, Michael Lampert, were interested in a 5-string?

I don't know anything about the Snodgrass mandola yet. The bridge sure doesn't look like it belongs where it is -- reminds one of the Gibson F12.

[delsbrother]

My EMAS is out of control. That thing's gotta be better than a Shamax. Don't think I'll stand a chance against sniping programs, though. Oh well. If that happens I'll take that as a sign from above to curb my mando-spending (I'm seriously thinking of a Godin A8 too, but for obviously different music).

[michaell]

Just checkin' it out- (my new 5-string is in the mail as we speak)!!!

[mrmando]

Mike A. is another engineer getting his luthier-feet wet. He told me the starting bid on his 5-string is the total cost of materials; he wants to get a couple of instruments into the hands of players cheaply and get their appraisal before he starts selling instruments in earnest.

So, Darrell, if that 5-string comes your way, you will be so good as to write a review for me and Mike.

And remember, my Bacorn was only about 20 bucks more than this thing is now ... so it might not go higher.

[mrmando]

Wow -- Michael L. takes the plunge. I assume Kevin built it? -- a 5-string version of the Signature model?

[jmkatcher]

I know it's not electric, but the Mike Atkinson "classical" model on his website is really attractive.

[michaell]

Yes-exactly. A five-string signature model..I've had some very 'low' ideas lately.

[mrmando]

Looks like a wacko 8-string octave/4-string standard doubleneck (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3760945055) with P-90 guitar pickups ...

Wicked!

Any clues as to the maker?

[delsbrother]

Whoa! Those headstocks look vaguely Martinesque (http://www.obm.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fs_em18.htm). (I personally would've loved to have seen more electrics from those guys..)

OTOH, the laminated body on that doubleneck... I don't know... I think I played basketball on something like that in High School. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

ps eBay snipers suck.

[mrmando]

Aw, cripes ... I'm sorry about the snipers. I was rooting for you all the way, man...

[delsbrother]

That's OK, I viewed the situation as an opportunity... I used the funds to buy an Ovation mandocello I was also watching on eBay. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Wish me luck; I've never trusted eBay/Paypal with a purchase this big before.. It wasn't exactly a steal of a price (I've been in auctions where they've gone for much less) but it looks good and I was swayed by the fact the buyer had a brick and mortar store.. Anyone have any experiences with Bunnybass.com? That's the seller. If anyone knows if these guys are scammers please LMK ASAP. <paranoid>

I've been jonesing for one of these for quite awhile, and when this one came up with a reasonable price I jumped.

Ah who am I kidding.. Purely "jilted lover syndrome" at it's worst!

Darrell

[delsbrother]

Just did some more browsing around Bunnybass.com (you can check out the emandocello there, I used BIN for $1K). Gotta love the comprehesive Girls on Guitar page. (http://www.bunnybass.com/e-zine/girls/00.girls_gallery01.shtml)

I never knew how small Kim Gordon was! Check her out, struggling to play a (rare, 2 pickup) Mandobird. (http://www.bunnybass.com/e-zine/girls/04.girlpictures/kimgordon01.jpg) Wow!

[mrmando]

If it weren't entirely sexist I would start a "Girls on Emando" page. Martie Seidel, Carmella Ramsey, Pony West, Rachel Clayton, Deni Bonet, J'anna Jacoby ...

You could do worse. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[delsbrother]

Did a little more digging.. Bunnybass was actually co-founded by a woman, and the "chicks on guitar" page started out as a response to Ed Roman's guitar site. This made me feel good about my purchase, as somehow I feel safer giving my $ to a woman (character flaw?).

But then I found out sometime in 2004 the site was bought by some dude in North Carolina. He just left all the content up there, and evidently sells the instruments too... I dunno, does that sound fishy to anyone else? I really don't want to throw my mandocello money into a deep dark digital hole (and the eBay fraud thread is freaking me out). Will paying via PayPal+CC help in the event this guy doesn't really exist? I mean, at one point, Bunnybass had a showroom you could visit in New York.. Now, everything is supposedly in NC..

Sorry if this is too off-topic. But I could use some advice from veteran eBayers.

Darrell

[mikeomando]

I've always used Paypal and a credit card, and tried to time it so that the credit card was early in the billing cycle, so the bill wouldn't have to be paid before the goods showed up, and you could dispute the purchase while it was still 'fresh'. #Tht being said, I've never had a problem with an ebay transaction, and I've blown plenty o' cash on emandos there. #Whether the guy is bricks and mortar or not doesn't even enter into the equation for me. #Has his Ebay name been hijacked? And does he have good feedback? #Those are the two questions. #Does anyone really exist? #
I didn't bid on that purty 5-string, but I wanted to. #The burl looked cool. #I wonder how it plays?

[Mastersound]

Bunny is cool

When I was running the Bassguitarist.com website she was a great supporter... she pinted hundreds of people my way. She's great at sourcing good basses and reselling them for a small and honest profit... that;s if it is actually Bunny still involved with the website. I'd dig a bit deeper.

Rob

[delsbrother]

Oooohhhh.... Jazzy! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3764319149&rd=1)

[Ted Eschliman]

Oooohhhh, my!!!....

I'm a little verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves..
I'll give you a topic: Rhode Island, it's not a road, nor an island ...

[mrmando]

New Jonathan Mann 5-string (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3768927592&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

Looks pretty tasty. The guy in the red suit knows I've been a good boy...

[thistle3585]

How is the bridge braced on the Mann 5 string? I understand it to be hollow.

[mrmando]

Eh? D'you mean, how's the TOP braced? You can ask Jonathan himself; looks like eBay didn't pan out so he's posted it in the Classifieds here.

Here's a sweet Rigelcaster E110 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3769707053&rd=1). These don't come around too often.

[thistle3585]

Yes, thats what I meant. I'll check with him.

[Lee]

Kevin Schwab made a 5-stringer with a single F-hole just like the Jonathan Mann. In fact, Mr. Mann's newest is practically indistiguishable. I like the 5-pole Bill Lawrence pick-up. Me like.

[nobleheart]

holy monkey.... I just saw the late model fender five string emando go on ebay--used-- for $600. What's goin' on here? I bought mine for $250 about a year ago. Market shift?

[mandroid]

someone s going for suggested list pentagon price http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[nobleheart]

no kiddn'.
caraaazy stuff..

[pklima]

Speaking of crazy stuff:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....66&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3770701366&rd=1)

I love the output jack!

[mrmando]

That looks a lot like an old Carvin. I don't think it is one — it's handbuilt — but it's fairly close.

The description brought tears to my eyes...

[jefflester]

Hmmm, nice bridge(s). Maybe the loop and ball ends help the sound. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[delsbrother]

TEKNO-ready! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3770942930&rd=1) Almost brings a tear to my eye..

[delsbrother]

Amazing! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3774551346&rd=1)

There can be only one! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3774565597&rd=1)

Frankly, I'm speechless about the last one. Anybody heard of this company? It'd almost be worth the BIN just to figure out what that thing is on the headstock.

[mrmando]

Almost bought an Amazing violin once ... same body shape, different bridge and headstock, of course. Word has it the reserve on this mando is $1,000, which is a bit of a laugh.

On the Highland mandola, the headstock decoration is a maple leaf. Appears to be made of chewing gum.

[delsbrother]

This one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3775924046&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting) wasn't up long before someone snatched it.. Anyone have experience with Echeverrias? I like the non-reverse Firebird shape; would have made a nice compliment to my Mandobird.

[pklima]

That one looks nice, though it's more of a reverse reverse Firebird shape than a non-reverse Firebird. Anyhow, here's a freak:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....38&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3777705638&rd=1)

Anybody in the hunt for this?

[mad dawg]

TEKNO-ready! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3770942930&rd=1) Almost brings a tear to my eye..
That Tiesco looks sweet, and it went for only $250 US.

[mad dawg]

BTW, Mike Spicer in Hamilton, Ontario, makes electric mandolins that appear to be inspired by the Tiesco...

[pklima]

That doubleneck guitar-mando thing is only $207.50 with less than ten hours to go. No idea who Earl Robertson was but if it is indeed a 1958 American-made electric...

Lucky for me I'm sticking to cello-tuning and larger instruments.

[delsbrother]

I dunno, I can't picture Kent with much of a custom shop - I'm thinking that's a homemade Frankenguitar all the way, maybe cannibalizing some cheapo pawnshop prizes for the pickups and hardware.. Of course I'm probably wrong.. But still can't picture myself playing that thing.

I CAN picture myself slinging a real Mosrite-ish double neck like Deke Dickerson's custom TNM (http://www.dekedickerson.com/images/guitargeekfest2.jpg). (TNM website) (http://www.bobsyouruncle.net/TNM_Guitars/tnmpage.htm). Of course these are guitar/octave guitars, but whatever - hmmm... how 'bout a mando/octave mando? Got a spare $7500?

No I didn't go to that concert, but I wish I would've! I didn't know about it at all until I Googled Deke Dickerson to use as an example in this thread. I'm kicking myself for missing that! I'm a huge fan of Big Sandy and all that Rockabilly steel stuff..Evidently Dick Dale came on for an encore with Nokie Edwards. Can you imagine??

Darrell

[pklima]

That mando-guitar's no Kent - I just got confused because the builder used a Kent lap steel pickup in it. Sure is ugly, though.

What I don't understand is why so many of the weirdest e-mandos seem to be 3-day or 5-day auctions or get snatched up quickly because they have a low BIN. Gotta keep your eyes peeled...

[mrmando]

What do you think about this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3777874121&rd=1)?

Mike Reinhardt strikes again...

[Christian McKee]

You know, I was pretty sure I liked all weird things, until I started seeing this guy's mandolins. Now I guess can say that I don't like all the weird things out there...

Christian

[mrmando]

Chacun a son gout -- I dig 'em.

[Keith Miller]

anyone seen this one flying v mando ! ebay UK

[pklima]

More weird old Bigsbyish doublenecks, this time very expensive.

Gaudy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....61&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780083861&rd=1)

Ugly:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780067625&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

Someday I'll post a link to something with only one neck, I promise...

[mrmando]

I'm betting Elmore also made the previous butcher-block doubleneck from a few months ago. Same headstocks.

[krishna]

Everyone of these pics are coming up on my screen as an "Invalid Item"...Kerry ....and I so wanted to look...(SAD FACE)

[mad dawg]

Ugly:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780067625&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)
I didn't know Picasso built mandolins. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[delsbrother]

Ugly:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780067625&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)
Peter! You finally found a left-handed doubleneck emando!

[pklima]

I don't know how left-handed it is... the mando neck has a bigger cutaway on the right-handed side, the guitar on the left-handed side. The mando controls appear to be on the left-handed side, the guitar controls on the right-handed.

This appears to be doubleneck week, though. We also get an old Carvin:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....77&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47064&item=3780352977&rd=1)

and a recent Wishnevsky:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....38&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780593738&rd=1)

I'm tempted to bid on the latter.

[mrmando]

I don't buy the story about the Carvin being a custom job. It appears to be stock from the '69 catalog except for the whammy bar. After a few years it becomes difficult to remember exactly when you purchased something.

http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/69-doublenecks.html

[glauber]

and a recent Wishnevsky:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....38&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780593738&rd=1)

I'm tempted to bid on the latter.
Hmmm, a mandocello with no truss rod? I thought they always required at least a couple.

[pklima]

I'm fairly sure Italian-style classical mandocelli don't have truss rods, though they have much shorter necks. I don't know what year Gibson started using truss rods... I wouldn't worry about it in this case, though - I've owned a couple of Steve's instruments and his necks are HUGE and very stiff. Besides, the electric can be strung lighter than an acoustic mandocello.

[glauber]

There's a high-end Ovation (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3780101134&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1) on eBay (UK-based). It may turn out to be a good price.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

no whammy bar on the mando though.... maybe a fork will do.

[delsbrother]

I don't know how left-handed it is...

<snip>

and a recent Wishnevsky:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....38&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3780593738&rd=1)

I'm tempted to bid on the latter.
Well, I didn't say it would be a comfortable lefty, Peter! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Re: The Wishnevski - that looks outrageously cool. RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES! I recently tore up my shoulder (part of that being old stuff again) so there'd be no way I could play that for any amount of time.. Otherwise I might've bid too. Hmmmm. Maybe I could rig up a stand like Maccaferri did. "The Unknown Mandocellist." Or not.

Darrell

ps The hell with the doubleneck. That blanket is driving me nuts!

[pklima]

Steve does nearly always photograph his instruments in front of the same blanket, doesn't he? Oh well. I usually photograph mine on top of the same brown sheepskin.

I've got a doubleneck electric bass with one neck tuned in fifths (CGDA, an octave below cello - sort of a contrabass emando) that works well for me. The Wishnevsky doubleneck would be like its higher-pitched, smaller cousin.

[jbrendanadamson]

PentaBouzouki (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=623&item=3780942104&rd=1)

[Tom C]

Some electric mando (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3781568285&rd=1)

[mad dawg]

Some electric mando (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3781568285&rd=1)
In case you forget its case, I see that it comes with a handy carrying handle built right into the instrument. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mrmando]

The Curt-mandolin has been on eBay before. It's currently on the No Names page at emando.com, but now I'll have to move it.

[delsbrother]

There is no substitute. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3781948241&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1)


Tho.. His latest guitar (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3781944777) is very handsome, IMO. One of these days...

[pklima]

No substitute and no mistaking it for another maker's work:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....46&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3781837446&rd=1)

Then there's this Mandoblaster:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....08&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3781535008&rd=1)

The seller says he will soon list books by Tiny Moore and Niles Hokkanen/Richard Thompson.

P.S. Delsbrother, when you wrote "Tho" I first thought you meant Tho X. Bui. His mandos aren't quite as crazy as Steve's but they're close.

[mrmando]

Can't believe no one has posted this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33039&item=7300294277&rd=1) yet...

One of the prototype Fender Pentalins for $1200? Cheaper than most vintage Mandocasters and a whole lot more rare ...

There but for the wrath of MrsMando go I...

[delsbrother]

Is it just me, or does the "long" photo in that auction show the headstock with the "Fender" decal? In the "closeup" the decal doesn't appear to be there - but maybe it's just the glare. Were those models officially considered Fenders? That crackle finish is so... '80s. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[edit] Never mind, bad laptop monitor.

[mrmando]

They were made by the Fender custom shop. Only a few in existence. I think there's a photo of this one in the liner for "12 Jokes for Heavy Metal Mandolin."

[Ted Eschliman]

It's a thing of beauty....

[Joel Glassman]

Wow--nice set of "knobs" there :^) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=3755588218&rd=1)http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/a6/7e/c5_3.JPG

[delsbrother]

OK, I'm asking nicely. Please don't snipe me. You know who you are.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[pklima]

Tekno-style Kent:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....35&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7301463135&rd=1)

And, as promised earlier by the seller, the Tiny Moore book:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43392&item=7300300753&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

and Niles Hokkanen books:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43392&item=7301504766&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

[delsbrother]

Peter, you let the cat out of the bag! "Wish" me luck. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[pklima]

Best of luck!

I hope Kent didn't make fancier models with even more layers of binding...

[delsbrother]

Well, at least I wasn't sniped. I'm beginning to think I'm never gonna see one of these things (or that IF I finally get one, It'll be anticlimactic).

[mrmando]

Hm (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7301855469&rd=1). Looks a little like a Tilgray, but those guys were from Prescott, Arizona, not Tennessee.

[mrmando]

It is a Tilgray -- heard back from the seller. Am I good or what?

[Mandobar]

you guys are a bad influence!

[mikeomando]

Every time I think I've seen 'em all, another one comes out of the blue. Anyone here every actually play a Tilgray? What're they like?

[mrmando]

Tilgray was a couple of old retired guys in Arizona doing something with their woodworking hobby. They always used really nice-looking woods, and I thought the wooden pickguards were a classy touch. They sold a few mandolins on eBay for really reasonable prices. I didn't get the impression that they were highly trained luthiers, but the workmanship looked pretty solid and serviceable. I can endorse the EMG Select pickup they used, but I never actually played one.

[glauber]

That's a gorgeous instrument.

[Mandobar]

i blame you guys- i bought that mandoblaster. i will be getting it tomorrow.

[Ted Eschliman]

Sold (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33039&item=7300294277&rd=1).
How my heart weeps. Man, how I longed for that...

[Lee]

Mandobar, right out from under me. I was circling... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Mandobar]

lee, i thought you had a mandoblaster (not a mandocaster.........although that finish on that mandocaster was cool)

ted, that was your color, man!

[Ted Eschliman]

I'm STILL in mourning.
<heads for the ashes & sackcloth...>

[Mandobar]

i can honestly say now from experience how addicting these mandos are.

ted, i feel for you, buddy.

[mikeomando]

If it's the same guys, they had like three of those Fender 5 string custom jobs, Ted. You might email them and ask. They only had one in blue, if I remember correctly... I thought hard about buying one of them, last year, or the year before...

[Lee]

Sorry Mandobar, I was getting my Blasters and Casters mixed up.
I called Norman's Guitars on Friday to get some neck & scale dimensions of the Fender 5-string mandocaster on Ebay (to compare with others at home). Saturday morning I logged on and the ad had been pulled from Ebay and I mistakenly thought you bought it.
Norman's gave me a $1500 buy-it-now price and I was on the cliff deciding whether to just go for it or fuss with the bidding process later in the day when it closed. Someone else took it away beofre I could pounce <sob> Whew, that was close.

[Lee]

Well, one thing I learned was the distance from the C to the E string on that 5-string Fender is 1-13/16 at the bridge. This is about 1/16" wider than my Schwab. If anything, I'd prefer them narrower still. Also, the guy measured the scale length at 14-1/8" which (if he was accurate) is slightly longer than the traditional Mandocaster.

[Ted Eschliman]

Norman's gave me a $1500 buy-it-now price and I was on the cliff deciding whether to just go for it or fuss with the bidding process later in the day when it closed. Someone else took it away beofre I could pounce <sob> Whew, that was close.
Man, that'll teach me to play by the "rules." I've always thought it in bad form to buy or sell before an auction ended, but I guess all's fair in love and war.
And Ebay. (I would have paid $1500 in a heartbeat...)
I did email them on Friday, and called on Saturday. No email response and when I called, the salesman's response was a hurried "Yeah, it sold" followed by an abrupt click of the phone.
Guess it's a guitar store, and not an electric mandolin store. (No respect...)

[Lee]

I agree Ted it's bad form to privately sell before the auction is over. And I wouldn't attempt to buy if the seller were private. But anyone could have walked in off the street at Norman's and bought the mandocaster. It's not below me to call a store on the phone and try to arrange something off Ebay.
But I'm curious, is that not proper etiquette?
Anybody gonna fess up to buying it.

[Ted Eschliman]

Lee, the only thing I'm accusing you of is being smarter than me!
Sure, it's against Ebay policy, but it's done all the time.
(I'd like to know who bought it, too....)

[Mandobar]

ted,

when i really want something i usually feel the seller out asking if he/she is going to let the auction go all the way. i don't know how many times i have gone down to the wire only to get an e-mail from ebay stating that my bid was cancelled because the item is no longer available.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Lee]

Hey Mary, which MandoBlaster didja get? Mine's a silver 5-string. I'm not crazy about the strange-material body finish but it's functional.

Awhile ago I met the mandolin player for Roy Clark's band and he was sportin' a custom Bruce Herron emando. Bruce is the man behind Blue Star. The neck seemed to be a stock Blue Star neck with some extra inlay. The body was a gorgeous chunk of carved wood, nicely stained and finished. Looked to be the same lipstick-tube pickup. I didn't get to play it but it felt great, good heft and balance. Anyone wanting a custom emando might consider Bruce.

[Mandobar]

i have the same one, lee.....as yours. #but mine has a birdseye maple neck and for the price it was hard to resist. #my other half bought it for me as a belated v-day gift.....awwwww....
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Lee]

You are truly fortunate!
He may have bought you this.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Mandobar]

uh, ...............i don't think so, after 8 years i think he knows what he should and should not buy.

[Christian McKee]

Biggest problem I see is the lack of magnetic pickups http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Christian

[mrmando]

Hey, that emando.com site doesn't have this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33044&item=7303223933&rd=1)!

[Lee]

Whoa that's sharp! "7-3/16" scale. I wonder if that's a mis-print or just to the 12th fret?

[mrmando]

Maybe that's the radius...

[delsbrother]

Wot's the "hot hide" for?

[jefflester]

14 foot radius http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[mad dawg]

Whoa that's sharp! #"7-3/16" scale. I wonder if that's a mis-print or just to the 12th fret?
The seller posted this in a response to a similar question:

"I`m sorry. I wrote this up so fast,I foregot to X2 The 7 3/16th is from the nut to the 12th. The figerboard is at 14 foot radius. "

[mad dawg]

14 foot radius http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Agreed http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif -- if that's accurate, that pretty much would mean that for all practical purposes it's a flat fretboard, eh?

[Lee]

He must mean 14 inch radius. Maybe the fumes from the hot hide glue are effecting him. Sure looks like he builds a nice emando though. I'm confused about the body being carved from one piece. Does this mean like a Rigel one-piece back & sides with a glued-on top?

[delsbrother]

Just like a tele thinline, I suppose. Rigels use tuned spruce plates - I think this is just a slab-o-hardwood. Is there any real benefit to the thinline design? I mean other than you're just making a lighter, more "responsive" instrument? Can you really tell on an emando? I dunno. Looks nice on those Ronos though.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[pklima]

The hollow body probably just makes it feed back easier. But it does look nice. The top and back could be from one piece of wood - cut apart before the back is hollowed out and then put back together. But it's more likely that the back is one piece and the top is one piece.

Btw the Wishnevsky doubleneck mandocello/guitar is back... guess the buyer backed out?

[mrmando]

What a find! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7304915513&rd=1) No reserve, which should make it really interesting.

Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7304775907&rd=1) is a rare critter, if it's not a modification job. Seen one other pickup like that on a Vega electric. Has a vintage Switchcraft jack, like the National Silvo. Anyone know if the chickenheads are correct for the period?

[delsbrother]

What a find! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7304915513&rd=1) No reserve, which should make it really interesting.
I like, "Ugly, yet functional." http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

That Vega is pretty cool - is it a cylinderback or just a flatback?

[mrmando]

The Vega's flat, thank goodness. I should hate to think they would do that to a cylinderback. Once on ebay there was a beautiful Bill Bussmann mandola into the top of which someone had cut a hole for a magnetic pickup!

Does anyone have an informed opinion on whether the Vega is a modification job? The eBay seller is asking for my advice.

[Sellars]

I don't know whether it has been spotted before, but a seller on the German Ebay site offers the 8 string version of the mandobird: 8-string mandobird (http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7303967837&rd=1)

The German Ebay site is a cheap way alltogether to obtain a Mandobird.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[glauber]

I don't know whether it has been spotted before, but a seller on the German Ebay site offers the 8 string version of the mandobird: 8-string mandobird (http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7303967837&rd=1)

The German Ebay site is a cheap way alltogether to obtain a Mandobird.
I'm missing something. This one is 225 Euro; Elderly has them for $249 USD, new. Are the old ones better than the new ones?

[delsbrother]

Does Elderly actually have them in stock? If not you might be waiting a long time. If the German site has them on hand and can get one to you immediately, it would be worth a premium.. IOW, how much is your time worth..

If someone does finally land one of these things, please post your impressions! I haven't seen very many good reviews of 8 string electric tone..

[Ted Eschliman]

You're right about the time. We ordered five for my stores in January of 2004. We just got one of the five last week (14 months later...).
Darrel, I haven't had a chance to see it since it's at one of my branches 60 miles away. (I'm not really wild about 8 string electrics anyway; they're harder to play, and the double course goes out of tune when bending.) If I get a chance, I'll weigh in on it.

[mrmando]

This (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7306708480&rd=1) deserves its own thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=22;t=22946)...

[pklima]

If anybody REALLY wants a cheap e-mando:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....30&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41406&item=7307228130&rd=1)

It's not pretty but it's only $65 opening bid and $80 BIN and the body is koa. If the neck had more frets I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[glauber]

It seems to be missing the neck on the guitar side and almost everything (except neck) on the mandolin side!

[pklima]

Forget the guitar neck! Leave the guitar side "empty" and have a very unique-looking and dirt-cheap emando. All you'd really need is a bridge, neck plate, tuners and maybe some minor bits of hardware.

Gotta love these "left-handed cutaway on mando side, right-handed cutaway on guitar side" designs, though. And the guitar-width mando neck combined with what looks like four very narrowly spaced string holes in the body. And the knobs and switches randomly scattered all over.

[Joel Glassman]

>If the neck had more frets I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I find playing above the 15th fret on an electric
mandolin generally sounds piercingly plinky
(or plinkingly piercing).
Do you play much on those frets?

[pklima]

Well, my current "e-mando" is a restrung electric bass tuned an octave below mandocello. So its upper frets are useful. Don't know if I'd use them on a real emando but I do like having at least 19 frets so I can take open-position stuff up an octave if I feel like it. Maybe with five strings (which would be a better fit for the wide neck) it wouldn't matter, but...

I just find that thing charmingly deformed but I doubt it would be a very functional instrument... at least on the mando side. And I'm not really interested in the guitar side.

[mrmando]

Kent strikes again! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7308340118&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT)

[mrmando]

And the return of Mike Atkinson (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7308777259&rd=1)!

[mikeomando]

Anybody ever play an Atkinson? It sure looks nice...

[pklima]

Sure does look nice! I've never seen a single-coil installed in a humbucker-sized hole that looked this good.

[mrmando]

We've seen this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33040&item=7309685254&rd=1) before. It sold for $262.50 its first time out on eBay; now the new owner is trying to turn a profit, with the help of better photos.

[delsbrother]

Well, I snozed and lozed on that Kent auction. Argh. Oh well, God's way of preparing me for THIS. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47069&item=7308943519&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

Pentasystems 5 string emandocello:
#

http://i15.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/a9/38/d7_1_b.JPG

Question.. Will Mandohack bite? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[pklima]

Wow... anyone care to take guess what it will actually go for?

[Ted Eschliman]

Question.. Will Mandohack bite? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Darrell, at the moment I'm pretty emando satisfied. I just picked up a 5-string E-Manndo from Jonathon Mann I'm pretty happy with...
When things slow down a little for me, I hope to post some pictures and offer my blog on this critter.
I needed to beat Tim Bushyhead in getting one of these, but he's about to one-up me; he's getting a blue one custom made.

[mikeomando]

Ouch. I got outsniped on the penta systems emandocello. Was it anyone here who bought it? We'd love a report. I keep telling myself that I couldn't really afford it, but the tears won't stop coming...

[nobleheart]

I swear that I am neither a stocker nor competitor mandohack HAHAHA...They say that great minds think alike??? I am anxious for your review of your newly acquired Manndolin, and will be recieving mine in about 4-5 weeks...sooo exciting

[pklima]

I doubt an Eko is worth this kind of money but gotta love the "buttcrack" body shape.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7312012288&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

[hellindc]

OK, it's not a mando. But for those who have trouble "keeping time," how about this ebay beauty?

http://i17.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/b5/05/df_0.JPG

[glauber]

OK, it's not a mando. But for those who have trouble "keeping time," how about this ebay beauty?

http://i17.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/b5/05/df_0.JPG
It looks like a tiny guitar. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mrmando]

I doubt an Eko is worth this kind of money but gotta love the "buttcrack" body shape.
Maybe you could play "butt rock" on it...

[delsbrother]

Can't remember if this one's been on this thread before - that's a bad sign, isn't it?

In any case, it's breakin' my heart to post this. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7312678797&rd=1)

There's also a minty-fresh MM68 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7312968637&rd=1) for your perusal, as well as a Tekno-ready Conqueror (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7312890422&rd=1). I always seem to get outbid on these, so I figure what the heck, post it here - besides, I like the look of the Kents better anyway.. yeah! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Darrell

[mrmando]

The thing about the Reinhardt Cupid mandolin is that it's *not* a one-of-a-kind prototype ... unless he added a pickup and more knobs to the one I have pictured at emando.com.

[mrmando]

Heck, there's a Kay, a Godin, and a Mandoblaster as well.

Had a busy weekend -- actually played some e-mando gigs! Six performances of a musical version of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in a school production directed by my wife. Played my Yanuziello 8-string straight into the Blues Jr.

I took to heart one of Niles' comments about volume-knob effects and discovered I could get a good 8th-note pulse going by rolling the volume knob back and forth with my right hand and plucking an open string every so often with my left. The resulting echo-ey 8th notes were perfect for one of the songs that happens during the cave scene.

[Keith Miller]

double neck (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7312012288&rd=1)
Looks Ok , bit dear though
Keith

[pklima]

Is this Tho X. Bui? Whatever it is, it'd well worth the opening bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....63&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=7315002463&rd=1)

[mrmando]

yeah, that's our buddy Tho.

Figured Ponderosa pine, eh? Well, it's easy to get in Arizona.

[mad dawg]

Hey MrMando -- didn't Tho build the pignose emando?

[delsbrother]

WAYNE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7314936764&rd=1)

[mad dawg]

Looks like Wayne may have invented the silent mandolin.

[billkilpatrick]

perfect for the emperor's ball ...

[Mastersound]

Hiya

Now you all know that my mandos are honest, economical, funny little guitars, and that I would never rip off a fellow mandolinist, but following a conversation today at work about the ridiculous descriptions and crazy prices people will pay on eBay I have put an item up on eBay for auction!

I thought my fellow Mandolin Cafe electric mandolin mates might enjoy following this auction to see how it progresses! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7315764507

[glauber]

I can't believe you're letting that go for such a low price! With the original screw, even!

I heard these vintage saddles have incredible sustain. Definitely not a Pac-rim product!

[pklima]

Hey MrMando -- didn't Tho build the pignose emando?
Tho is the pigmando guy but I think he may stick to doublenecks from now on - his previous one (a mando/tenor guitar with a weird body shape and a BIG knot in the middle of its pine body) went for over $400, and this one is over $400 already. It appears to be a market niche in need of filling...

[mrmando]

Any help with this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7317772567&rd=1)?

Seller says he bought it from a luthier but can't remember who ... it was supposed to be a prototype for the luthier's new line of instruments. (Yeesh, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard THAT, I could almost buy a latte.)

Looks like, given a thousand years, a sufficient supply of pear juice, and the right climatic conditions, this thing MIGHT have evolved into John Montgomery's ASR Minieball, but even that's a stretch.

[mikeomando]

Other than the zero fret, I don't see a resemblance to the ASR, FWIW. The ASR is a semi hollowbody, and this looks like a slab body. Anybody else have any ideas?

By the way, This could be the first time I've seen mrmando stumped. That certainly suggests that this is a one-off piece of ephemera.

[mrmando]

For the record, I'm stumped by Hieronymus' mini-P-bass "not a Knutson" mando, too...

But I have heard of Skyesound (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7318655504&rd=1) before. Kent Armstrong mando-humbucker is kewl, but why's the fretboard extension on the bass side?

[delsbrother]

It's for when you absolutely, positively need that low C#.

There's something about this tenor (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47064&item=7318842581&rd=1) that makes me want to bid on it, even though it's a complete basketcase.

[mad dawg]

You might want to wear rubber soled shoes when playing that one.

[jefflester]

Carved Out F-Style 4-string (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=7323273613&rd=1)

[mrmando]

Ah ... good ol' Allen Gerrell. Reviews of his previous work have been very discouraging. But he keeps at it...

[mrmando]

Rickenbacher Electro (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7323696360)

One of the first emandos ever ... I'm verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves...

http://emando.com/images/builders/Rickenbacker/Rickenbacher_Electro_1930s_1.jpg

[Moose]

WOW!! - Hey, as far as I'm concerned..., you get "picture-of-the-day" award! - Looks like a luthier's special.. - need's-a-little-work! And those PU's!! -hee.., hee... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[delsbrother]

Wow, that horse's been rode hard and put away wet. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Christian McKee]

Wait a sec, the ad says "SERIEL NUMBER PUTS IT AT 1963," Fender was making mando casters from at least '57, right? Am I missing something when you say 'one of the first?'

Christian

[mrmando]

The only thing you're missing is that the seller is a bad typist. I think he meant 1936. Or if he didn't, he should have.

There is a pic of one of these in much better condition at emando.com. Still, this is only the second one I've seen. I would love to buy this & restore it, but can't really afford to.

[delsbrother]

WTF? (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19270&item=5582378823&rd=1)

[mrmando]

Hm. Well, it's an Oldtown EM-7. My uneducated guess: You could buy one direct from Oldtown for a lot less. Not sure what makes Jag think his epithelial cells have ennobled this axe to the tune of $20K.

[mrmando]

THIS (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33039&item=7325672238&rd=1) will mess with your head!

Putting a guitar pickup under the pickguard ... that's just wrong. The bridge (missing its cover) and Klusons do look right -- and that's about all that looks right. The seller shouldn't have used the term "SB-4" in the listing -- that's the short-lived repro that Fender UK made three years ago, and this thing looks more like an SB-4 than like a Mandocaster.

What do you figure this beast is worth, given the vivisection it's endured?

[Christian McKee]

I would think that at the range price the seller seems to be interested in, the buyer would be getting a good deal. I've played a '58 Mandocaster, and while I miss having two pickups, it sure is an amazingly playable instrument. I wonder about the tele pickup though, that just seems plain foolish, what with all the options that out there.

Christian

[glauber]

I wonder about the tele pickup though, that just seems plain foolish, what with all the options that out there.
I wondered if that's why they hid it under the pickguard.

[mikeomando]

If someone is really interested in this mando, I'm in Chicago and could go check it out. I personally like the idea of a hidden pickup. Many emandos have their pickup way up close to the strings, where you can get pick click. This one looks nice and clean, assuming the pickup is giving enough output. $500 seems okay for a final price, though. Much more than that doesn't feel right, to me anyway.

[mikeomando]

Okay, I take some of it back. The angle of the pickup is the wrong way: making the lower end softer sounding and the higher end harder sounding. I don't like the way the pickup lines up with the strings, either. But the neck looks original, and the decal looks nice...

[mrmando]

The decal looks nice but of course it's not original. The description does admit that ...

As for the pickup angle, aren't all Mandocasters like that? That's the way the body was routed.

[mikeomando]

I don't know if they're all like that, but it makes sense if the body was routed like that. On the other hand, if you're going to hide the whole assembly, why not route out so the pickup is tilted the other way? Why not route out enough to line the pickup up under the strings a little better?

I just think of that orientation as backwards. See the orientation of the Stevens emandos. (on your own excellent site http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif )This makes a big difference, to me, anyway. It makes the high notes less harsh and cutting.

I was trying to find something I liked on it. Let's see, the color, the decal, and it's probably an original neck...