THESE just don't come up for sale very often.
THESE just don't come up for sale very often.
Yes sir! Acoustic/electric 8-string sit-down mandobass!
Scale length works out to about 30 inches, a bit much for cello tuning but you could probably find some short-scale bass strings that would work. Maybe string it in octave pairs? Needs a bridge, tuners, back plate, knobs, and setup work but isn't full of holes or cracks. P90 is a nice touch.
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
I am really curious. Is this a one of a kind homemade homedesigned thing? Or was there really something like this produced commercially? My first thought was of that Heironymous Bosch tryptich scene. How was this thing even conceptualized enough to construct?
Man, I lead a sheltered life. Good thing I hang out here. Would hate to get moldy.
New to mando? Click this link -->Newbies to join us at the Newbies Social Group.
Just send an email to rob.meldrum@gmail.com with "mandolin setup" in the subject line and he will email you a copy of his ebook for free (free to all mandolincafe members).
My website and blog: honketyhank.com
The Gibson mandobass is equipped with two endpin ports: One at the end so you can play it standing up and one on the lower treble bout so you can play it seated. This one was designed for seated playing — the builder chose to shift the neck rather than the endpin.
I'm pretty confident that it's not a production instrument. Never seen one before.
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
Where the heck did they get that gigundous brass tailpiece?
Utility and originality aside, one of the ugliest musical instruments I've ever seen.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Yeah, the tailpiece actually looks like it's TOO big. For proper intonation, the bridge would have to go about 2 inches from the end of the tailpiece, and that seems too close to me.
Now that I've zoomed in on the photo, I see there's some kind of trouble along the side down below the tailpiece. Could be just loose binding, but there might be a side separation or possibly a crack there. I wonder whether that part of the instrument is properly blocked/reinforced to hold the tailpiece and take the string tension.
Does it look to you like the builder might have started out intending to use a conventional neck placement, and then chosen a different path halfway through the build?
Last edited by mrmando; Jan-26-2018 at 7:12pm.
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
They got the tailpiece from Omar the tailpiece maker.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Make America Grateful Again!
2013 Collings MF, 2017 Northfield NF2S, 2019 Northfield Big Mon F
1968 Martin D12-20, 2008 Martin HD28, 2022 Martin CEO 7
1978 Ibanez Artist "Flying Eagle" Masterclone Banjo
Well if you want to go art, it looks more Duchampian - "ready-made," repurposed materials, etc
Make America Grateful Again!
2013 Collings MF, 2017 Northfield NF2S, 2019 Northfield Big Mon F
1968 Martin D12-20, 2008 Martin HD28, 2022 Martin CEO 7
1978 Ibanez Artist "Flying Eagle" Masterclone Banjo
Ha! If you compare it to a Manzer Pikasso, the price goes up. http://www.manzer.com/guitars/index....d=25&Itemid=24
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
Whatever it is, I want one. I've got MAS.
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
I smell the genius of ... Shmergel!
How deep is that sound box? It looks mighty thin to me. Also, is that the original case?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
A The Shmoigall lawsuit (artist supremo model) guttar-vile, with offset neck, (case extra).
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Fingerboard inlays and pickguard look like a Gretsch. Perhaps this was a prototype made for Bo Diddley.
When 'good enough' is more than adequate.
In seriousness, if it were strung with a couple of dozen drone strings across the body a la bandura, could be cool.. still, I would think you'd want a guttar-vile *without* the offset neck option...
Bookmarks