Very old electric mandolin

[383roller]

Anyone recognize this for a brand or time?

[383roller]

Back

[MikeZito]

If I were a betting man, I would say something from the 1960's in the Japanese made Kent / Guyatone / Hagstrom line. Unfortunately, Guyatone made so many different instruments under many different names during that period (including some nameless head stocks) that exact identification may be very hard to come by.

Perhaps this question might be better answered if it were moved to the Four, Five and Eight-String Electrics forum?

[F-2 Dave]

That's so cool. Like mike said, probably sixties Japanese. May be hard to pin down without a label or other identifying marks. Have you plugged it into an amp?

[Jim Garber]

Closest resemblance is Kingston mandolins but not exact. Check out emando.com. Maybe Martin Stillion will check in here.

[Jeff Mando]

Body and neck shape appear to be a copy of the Fender mandocaster, but the hardware is not. I'm guessing 60's era. Reminds me of those "servicemen's guitars" that were forgeries of American guitars made in the Phillipines and purchased by American servicemen -- but I've never seen a servicemen's mandolin before......

[DavidKOS]

Body and neck shape appear to be a copy of the Fender mandocaster, but the hardware is not. I'm guessing 60's era. Reminds me of those "servicemen's guitars" that were forgeries of American guitars made in the Phillipines and purchased by American servicemen -- but I've never seen a servicemen's mandolin before......

That's what I was thinking a Fender-inspired copy.

[383roller]

These were my general thoughts too, just wanted to make sure I didn't pass something up.

[darrylicshon]

Is it cheap, does it play good if it is , I would buy it for the right price

[mrmando]

"Old Japanese Mandocaster copy" is about the best I can do. I've seen similar but not identical instruments.

[MikeZito]

Darryl:

I have seen your collection . . . is there anything that you won't buy for the right price?

Yes, it is a very cool piece, no matter what it is. Judging from the sicker on the back, it looks like it was a thrift store find, so I can't imagine that it wasn't bought at 'the right price'.

I am jealous.

[David Lewis]

I like that tailpiece ... watch that treble...