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View Full Version : The best electric mandolin ever created



Jim Broyles
Aug-14-2008, 8:36am
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Mandolin-EM-100-1940-with-Charlie-Christian-p-u_W0QQitemZ300249010808QQihZ020QQcate


goryZ10179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank"> 1940 Gibson emando</a>

chasray
Aug-14-2008, 8:55am
you just made my day.

John Rosett
Aug-14-2008, 9:19am
Well, at least his claim is arguable, unlike most statements like that on ebay. Those prewar Gibsons are my favorite emandos.

Jim Broyles
Aug-14-2008, 10:33am
John, is that how they were made, with those bolts on the face?

Doug Hoople
Aug-14-2008, 10:55am
Says the case is mint, too, so they must have started factory-distressing as early as 1940! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

markishandsome
Aug-14-2008, 10:56am
You don't get that high tinny elec. mando sound that makes you lose friends.

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

John Rosett
Aug-14-2008, 10:57am
Jim-Yes, that's original. Those early Gibson pickups had a big piece that extended down on the underside. That's what those bolts are attached to. That pickup is actually the 2nd generation of the "Charlie Christian" pickup.
My dream is to one day have a '36-'37 EM-150, EH-150/7, and ES-150.

John Rosett
Aug-14-2008, 11:04am
Here's a picture of a slightly earlier one:

John Rosett
Aug-14-2008, 11:06am
And here's a picture of the mando in question. See the difference in the pickups?

Jim Garber
Aug-14-2008, 11:44am
I have one of those with the CC pickup and as mandorose says the bolts are all original. It does sound great esp thru a good tube amp.

The pickups have a large magnet under the top. I believe that theyu may have used std A-50 bodies but may also have used a thicker top to support the weight of the pickup.

BTW I also have the 6 string and the tenor guitar versions. I had a friend's electric tenor banjo also at one time, all with the CC pickup.

Jim Broyles
Aug-14-2008, 1:50pm
Well, guys, I didn't mean to dis any of you all, or your idea of a cool mandolin. I thought that the statement in the listing was, well, hyperbole. Maybe it's right after all. And, to further display my ignorance, I never would have thought that those bolts were original. They look so... amateur-luthier-like. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

John Rosett
Aug-14-2008, 3:27pm
Well, guys, I didn't mean to dis any of you all, or your idea of a cool mandolin. I thought that the statement in the listing was, well, hyperbole. Maybe it's right after all. #And, to further display my ignorance, I never would have thought that those bolts were original. They look so... amateur-luthier-like. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Well. I certainly didn't take any offence, and I don't think that since they're my favorite that the seller's right. I used to have a Roberts Tiny Moore that was a GREAT electric. Hyperbole yes! It is ebay after all. At least he's not asking $500k to go with his claim.
When I first saw a Charlie Christian pickup equiped instrument, I felt the same way, but I've seen alot of them now, so I'm used to it. Remember, it was the dawn of the electric instrument age.

Christian McKee
Aug-15-2008, 11:35am
Well, they certainly were amatuers in the field of electric instruments. Everyone was. But the best created? I think that's my flying V http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

Christian

mrmando
Aug-15-2008, 1:45pm
EM100s are rare -- made only between 1940 and 1943 if memory serves. But is it proper to call that oval blade pickup a "Charlie Christian"? I thought that term only applied to the earlier six-sided shape.

John Rosett
Aug-16-2008, 8:53am
EM100s are rare -- made only between 1940 and 1943 if memory serves. But is it proper to call that oval blade pickup a "Charlie Christian"? I thought that term only applied to the earlier six-sided shape.
I don't know. It seems like it's very similar, as far as the components go, although I noticed that the EM-100 only has two bolts through the top, as opposed to the three bolts on the EM-150. Maybe it has a smaller magnet? There's also a white plastic covered pickup with the blade that you see on some of the 30's lap steels.

Geoff B
Aug-16-2008, 9:45am
look at the different f-holes... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Geoff B
Aug-16-2008, 9:46am
and bridge location...???

John Rosett
Aug-16-2008, 11:35am
The f holes and bridge location are strange looking. I didn't notice it at first, but those f holes are unlike most Gibsons. It's probably correct though. Martin has a picture of an EM-100 on his website that looks just the same.

delsbrother
Aug-16-2008, 2:08pm
Epiphone?

John Rosett
Aug-16-2008, 2:34pm
It does look a little bit Epiphone-like, but all the pre-war Epi mandolins that I've seen look like they just put a guitar pickup in.

mandroid
Aug-17-2008, 12:44am
How is it better than a P90 EM 150, or Johnny Gimble's electrified A50 ?
[or a Phoenix 'jazz'] which have the neck shifted long for more playable length and,
so the bridge lies in the middle of the soundholes..

edit : ah I see "best" comes from sales text,

really ... it is Subjective after all.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Joel Spaulding
Aug-21-2008, 4:23am
This instrument has now migrated from an auction site onto the Cafe Classifieds - no NFI, just wouldn't want anyone to miss #the best electric ever made. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Stephen Lind
Aug-25-2008, 12:56am
that "mint condition" case
sure looks scratched up

where do these people get their ideas of definitions?