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Thread: Fender sb-4 (or sb-8?)

  1. #51

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    Quote Originally Posted by (mrmando @ Jan. 27 2008, 22:42)
    Check out 250210484524 and compare the color to the others that have been listed. This one's definitely Sonic Blue, unless the seller's camera is way off.
    It is difficult to see if it really is true sonic blue due to the light conditions. I mean look at the head. It is rather bright and the pick up cover is supposed to be black.
    I saw this FM-988 in a shop in 2004 and it looked sonic blue to me at the time. You can see that the head in this image is a bit darker.

  2. #52
    Registered User jefflester's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (mrmando @ Jan. 26 2008, 23:24)
    Yes, 370016994226 went to me. All that obsessive searching finally paid off. #
    Has it arrived yet? Hoping for a review.




  3. #53
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Yes, it got here yesterday. Initial impression is good, but I need to go plug it in and let 'er rip.

    The color is kind of mottled; a yellowed clearcoat over a Sonic Blue finish seems to be the best explanation, to my limited knowledge.

    I thought mine was the cheapest, but last night via Google I found one that went via Buy It Now for even less, on Jan. 8. I added it to the list, earlier in this thread. So far, 14 of the 4-strings have appeared on eBay.

    I will have some more news about these before long. They were shipped to the U.S. last September from a Dutch warehouse.

    Anyone got a source for a hard case for these? I sold an extra Blue Heron gig bag a few weeks ago, and now I wish I hadn't.
    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

  4. #54
    Registered User jefflester's Avatar
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    220196206650 FM-984 just closed @ $590

  5. #55
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    So MRmando, how does it sound?
    How wide is the nut on these?
    thanks,
    Josh
    Josh S

  6. #56
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    I have one the seafoam SB4s on the way to me from a private sale. #I look forward to checking it out, and I'll certainly get back with a review. #Here's a pic of the one I have coming:

    Chip
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  7. #57
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    So Chip, did you get it from one of the eBay buyers, or did you discover the Last Remaining Stash?
    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

  8. #58
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    I don't know where they came from, but this fellow had two of them. They're both gone now.

    So what do you think of yours now, mrmando?

    Chip

  9. #59
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    Would like to hear a review of one of these things from someone that has one in hand.
    Johneeaaddgg

  10. #60
    ISO TEKNO delsbrother's Avatar
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    Still more popping up every day (don't know how many are real and how many are spoofs). One even on the MC classifieds.

  11. #61
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    The one on the Classifieds was purchased on eBay.

    Two new eBay ads (one 4-string, one 8-string), and Mitch is now listing one of his starting at $0.99 with no reserve after three consecutive BIN ads at $1495. Given the direct competition with another 4-string, I don't think this one will go as high as it might if the decks were clear.

    I have no reason to doubt the legitimacy of the new ads.
    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

  12. #62
    Registered User jefflester's Avatar
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    And here I was beginning to wonder if they had dried up.

  13. #63
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (John L @ Feb. 14 2008, 11:46)
    Would like to hear a review of one of these things from someone that has one in hand.
    Mine will be here Monday and I'll let you know what I think.

    Chip

  14. #64
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    mrmando - what do you think of your's?
    Johneeaaddgg

  15. #65
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    My SB4 is on a UPS truck somewhere in town today. Of course, I have a huge work day and will likely not be done until 10pm ish, so even a rough idea of what I think will have to wait until tomorrow...

    I am sure this has been beaten to death somewhere in this forum, but it's been many years since I had an electric. Does anyone with one of these or a real Mandocaster have prefered string gauges?

    Chip

  16. #66
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    Ok, my thoughts after playing it for 10 minutes through a cheap amp:

    First of all, it's so cute! #It's smaller than I thought it would be. #Mine is in good shape but shows a little play wear here and there. #The finish is a little odd. #I would describe it as Sonic Blue that has yellowed and now looks more like a Seafoam Green. #I saw this exact effect once doing repair work on a '67 Bronco. It was a gorgeous green color and when I took of the pickguard discovered the original color was bright blue. #I wonder if this is why these have marked as seconds? #The finish has definitely yellowed, and not evenly. #Personally I like the look of it, I'm even considering doing a little more distressing to further the vintage vibe. #I'm just surprised that the finish has yellowed so much so soon.

    The neck is small and feels good to me. #The strings on it seem fairly heavy, the tension is high. #I hoped to do a little more easy string bending so I will experiment with gauges and see how it effects things.

    The sound is like a Strat, basic single coil tone. #The strings seem to be pretty evenly balanced. #I think the output is a little low compared to a Strat, but I haven't played them side by side yet. #I can't really comment too much on tone since I haven't put it through the paces yet with some real gear, but I think it's gonna be just fine.

    Overall I am impressed, and happy to have a new toy!

    Chip




  17. #67
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    The important thing about my FM-984 is that my wife likes the color! Maybe she can borrow it and become the next Eva Holbrook.

    I finally plugged the thing in tonight and gave it a spin. The neck will take a little getting used to but is comfortable and easy to play. No complaints about the action. I wouldn't describe the pickup as especially warm, but it's plenty loud, and responds very evenly to all four strings, as Chip noted. That's been a problem with some of my other electrics. I may decide to keep this baby and set it up with slightly heavier strings. Sounds good on blues stuff. My theory is that every good instrument has a new tune in it, waiting for me to come along and set it free. And a nice D major improvisation fell out of this axe after a few minutes of playing. I can't pay a higher compliment than that.



    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

  18. #68
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    I'm taking my SB4/FM-984/Mandocaster thingy to it's first gig today. I'll be playing a ski lodge in Sun Valley, ID for the next 8 days, and running this thing through my Carr Rambler amp with a slew of pedals incuding an 808 Tube Screamer and a Fulltone OCD overdrive. Should be a good test of what it can do.

    Chip

  19. #69
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Well, the mother lode has dropped. "Guitar Chuck" from eBay has listed
    10 4-strings and four 8-strings. He bought up the remaining supply from MIRC when these instruments started to get hot.

    I took mine to Wintergrass, where it garnered plenty of oohs and ahs.
    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

  20. #70
    Registered User jefflester's Avatar
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    Of course that's a ridiculous BIN price when all the recent auctions have been in the $400-$500 range.

    Apologies to Martin for stealing his list. :-) I figured it should be added to page 3, though we're getting pretty close to page 4 as it is.

    300194059652 FM-988 $510 # # # # 2-Feb # # # # # # # same instrument listed in 290199913343
    220196206650 FM-984 $590 # # # # 2-Feb #
    250210484524 FM-984 $545 # # # # 3-Feb # # # # # # # looks more like Sonic Blue
    150210784310 FM-984 $410 # # # # 3-Feb
    170189495311 FM-988 $384.01 # #3-Feb
    310019988822 FM-988 $379 # # # # 3-Feb # # # # # # # BIN
    150211404135 FM-984 $510 # # # # 5-Feb
    170190043628 FM-988 $481 # # # # 5-Feb
    180212991225 FM-984 $1,495 # # #6-Feb # # # # # # # BIN; previously listed; most likely 110212097558; did not sell
    180213833159 FM-984 $1,495 # # #9-Feb # # # # # # # BIN; relisting of 180212991225; did not sell
    200199061112 FM-984 $1,495 # # #12-Feb # # # # # # BIN; relisting of 180213833159; did not sell
    330211832749 FM-984 $450 # # # # 20-Feb
    330211825634 FM-988 $440 # # # # 20-Feb
    180215763095 FM-984 $465 # # # ##20-Feb # ## # # # #starting bid is $0.99; relisting of 200199061112
    200201286644 FM-984 $995 # # # ##21-Feb # # # # ### BIN; previously listed; most likely 220196206650, did not sell
    350027823561 FM-984 $449 # # # # 20-Feb # # # # # # BIN; case and strap included
    200201681738 FM-988#$550 # # ####25-Feb # # # ### ##BIN $595, no offers yet




  21. #71
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    One can always link back to the original list. I have been keeping it up to date, although the 3 or 4 most recent auctions aren't on there yet.
    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

  22. #72
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    It will be interesting to see how much they go for - the BIN price is ridiculous, IMO, but who knows? Just a comment - they seem to be a lot like the mini-strats that sell for about $125-150. They are as much a Fender as the Mandobyrds are Gibsons.
    Johneeaaddgg

  23. #73
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    Still 10 available at $995...
    Johneeaaddgg

  24. #74
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    Still no purchases.. what would be a fair price for one of these? About the same as a Mandobird is my suggestion.
    Johneeaaddgg

  25. #75
    Luthierus Amateurius crazymandolinist's Avatar
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    Fender mandos just don't appeal to me. Some of the newer stuff by solo luthiers is really something, espeacially Ryder's. FM's never have been the best quality either. Cute as a button, but impractical I think. I love seeing them though. Firebot your mando looks real nice next to your Musicmaster, love it.
    "The Beauty of Grace is that it makes life Unfair" - Relient K

    "THEY'RE HERE!!! THEY'RE HERE!!! the Albino Brain Chiggers!" - Harry from 3rd Rock

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