Saga solidbody e-mando kit... anyone build one?

[terzinator]

While I decide on a "nice" e-mando, I'm going to suggest that my wife get me the Saga kit for Christmas... Not expecting greatness, but it might be something fun to do in the workshop during the holidays, anyway.

Has anyone built this kit? If so, any suggestions/tips to improve what's there? (Without spending more than it's worth!)

http://www.amazon.com/Saga-RK-2-MT-1...d_sim_sbs_MI_1

[Ronny]

I did ! (look at my avatar and my pictures !).

For the price, it's a good kit. To have a pretty good instrument, you must shield the inner part and change the nut (the plastic original one is far too high, and and the width of the slots is not good at all.
I wrote some advices here (in french) for the non english readers, and for the newbies...

[terzinator]

Cool! Love the orange!

Yeah, I've heard the biggest issues are with the nut and the electronics.

There's a fun vid of a guy playing Dixie Hoedown on one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWKNe...eature=related

Here's your page translated!

[Mandocarver]

I'd recommend you take a look at Moongazer music kitshttp://www.moongazermusic.com
I haven't bought a kit from Tom Morici but I have bought lots of parts and his service and advice have been great.
Good luck
Dean

[Ronny]

I did one too !


(yes, I'm an orange addict !!!)
This kit is a little more expensive, and it's very good too. It worth the price, again... No nut setup necessary. You build the kit, put the strings, and it's ready to play ! The neck is really comfortable and solid (with the Saga kit, I sometimes had to use trussrod with heavy strings).
With an Almuse Agressor in middle position, it's really loud !

@ Terzinator : funny translation !!
"les fils du jack" : "Sons of Jack" or "jack's wires" ???? It depend upon the way "fils" is pronounced !

[hogtown]

where did you get your case because that's the biggest reason i haven't got one yet.
but i love the idea of having a solid body mandolin that is so cool

[terzinator]

That moongazer kit looks REALLY nice.

Yeah, you appear to have as much of a thing for orange as I do!

Oh, the other funny thing in the translation:

"connect the "mandocaster" on an amp, letting his beard grow and replay any Grinderman!"

can't argue with that!

[Jacob]

Another vote for Moongazer.

[Ronny]

@ hogtown : the case is homemade : a plywood box, the shape of the E-mando cut through a piece of polystyrene, and the "zebra skin" (or leopard skin) if glued using titebond glue. Very simple.

[Jacob]

The Access Stage Three case is a perfect fit for a Moongazer Deja Vu 5 string.

[Chinn]

Another vote for the Moongazer. I built my new e-mando using a Moongazer Neck, MG4 Pickup, and other assorted hardware from Moongazer. Top quality stuff and great service.

[terzinator]

I did get one of the Saga kits for Christmas... I'm thinking of giving it a George Harrison Rosewood Tele vibe, making it like the one he used in the "Let it Be" sessions... I have some nice Rosewood stain, and I'll stain the whole thing, including the neck and headstock.



I'll need to make a black pickguard, and I might change the shape of it at the same time, to make it more like a Tele guard.

The journey begins!

[Jim MacDaniel]

I did one too !

Nicely done - I love Dreamsicles

[Chinn]

Chris, good luck with your kit and post up the details of your build.

IIRR, the saga kit is sent already prepared in sanding sealer, so you may need to paint it instead of stain it. I'm not sure the body will readily take the stain.

[terzinator]

yeah, sanding sealer... oops!

Well, I did sand the body a little, with very fine paper, and then put some stain on it. If I were to grade how it took the stain, I'd give it a C+.

I'd like it darker, but I'll toss another coat on it. Who knows if it'll take stain any more than it already has.

Cut the headstock to a Tele shape, too, and stained the neck.

I think I'll leave everything satin, rather than glossy... so I have to figure out if I can just leave it bare after the stain, or if I need to put a sealer on it. I'm not looking to win any awards with the look, but I probably should have read your post before staining it!



Trying to decide whether to go with the bridge/tailpiece it came with, or go with one like on the Moongazer units:



If I went with the moongazer bridge, I'd probably have to futz with the placement to make sure the intonation is correct. But I like the look of that better than with the tailpiece.

Now, Chinn, do you make emandos? The one in your sig looks really nice! (I went to your Blues Mando blog and saw another photo of that same emando, but do you build them?)

[Soundfarmer Pete]

Since you`ve already stained the wood, I`d suggest that to keep things simple, a sealing of oil finish - TruOil, Danish Oil or similar.
You could then go down the "Sound Of Wood" Warwick bass route.....maybe the odd polish with beeswax......
As for positioning the bridge, I would suggest a couple or three turns of the "length" screw into the E string saddle.....measure from nut to 12th fret, move the bridge plate so that there`s the same distance from the 12th to the E saddle and plonk it there!!!
The main thing is to have plenty of space to pull back the saddles on the thicker strings.
Enjoy!
Pete

[Chinn]

Now, Chinn, do you make emandos? The one in your sig looks really nice! (I went to your Blues Mando blog and saw another photo of that same emando, but do you build them?)

Thanks Chris. I've made that emando so far and I'm very pleased with it. Its my first, but not my last. I plan on making more and look forward to improving my process and design. Tom at Moongazer did 75% of the work on the neck, and I did all the rest. Can't say enough good things about the pickup as well.

[terzinator]

Did a quick "between coats" sanding, and it took off most of the stain... meaning, it didn't take the stain. Looks more like Rory Gallagher's Stratocaster than Harrison's Tele!

So, not sure what I'll do. I don't think I'll put another coat of stain on. I might leave it as is, but I'm also tempted to try a spray-on cream color. But not sure how it will stick after the stain. As long as it doesn't feel gummy, cream would look cool, especially with the stock tortoise guard. I'm not a "factory relic'd" fan, but I might sand it down a little afterward to get to bare wood in spots. Who knows. It's just for fun.

Neck feels great, though. I sanded it eventually with 320 grit, and the fret ends are nicely smoothed down.

I have to say, it might not be all that, but for $119, it's pretty cool.

Keep us posted on your builds, Chinn! I like what I see! (eMandos are great GAS/MAS relievers! Inexpensive enough for starters, and the designs are so much more varied than their acoustic counterparts!)

[terzinator]

well, I went in a different direction... Sanded off the stain, and went with a putty color... Montana spraypaint. Color is called "Ice Bear." It seems to have a tiny hint of green to it, and it looks really cool on the body.



Just need to add a second coat, and we'll move on to assembly!

[Tom Sailor]

Don't forget sanding between the lacquers with 600 grit... I'll do!
Tom

[terzinator]

painted and built up. Just have to set up nut and saddle and we'll be good to go.

[Verne Andru]

Nice!

[Chinn]

Very nice Chris! I know you'll enjoy that little beaut!

[Tom Sailor]

Hi Chris, looks as you did a really good job with the laquer... the contrast between the silver and the pickguard is great!
beautiful Emando. Wish you lots of good music with it!

Btw you know the giant Jason Anick plays a Saga mandolin as well...?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhSOCm_maV4
You will certainly have fun with her!

Tom

[timv]

Great job Chris! It makes me want to try. Now you just have to work on finding a furry jacket like George's in that picture...