Electric mandolin

[Mandodan12]

Hi guys,
I have looked at the Eastwood mandocaster, the epiphone mandobird, and the Kentucky electric. Does anyone have any useful information about any of those 3 instruments?
I am looking for something under $500 to jam with my friends who play electric guitar/drums/bass so i'm not looking for something that imitates an acoustic mando sound. here is another open ended question: what is the most unusual/creative electric (or not) mandolin that you have ever seen?
thanks,
-Dan

[Tim2723]

Hi Dan,

I had a thread recently in the electric mando forum a short scroll down where I asked about the Epi Mandobird. I got a lot of good info from the gang. Check that one out for some good links and advice.

[mrmando]

The C. H. T. Beswick certainly gets my vote for most unusual, but not in a good way. Sorina, Buckleman, St. George, Deschler, Wishnevsky, Bussmann, Bosnar, Levens, et al. ... they all have their charms.

I would definitely talk to Rob Dick (Jupiter Creek), Andrew Jerman, or Rick Felkel (Elloree) about a handbuilt emando in the $500 range, in addition to the factory instruments you have mentioned. The Eastwood seems to be a cut above the other two. There are still some of the recent import Fenders (5 and 8 strings) kicking around, secondhand.

All these and many more emandos appear you-know-where...