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Thread: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

  1. #26
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    FWIW the Synth access mods worked out OK. RMC offers an external black box,
    with all the controls on the box.. [as on Godin's SA guitars]
    so the instrument mods are minimal..

    Seen In #10, decided to replace the Angled Jack Stratocaster type part,
    with a surface mount for the 8 pin for the divided bridge pickup signals,
    and the 1/4" jack, to continue using the original single coil pickup.
    writing about music
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    about architecture

  2. #27

    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    I have a Stevens mando from Michael Stevens in texas.... incredible instrument... you couldn't do better for quality, fit, finish, wood selection, pickups, sound... you name it.... he is a great guy to work with on what you are looking for....

    He doesn't come cheap... he builds for the top names in the professional guitar world, and his prices reflect his fame.... in the world of gilchrist/monteleone...
    John D

  3. #28
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Quote Originally Posted by Soundfarmer Pete View Post
    The main complaint was that the bridge wasn`t centred and there wasn`t enough play in the neck pocket to align the strings evenly - the customer therefore had to fill, drill and shift the bridge across so the strings lined up correctly. That being done, a new scratchplate was needed (and since he wasn`t happy with the stock items, new pickups which is where I came in).
    We should keep in mind that I haven't seen this Swamp Cat, and I gather Pete hasn't either, so all we have is the disgruntled customer's report. I have owned three Earnest instruments and seen a couple of others; Bruce Harvie and Ted Eschliman have both reported being happy with theirs; plus, it doesn't hurt to have players like Aaron Weinstein, Barry Mitterhoff, Seth Rosen and Ben Trout using one's instruments. The Swamp Cat that I showed to Jason Anick had twin DiMarzio humbuckers installed, per the original owner's request. Joel prefers to use Don Lace single-coils, and I bet those would have produced tone closer to what Jason was looking for. Based on the Earnest instruments I've actually seen, I will continue to recommend them.
    Last edited by mrmando; Aug-28-2011 at 2:55pm.
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  4. #29
    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Quote Originally Posted by JFDilmando View Post
    I have a Stevens mando from Michael Stevens in texas.... incredible instrument... you couldn't do better for quality, fit, finish, wood selection, pickups, sound... you name it.... he is a great guy to work with on what you are looking for....

    He doesn't come cheap... he builds for the top names in the professional guitar world, and his prices reflect his fame.... in the world of gilchrist/monteleone...
    Beautiful!
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
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  5. #30
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    We should keep in mind that I haven't seen this Swamp Cat, and I gather Pete hasn't either, so all we have is the disgruntled customer's report. I have owned three Earnest instruments and seen a couple of others; Bruce Harvie and Ted Eschliman have both reported being happy with theirs; plus, it doesn't hurt to have players like Aaron Weinstein, Barry Mitterhoff, Seth Rosen and Ben Trout using one's instruments. The Swamp Cat that I showed to Jason Anick had twin DiMarzio humbuckers installed, per the original owner's request. Joel prefers to use Don Lace single-coils, and I bet those would have produced tone closer to what Jason was looking for. Based on the Earnest instruments I've actually seen, I will continue to recommend them.
    One additional data point on Earnest instruments: I have a Swap Cat that I ordered from Joel six or seven years ago, exactly like the one pictured earlier in the thread -- blonde,four string with dual Lace sensors. Fit and finish on mine are quite nice. It's a terrific instrument, and I've always thought the design is one of the coolest I've seen for an emando. The 14.5 inch scale took a little getting used to, but it does help produce a nice twangy sound. I string it with Thomastik light flat-wounds.

    I've been thinking of asking him to make another, except with a mahogany body and neck, with a single humbucker in the neck position and no pickguard.....

  6. #31
    Quietly Making Noise Dave Greenspoon's Avatar
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    Default

    Here's a strong vote for Andrew Jerman. Featured is #11.
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  7. #32

    Default Swamp Cat: I like it

    I am the fellow who bought the used Swamp Cat from Martin Stillion (mrmando). As Martin relates in his earlier post, I am quite pleased with it. It looks cool, it plays easily, the neck is comfortable, and the intonation is fine. I recently changed the DiMarzio twin blade humbuckers for Lace Sensors (gold version). To my ear, the Lace Sensors are more clear and sweet (and more bright). The DiMarzio pickups were good, too; but I wanted to experiment with a single coil sound.

    I play country music and western swing. The Swamp Cat suits me well. I can imagine that someone looking for the warmest 'cool jazz' tone might look to a different model or a different choice of pickups.

    It was a pleasure to deal with Martin. Also, Joel Eckhaus (Earnest Instruments, Swamp Cat's luthier) has responded quickly and helpfully to my questions about the Swamp Cat even though I bought my instrument used from another rather than directly from him.

    Ed, I live in Central Ohio, downstate from you. If you are ever near Columbus and want to check out the Swamp Cat for yourself, let me know.

  8. #33
    Registered User Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    I had a chance to play Barry Mitterhoff's Swamp Cat back stage...it was unplugged. It played great and looked as good.

    I own a Kevin Schwab Michael Lampert model (4 string) and it plays very nice. I like the fact that the Michael Lampert Model scale length is similar to an acoustic mandolin scale length.

    If you own a decent mandolin you may be disappointed with the playability of a cheapo electric....maybe not.

  9. #34
    Registered User Chip Booth's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    I haven't played one but I can't imagine a cooler looking solid body electric than the Mann SEM 5 string.


  10. #35
    Registered User CelticDude's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    No one has mentioned Almuse instruments? These look quite good from the website, and people here seem to like his pickups. And the price seems reasonable, too.

    BTW, I have a Jon Mann hollow-body electric, and can vouch for the workmanship. It's just a beautiful instrument, and sounds as good as it looks. The instrument Chip has pictured is way cool, and when/if I go for a solid body, one of Jon's will be very tempting.

  11. #36
    Registered User John L's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    I love my Frankinstein, and it was well under $1,000.
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    Johneeaaddgg

  12. #37
    Registered User Elliot Luber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    I was going to say John Mann, but it's his semi-hollow bodies that I really like... some day, some day!

  13. #38
    still Lefty & French Philippe Bony's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Almuse! Thank you Pete.

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  14. #39
    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Philippe & Pete; that's a beauty!
    Congratulations!
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
    "What a long, strange trip it's been..." - Robert Hunter
    "Life is too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde
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  15. #40

    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Quote Originally Posted by Philippe Bony View Post
    Almuse! Thank you Pete.

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    AWESOME mando to bad he made it backwards

  16. #41
    still Lefty & French Philippe Bony's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Edit : See next post, sorry...

  17. #42
    still Lefty & French Philippe Bony's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who Are Your Favorite Builders of Solid-Bodied E-Mandos?

    Quote Originally Posted by rico mando View Post
    AWESOME mando to bad he made it backwards
    Backwards ? It ain't backwards!
    Now, this is "Backwards"...
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