Does anyone out there have anything to say about Bluestar Mandolins.
Does anyone out there have anything to say about Bluestar Mandolins.
pbob
Why, sure. I own a 5 string Bluestar Mandoblaster. It plays well, has a fairly loud output from the lipstick pickup, and is a solid feeling player's mando. Good sustain. In my humble opinion, it's probably the cheapest emando that you can buy and just play without having to do any major mods to. It's a solid wood body with some kind of resin (phenolic) coating, and a maple neck. Mine has a purple applique dazzle finish. I own 4 or 5 emandos, and I usually pull out the Bluestar when I go jam, even though I own better ones, because I don't worry so much about dropping it, or spilling something on it, even though I have never dropped a mando, or spilled something on it. The other nice thing about it is that it plays in tune and stays in tune, if you have decent strings on it.
Are you thinking of buying one? Ask more specific questions and we'll try to give you answers. Do a search on "bluestar" or "mandoblaster" in the message body and read other comments about these Michigan-made instruments. And welcome to the Mandolin Cafe!
Forget with the cowbell, already...
Mikeomando summed up the Bluestar quite well. They frequently appear used at Elderly. I haven't played the elusive Mandobird but I've played many other less expensive emando's and the Bluestar really is an excellent value. It plays very well and the pickup is very acceptable. The body is kinda funky, but rugged. Not that I need a rugged mandolin as I have never dropped one or spilled beer or lighter fluid on it, nor left it in a freezing or boiling hot car, no burn marks, or slash marks from knives or broken bottles, or pock marks from BB's or .22 slugs. Maybe I've been lucky or something. Oh yes, and welcome to the Mandolin cafe!!
Wye Knot
No personal experience with Bluestar, but there happens to be 9 new ones on sale at Elderly right now...Originally Posted by (Lee957 @ May 17 2005, 13:26)
Check it out: http://www.elderly.com/brand/90N_blue%20star.html
It's a little known fact that Mr. Bluestar; I think his name is Bruce Herron, has built custom emando's. #I played the one owned by the mandolinist for Roy Clark's band. Anyway the neck looked right off a stock Bluestar but the body was carved wood and extremely beautiful.
Wye Knot
i have a used mandoblaster i got off ebay from a cafe member for a very reasonable price. it is an early 90's one, but it has a birdseye maple neck. very sweet sounding and just what i wanted for those occassions that i play electric. it also came with the hard case. a great buy for someone just wanting to start out on emando.
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
Where did you get the purple one?
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
Ok, that icon was not supposed to be there.
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
When I bought my mandoblaster from Elderly, it was the only 5 string they had in stock. The 'dazzle' color on all non-custom mandoblasters is an adhesive-backed applique. If you have your heart set on purple, I have been thinking of selling this emando. I have 5 or 6 others.
Forget with the cowbell, already...
Really? How much would you sell it for?
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
Received my Mandoblaster from Bruce on Monday; it's a "limited edition, one of a kind" special which appeared on ebay a couple of weeks ago. Has a humbucker with coil tap switch - sounds wonderful, with good sustain and plenty of tonal variation. Mine has a natural satin finish over a one piece 20 year old MI soft maple body and MI hard maple neck - looks beautiful; fit and finish is immaculate and it came with a nice case too!
Does anyone know what the body of the standard mandoblaster is made of?
Nice custom there, mandelect. The first Bluestar custom I've ever seen.
johnrhaupert, I'd sell mine for $570, delivered in the U.S.
Gowanus, I have no idea. The whole slab is covered. It's definitely not balsa wood.
Forget with the cowbell, already...
$570 with a case and shipping or without? What condition is it in?
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
Johnrhaupert: $570 with case and shipping. Remember it's a 5 string, all stock. The emando is in near mint condition, except for the bubble in the purple applique. maybe you should pm me if you are serious, and I'll email you some pix. The thing it does is stay in tune and play well. Most of the low end emandos don't without some professional work.
Forget with the cowbell, already...
AHH! So, I bought a mandoblaster online and they sent me a 4-string by mistake. Then they shipped out a 5-string and I got it today. The problem is that there is a very bad intonation problem with the C string. The octave C is pretty sharp and the chords I play using the C string sound pretty out of tune. I thought that these instruments were supposed to be playable without any mods. What should I do?
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
First, don't panic. Then panic (joke). Is the C string playing the octave harmonic directly over the 12th fret? (use a tuner to check) If not, you may have to adjust the bridge, because maybe you are set up for different gauge strings. If it is playing the harmonic directly over the 12th fret, it's time to look at your technique. It's really easy to fret pretty true on tight double courses, like on an acoustic, because the string tensions make you really have to push (or pull) to bend a fretted note out of tune. Single courses are much easier to accidently bend out of tune, and a loose C string is the easiest of all. When I first started playing 5 string I had to really focus on pushing straight down on the C string, so I didn't push every note sharp. If you really can't handle the floppy C string, you could try tuning it up to D. DGDAE. This actually simplifies a bunch of chord forms. I love having the low C, so I don't do this very often. Good luck, and let us know what's happening.
Forget with the cowbell, already...
Oh yeah, mods are different than adjusting your set up. You shouldn't have to shim the neck or mess around with the frets. Depending on the strings you use, you might have to adjust the scale length at the bridge, as well as the string height at the bridge.
Forget with the cowbell, already...
The harmonic on the 12th fret is in tune and when I tuned it up to D, I was able to play in tune. So it is my technique. I am trying to make it better but it is super hard. Any other tips? Thanks!
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
Why is it so hard? I never have trouble playing the low E on the guitar in tune...
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
Shorter scale length means less tension on the low notes. Now you have to experiment with string thicknesses. If I remember correctly, I use a .052 for my C string, but I have experimented with .048, .049, .050, and .051 as well.
At least it is playable without any mods, assuming you fret true. Try fretting the C string alone and see how easy it is to bend, then see if you can find the feel of fretting without bending. Compare this to a guitar, where the longer scale length takes more bend to sound obviously out of tune. You'll get it. Or you won't. You can always take off the C string, or tune it up to D. I also fret the C string with my left thumb sometimes. Maybe that will be a workaround.
Forget with the cowbell, already...
I dont want to take it off or tune it up because I would really like to play a real 5 string. So, I am gonna keep trying it out. Thanks for all the advice.
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
Mandelect, nice custom Bluestar. Several years ago I saw one very similar built for the mandolin player in Roy Clark's band. I was an usher for that show working the pit, and when I saw the roadie bring it out on stage I yelled up to him and he brought out their mandolin player who let me pick a little on it. (No, not plugged in.) I have a MandoBlaster and the custom was certainly quite nice. I'd consider a custom Mandoblaster in a second if I was in the market.
Wye Knot
Lee, I'm really pleased with my Bluestar. It was a spur of the moment Ebay bid, a few weeks ago. Nobody else seemed interested so I managed to get it for a good price - not too dissimilar to what the standard 'blasters go for!
I am thinking of getting it refretted with chunkier frets; I'm not too keen on standard mandolin fretwire for electrics - but of course that's a personal preference. Bruce offered to refret for a very good price, but shipping from the UK to the States (and back) would bump the price up considerably. Bruce seems a really nice guy and was very helpful throughout the deal.
BTW the Ebay listing stated that mine was the first of a limited series of instruments ... so watch "that" space if you're in the market for one!
mikeomando, what string thickness would make it easiest to play in tune?
"Because the world is round, it turns me on"
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