A Jay Roberts 8-string!!!???

[mrmando]

Someone sent me these photos. Says the mandolin belonged to her dad, a touring musician from Livermore, California. I'm inclined to think this is the work of Jay Roberts, who made pedal steels before he started building his famous Tiny Moore 5-string mandolins, and that it most likely predates the Tinys. Never seen a Roberts 8-string before, nor indeed any e-mando quite like this one.

[Chief]

Very cool Martin. So, are they selling it?

[pglasse]

Wow! Batman's electric mandolin, from the looks of it.

[mrmando]

Very cool Martin. So, are they selling it?

Ha! Don't I wish. She said she was asking for insurance purposes. I told her it's irreplaceable, but if it were mine I'd insure it for $4K. We'll find out if she decides to keep it or put it on the block.

[darrylicshon]

That's nice looking and red is my favorite color

[lenf12]

Too cool for skool, Martin. Thanks for sharing!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[F-2 Dave]

oops.

[F-2 Dave]

Almost has a Mosrite look to it.

[mrmando]

Almost has a Mosrite look to it.

It does indeed. Mosrite meets Harmony Batwing.

[mrmando]

Confirmation: I heard from one of Jay Roberts' offspring that Jay confirmed this is one of his. He built six of them before moving on to the Tiny Moore 5-strings.

Jay is still alive at 89. (I was uncertain as to whether he was still with us.)