Tiny moore/roberts jazz 5

[John Rosett]

I used to have a Tiny Moore/Roberts 5 string electric mandolin, and I see one for sale every now and then. I was looking through some old Mandolin World News the other day, and noticed an ad for a cheaper, single pickup version called the Jazz 5. I've never seen one, and a Google search turned up nothing other than a reference on the emando site.
Has anyone ever seen and/or played one?

[Jim Garber]

I've never seen one, and a Google search turned up nothing other than a reference on the emando site.

That seemed like plenty of info tho on emando.com:

Jay Roberts
Offered two models. The "Tiny Moore" (above left) was a copy of Tiny's original Bigsby—a 5-string electric with two pickups and an odd-looking "Mickey Mouse ear" scroll. It was also available as a left-handed model (above right). The "Tiny Moore Jazz 5" (right) had one pickup and eliminated the scroll. Tiny played, endorsed, and sold these in his later years. The gadget on the side of the mandolin, below the scroll, is a bracket for attaching a saxophone strap—Tiny's preferred method of holding the instrument. Jay made these instruments in Yuba City, California. Don't know whether he is still active (or alive, for that matter).

I have a 2 PU Tiny Moore I ordered thru Tiny himself. It sounds pretty good thru the right amp. Sorry to say, I have not seen the Jazz 5 tho. The emando site does mention that Don Stiernberg has recorded with a Jazz 5, so maybe he will chime in here.

[delsbrother]

Dig the funky bridge!

[John Rosett]

I guess I'm more interested in if there were any of them out there, and what people's impressions of them are. I had the two pickup version for a few years and it was a great instrument, but I started playing more electric guitar and lost interest in it. When I first got it, I had a solid state amp, and it was okay, but I traded into a Fender Twin, and it sounded great through that.

[Don Stiernberg]

I never did see a Jazz 5 model. The picture posted above is the best look I've had at one.

Sure wish I still had the two-pickup Tiny model. I always loved the sound, but as I remember I became willing to part with it because I really couldn't fit my hand in the cutaway, so the range was effectively limited.

I got mine directly from Tiny and there are sure a lot of memories there: letters, tapes, inscription in his instruction book...What a great gentleman. What a great player. His solos always were interesting and exciting, they could make you laugh or stand up and cheer.A giant of music named Tiny.

So I traded mine to a friend who traded it to a friend who...last I heard it was in the hands of Nashville fiddle titan Buddy Spicher.

I think there may be earlier threads about Jay Roberts here at the Cafe..

[mrmando]

Sorry, Don. Emando.com has been corrected.

Most of my images over there are from eBay ads, but I might've gotten that Jazz 5 one somewhere else. I don't remember now. Obviously it was the rarer of the two Roberts models. That is the only picture of one I have ever come across.

[delsbrother]

Dig the funky turbans!

[Jim Garber]

So, what ever did happen to Mr. Roberts? Strange that he only built these instruments for Tiny then disappeared? Maybe he was Tiny or his imaginary friend?

Yes, I have to say that I was truly blessed to be in the presence of Tiny for two separate weeks at Ashokan in the 1980s. Equally blessed to be in Jethro's presence for almost a week at Elkins also in the 1980s. Of course, I wished I was able to play anywhere near as good as either of them or Don.

[Spruce]

"So, what ever did happen to Mr. Roberts?"

I ran into him at Weiser about 15 years ago, but haven't heard from him since...
Great guy...

Any info as to the rest of the story would be greatly appreciated....

[John Rosett]

Dig the funky turbans!

Here's a color shot:

[Lee]

From Wikipedia
Tiny Moore (1920–1987)

[mrmando]

The question was whether Jay Roberts is still around.

[Christian McKee]

At the risk of revealing significant ignorance... Who *are* those guys with those incredible turbans? How come I don't own a record by them??

Christian

[mrmando]

That would be Mandorose's (John Rosett's) Seattle band, the Swingin' Swamis.

John, did you guys have any recordings out?