Headless Emando's

[Patrick Killeen]

Hello mandelect

The setup that I'm using won't be doing the piezo any favours. Piezo outputs really need careful handling but the electrics in the mandolin simply mix the raw signals from the two pickups. The sound from the piezo would probably be more natural if it went through a preamp before being mixed with the signal from the magnetic pickup. I was actually very dubious when Alister suggested this arrangement and pleasantly surprised with the result.

If you do get a custom instrument built then you might consider a Fishman Powerchip to mix the signals onboard. I've decided not to take this route, partly because I'm quite fond of the current sound, partly because I'd like to keep the instrument as simple as possible, and partly because there's no space for an onboard 9v battery anyway. I may have it modified though, by adding a miniature jack socket and upgrading the volume control pot for the piezo so that it can switch the signal to it, I'd then be able to use an offboard active mixer to blend the two signals.

Regards

Patrick

[Patrick Killeen]

Are there any benefits to the headless design OTHER than compact-ness?

Hello delsbrother

The only other benefit I've found is that it make it easier to use a slide on the top couple of frets. #

Compactness was actually an issue close to my heart, normal mandolins are just too big and bulky for my taste, I won't be entirely happy until I can find one that I can slip into my back pocket (my first instrument is harmonica ).

Regards

Patrick

[mrmando]

Here's yet another headless e-cavaquinho...

[mandelect]

Nice one mrmando. Looks like the Contemporanea definitely has a detachable body frame; you can see the location holes on the instrument sides, and at the neck below the 17th fret.

A link perhaps #


I estimate that the case to be approx 22" long, which is very compact?

[mrmando]

a link ... uh ... sorry ... it was on Mercado Livre