A mandolin in your hands is better than any not with you

[MandoBoris]

Alternate title: "F-holes? Oval holes? No holes!"

I get it, it's not for everyone, but I needed this if I was ever going to get on a regular practice schedule.






Courtesy of Larry Muth. I waited 6 months for this baby. It's even got a radiused fret board! It's standard mandolin scale length, but only 23 inches / 58 cm overall. It fits in a standard rolling carry-on. Hey, it's my first custom ordered instrument, and it cost half as much as my Eastman MD305!

And yes . . . all solid woods.

(counting down till someone mentions "tone guard")

[Bertram Henze]

What, no scroll? I suppose it's got a pickup and is to be used with headphones? Portable and friendly to other hotel dwellers?

It could have been even shorter if the tuners were integrated in the body. I have an electric TG for similar purposes.

[Ron McMillan]

I rate that as a pretty cool solution to your need to have a practice instrument with you at all times. Well done.

[MikeZito]

I can picture a whole bunch of snooty traditionalist's seeing that, and having their head explode!

Kind of reminds me of John Fogerty's baseball bat guitar.

Enjoy!

[UsuallyPickin]

Well done sir...... keep those fingers active on the road. This is a no worry no second bag solution. Two thumbs up...... keep your eyes open for the right sticker .... R/

[Cary Fagan]

Nice! That's a solid body so i gather it makes almost no sound? Just curious.

[Eric Platt]

Very cool solution. I like it. As someone who used to fly with a Backpacker guitar, I consider what you have very cool.

Enjoy it.

[NursingDaBlues]

I suppose it's got a pickup and is to be used with headphones? Portable and friendly to other hotel dwellers?

I really like the idea of a pickup with headphones!

[Bertram Henze]

I really like the idea of a pickup with headphones!

Notice: in between, you need a headphone amp, such as this

[NursingDaBlues]

Notice: in between, you need a headphone amp, such as this

Yup. Back in the '80s I picked up a cheap electric guitar, rigged it with a headphone amp and headphones, then spliced another cord to my Walkman (remember those?) so I could play along to songs without bothering the household. Admittedly it wasn't great, but it did okay.

I just like the idea of this type of travel mandolin with a headphone setup.

[MandoBoris]

Nice! That's a solid body so i gather it makes almost no sound? Just curious.

Yes, it makes enough sound to hear yourself in a quiet room, but it won't be heard in the next room, for example from outside the hotel rooms I spend half my life in.

I exaggerated earlier when I said "half as much as..." It cost quite less than that. No pickups as of yet. I planned to ask for ideas around here at some point, but it's not a priority.

It's actually quite fun to play.

*edited for clarity

[billhay4]

Bill Monroe could have used one of those at one point in his career.
Bill

[dang]

That is brilliant, I want one with one of those low profile nugget tailpieces and a pickup!