Fender Electrics--Which one?

[telepbrman]

Hey, I am thinking of snagging an E-bay mando from Fender:

Which one is most popular/best/cool?

FM-60: 2 pickup 5 string.
FM-61: 1 pickup 8 string.
FM-62: Bridge p/u 8 string.

Thanks, dy.

[mandoaz]

I actually own a FM 62 (sort of a wanna be Rigel design) and frankly don't really care for it...It has decent tone when plugged in and run through a pre-amp/EQ, but I just don't dig the feel and playability of the instrument---feels flimsy to me...I have a Godin A8 which, IMO, is a far more solid instrument and cost me less...

The FM 61, if I remember correctly has the "hockey stick" looking headstock....I played one in the music store some time ago and also didn't care too much for it...

Just my 2 cents... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[nobleheart]

I own a 60--5 string fender emando. It is fun to play and sounds OK. I need to upgrade the pickup. There are certainly some better mandos out there, but for the money these are not the worst you could do. The five string will give you a more guitar feel, whereas an 8 would stick with the true mando theme; just a different sound.

I would second the Godin recommendation, on the grounds that it seems to be put together a little better, and I like the neck on these.

[mandoaz]

BTW, from my recollection, the FM 62 had a much more "acoustic" sound to it than the FM 61--at least through set-ups I played them through (Fishman pre-amp/EQ run into the PA)

[Baron Collins-Hill]

i own a fm62se, and frankly love it. i have played about 6 of them after i mail ordered mine, and they have all sounded like metal bowling balls. i got mine, set the bridge right, and thats it. its got a great tone i am thinking, and the action is very nice compared to other fenders ive played, i also love the super thin neck for my wee hands. the fit and finish are near dead on as far i can tell, but im pretty sure that i got lucky by what ive played. plugged in it sounds good on the low end but gets a little shrill by the e string. id recomend playing the one you are going to buy before you do and make sure its right.

[mandroid]

you know #60 & #61 were a short run and are no longer being made. the choice is....
the A8 by Godin. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Re the Smurf hat headstock on the #61 is a throwback to their Villager 12 string acoustic, from the 60s, by the way.

[asicard]

nobleheart,

I own a FM-60E and had Steve Ryder (http://www.sjryder.com/) wind some replacement pickups for it. I am really pleased with the results.

Also, if someone is considering buying a Godin A8, the Ovation MM68 is worth checking out as well. Godin makes great stuff, but I personally prefer the MM68 over the A8...

[nobleheart]

asicard-

Any particular type of pickup?
Cleaner/thicker/bluesy/rockin'?

Thanks for any info.

[mandroid]

Fender lace sensors come in flavors. red blue #silver gold, etc. (but only white cover)#use of a #plug in wiring scheme., that you may consider , makes swapping them out easy. $40 - 60.. EMG select, a stacked humbuck strat style was $20 at StewMac..
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif