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Thread: Ashbury AM 240

  1. #1
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Ashbury AM 240

    This one https://www.hobgoblin.com/local/sale...tric-mandolin/

    Any one got any experience or thoughts about it?

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Solid Koa body? No great expert but it looks like mahogany or even sapele to me. They’ve been selling those for years so somebody must like them.

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  4. #3
    Mandol'Aisne Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Looks like sapele to me too.

    I'd play it first. If it looks like it is --or can be made to be-- properly intonated with good action, then I'd be interested if I were you.

    You can replace the pickup & wiring fairly easily. Or maybe even add a pickup to the neck position with a little routing. But the basic structure needs to be good.


    Daniel

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  6. #4
    Luthier&Pickup maker ret. Soundfarmer Pete's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    I`d guess it would need a bit of work.....
    Since there are no adjustable saddles, finding the right string gauges for proper intonation could be fun.
    Also, with a lipstick pickup so close to the bridge, I would expect a harsh tone.
    Looks nice though

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  8. #5
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Thanks everybody. I need to play one and see how it sounds. I’ve got a Mandocaster that I’m fairly happy with, especially now that I’ve upgraded the pickup, but there’s always the itch to upgrade . But it’s probably a case of a bad workman blaming his tool.

    @Soundfarmer Peter - is the harshness you suggest just down to the position of the pickup or also the type?

    I suppose the question is once the set up is sorted what most affects the sound of a solid body the most? Is it the body shape and wood density etc. or is it the electronics?

  9. #6

    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    I think string/pickups/amplifier/effects have the most effect on sound, that's why you have electric instruments like the Chapman stick or electric violins with nearly no body at all that can sound incredible.


  10. #7
    Dave Sheets
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    The wood type in the neck and body, and the nature of the neck joint (glue vs screws) are thought to be influential as well for electrical instruments. I've heard the claim that half the sound of an electric is the pickup, and the rest of the instrument is the other half of the sound. It seems about right. Good pickups are a relatively low cost upgrade most of the time, well worth it.

    Amps and electronics alter the sound greatly, but a really good instrument in a good amp really sounds different than an fair instruments into the same amp.

    I've seen the stick player in the video above, a really nice player- what's this guy's name?
    -Dave
    Flatiron A
    Way too many other instruments

  11. #8

    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Gee... am I the only one who uses the full fretboard? That strap peg is less than optimal.
    ----

    Playing a funky oval-hole scroll-body mandolin, several mandolins retuned to CGDA, three CGDA-tuned Flatiron mandolas, two Flatiron mandolas tuned as octave mandolins,and a six-course 25.5" scale CGDAEB-tuned Ovation Mandophone.

    Love mandola?
    Join the Mandola Social Group!

  12. #9
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Quote Originally Posted by OneChordTrick View Post
    This one https://www.hobgoblin.com/local/sale...tric-mandolin/

    Any one got any experience or thoughts about it?

    Thanks
    Well it looks like I’m the Café expert on this model I happened to be near a Hobgoblin with work this afternoon and was able to try one. Looks great, nicely set up and nice mellow tone both through my iRig and a optic amp that they had in store.

    Definitely nicer than my current one, not sure if it’s worth the upgrade cost

  13. #10
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    The delivery van has just pulled away


  14. #11
    Mandol'Aisne Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240



    NeMD!

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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Quote Originally Posted by OneChordTrick View Post
    The delivery van has just pulled away

    ......... and?

  16. #13
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Really pleased with it! Well finished, set up nicely out of the box and great sound, balanced volume across the strings

  17. #14

    Default Re: Ashbury AM 240

    Congrats for sure. It reminds me of a Gibson SG (with a lipstick tube pickup of course.) Enjoy!!

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

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