If I remember correctly (probably not) that in a previous issue of the Fretboard Journal, Sam Bush has a new Fender Mandocaster, from the custom shop, with a tremelo bridge. Sam said that it throws the whole thing out of tune if you use it. But it would be a cool option.
Alex Gregory! Davey Johnstone! John Kruth! Marshall Crenshaw!
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
Last edited by Ian H Weston; Jan-16-2013 at 5:36pm. Reason: picture position
The emando market needs a gateway drug, and this is the latest. There's still a place for instruments like Ian's; they're just not entry-level for most folks.
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
By your line of reasoning, there should be no reason for Teles, or SGs, or Rickenbackers, or F5s for that matter. And yet.. People still buy them. Funny, eh?
It's also about the price point. If these were coming out of the custom shop at $3K a pop I don't know how many of us would bite (I mean, how many of us have Rickenbacker electrics?). At sub $400, you could mod the heck out of the things and feel no remorse.
There are tons of folks (I'm one of them) who have always been charmed by the Mandocaster, but not charmed enough to fork over the kind of dough they have been going for over the decades....
This is a chance to stick one in the quiver for not a lot of $$$...
I've been waiting for Fender to do this for quite awhile...
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
John Paul Jones largely played a bat-wing Harmony from the shots I've seen.
Sam who?
When I was coming up, Tele's were for those who couldn't afford a real guitar. I really don't understand the attraction to them by current generation other than they are waxing prophetic for all things old. Just cause it's old doesn't mean it's good. That said, I did finally get a Telecaster but I got the Aerodyne Tele which, IMHO, fixes everything wrong with the standard Tele design.
I just so happen to have a Rickenbacker 650 Sierra - 24K Gold plated hardware and all. It's the meanest, rawkingest guitar you'll ever find.
I would think this is the right answer. While I don't tend to agree - I buy instruments to play, not for their charm - but I understand quite a few people might find these offerings attractive.
Like I said, just curious.
I have an original, from '65 I think. I had Armadillo Machine Shop in Austin TX make me compensated saddles a couple of years ago. Unfortunately he didn't have the instrument in hand, so the offsets for the saddles are my best estimate. The intonation is much better than it was originally. I love the way it (and the reissue) looks, and the neck on mine is just spectacular. This reissue is going to be great, I think.
I'd like to see one in Candy Apple Red. Much nicer than battleship gray, imho.
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Your problem is, you think you have enough time.
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
To take full advantage of the electric capabilities, you'd want to get an "electric" amp, IMO. I have a 30W Roland Cube and a Fender "Mini-Mustang" that work pretty well with my Mandobird. I like the Cube better, but I think it sounds better turned up a little. Bought the Mini-Mustang to use as a travel/practice amp, and it works very well for that application, I'm just still learning all of the presets on it. It also has a USB line out, so it plugs into Garageband, which is a lot of fun to play around with (or whatever recording software you choose to use). Someday I'm going to invest in a good tube amp for the tone, but just don't need one at the moment. For the record, I got the Mustang for about 120 bucks, the Cube for 250 (I think, it's been a while since I bought them)...so, you don't have to blow a tone of cash to get a functional in-home option (both also have line outs, so you can plug them into a PA if desired).
Chuck
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
Tele purists laud the fact it's a 1-trick pony. But it's always followed by "it's a great trick." I find a Strat does 99% of what a tele can do, with or without the hum, plus a ton of stuff a tele can't do and all in a body shape that's much more comfortable than a Tele slab.
Relicing is much like pre-washed jeans IMHO - it's a way for "noobs" to try and show some street cred, as in, "look at me, I've been around so long I got holes in my jeans and a factory beatup 'relic' guitar."
If you really dig that look do what we used to do back in the day - toss your guitar without a case in the trunk of a 56 Chevy [along with assorted tools and stuff also lose] and drive over bumpy country roads for years on end. Me - all it makes me want to do is try and "fix" the poor thing.
Sheesh. Is it NAMM yet?
The Tele, a "one trick pony"? Springsteen, Gatton, Don Rich, Roy Buchanan, Ed Bickert, Hellecasters, Richard Thompson, Brent Mason, Scotty Anderson, Keith Richards, and on and on. This argument is absurd. Back to the Fender electric mandolin.
______________________________
Your problem is, you think you have enough time.
Most guitars are "one trick ponies"...until they`re plugged in....
The difference is in the choice of amps, pedals, the skill and experience to get the most from them and last but not least, the fingers.....and I would suggest the same applies to electric mandolin ;-)
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
Man, do some of you people get uptight or what? Geez. Not everybody likes the same things - get over it!
I'll be dropping by Fender next week as well. I have one of the 90's MIK Fender 5-strings, so it'll be interesting to see the differences, if any.
Yeah, you're right...
Sorry...
Hope to meet you at NAMM...
I'll be the one unscrewing the pickguard on that Fender to get a better look...
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
No worries. I'll be around the Pigtronix booth - main hall between Music Man and Rickenbacker - most of Saturday and off/on over the rest of the show. I believe The Music Link is just up the way, so I'll be keeping an eye out to see who pops up over there - Greg Rich maybe? Dave Koltai/Pigtronix did a bunch of stuff with Thile and the Punch Bros. over the summer, so I'm bringing my video camera just in case they drop by and do some jamming. That's the coolest part of the show - all these celebs drop in the demo chair and just wail through the pedal board. Some amazing stuff goes down!! I'm stoked!!
Drop by and say "hi" - I'd love to meet up with everyone who's going. And if you see someone videoing you taking the pickguard off, don't worry, I'll keep it a secret LOL.
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