Mandocaster?

[prairieschooner]

Hey guys & gals,
Starting to get interested in a Mandocaster. Curious about experiences with one & advice.

Do the Fender Mandocasters that were the reissue sound as good as the originals? The asking prices are allot more for the originals but that could be "collector" values.

Experience with other makes?

Should I look at 4 string or 8 string models?

Thanks in advance!

[Ray(T)]

I always fancied one of the originals but could never justify the price. The build quality on the (now discontinued) repros. is fine. The only criticism is the pickup but I fitted an Almuse (uander £40 UK) and I can’t fault it.

No direct experience but I’ve heard that the originals were difficult to tune accurately. I wanted a different sound so 4 strings was my preference.

[Bill McCall]

+1 on repros with Almuse pickup.

[trodgers]

I have one of the newer 4 stings. Never played an original, so I can't compare. It doesn't get a lot of use, but I do enjoy it. For me it helps fill a niche when playing rock/folk rock.

[Walter Peterson]

I have one, it works great. I had to set it up and add Almuse pickups. Comes in handy if you play with a drummer.

[Ron McMillan]

I had one, though not a Fender. I spent quite a lot of money on upgrades from Almuse, and the results were very pleasing, though not pleasing enough to make me play it very much, so I sold it.

[John Rosett]

I've had a couple of 60's Fender mandolins, and tome, they weren't that great sounding. I think that most of the price difference is collector "value".

[prairieschooner]

Thanks! Guess I will start looking now.
Curious about other brands but if close to the same cost then why not a Fender 4 String~!

[OneChordTrick]

Are you set on a Mandocaster or will you look at other shapes?

I’m very happy with my Ashbury AM240



https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...Ashbury-AM-240

It replaced a cheap (approx $100) Mandocaster and I’m still very happy with it. Way lighter than its predecessor but more importantly easy to play and a great tone with the stock pickup.

[prairieschooner]

looks great! is that bridge adjustable?

[Daniel Nestlerode]

https://www.premierguitar.com/articl...andolin_Review

If I didn't already have one of these (an EMC-5), I'd be having DTs trying to find one.

Four, five, or eight strings is up to you.
- How would it fit your repertoire?
- Are you solo? In a band?
- Do you have an amp, or do you plan on going through the PA?

I started with an Epiphone Mandobird IV. I'd start with 4 strings and really explore it as a different instrument than your usual 8 string mandolins. If you feel the need for 8 strings then get one of those. If you wish you had some more bottom end to reach some of those cool guitar riffs, get a 5 string.

Look into all kinds by starting here: http://www.emando.com

Hope this helps!
Daniel

[Bill Cameron]

I bought one of the new Fenders about five years ago. Haven’t played it in two or three. The price was right, and it’s simple and sturdy and cute. I had a lot of fun trying effects and had some success getting that vintage-English psychedelic folk-rock sound and played it in the band quite a lot. I found the 4 strings easy to keep in tune and easier on the fingers than an 8-string for a long gig.
Played clean, it can certainly put out that Western Swing sound.

Down sides:

-Factory pickup doesn’t pick up the E string very well—you can sort this using various effects though, I never got around to the pickup upgrade.
- 4-string just doesn’t have a mando sound—sound is good but all those overtones and unison double notes just aren’t there.
-Single pickup, not a lot of tonal variation in that. (You have to like experimenting with effects pedals, a lot, to get that).
-It is so simple in construction, it verges on crude, although fit and finish are (just) OK. Ergo, despite the decal, it really doesn’t have the Fender cachet. Not that Fender mandos have much cachet in the first place.

I haven’t been playing it because our band scaled down to an all-acoustic thing and I’m sticking with my Eastman, on a mic or with a Schertler Dyn-M pickup. And I’m just not that motivated to pick it up and dig out all those fx boxes...

I am not disinterested in having a solid electric mando, but the custom small-shop ones look like good value too, and more decked out than the bare#bones Fender. I’d like to try a Jermyn or Mann, and extend to either 5-string or a proper 8-string. Sometime.

Here’s the best fun I had with it (running signal through short delay and Auto-wah). You can see how the e-string doesn’t pick up the wah. For some reason this is my most-watched music clip on youtube. https://youtu.be/fiWvXpIQdKk

Hope that gives you some useful insight. They are good value for sure.

[OneChordTrick]

looks great! is that bridge adjustable?

Yes, it’s what I’d call a “standard” mandolin bridge for a flattop. You can move it fore and aft for intonation but if you want to change the intonation you need to get the sandpaper ot

[prairieschooner]

Thanks for the replies the more I research the more I think about trying to build one.
I am thinking 4 strings because as the video from Bill Cameron shows that is the different sound I am looking for. The Almuse Vee has a look that haunts me but not sure how hard this would be.

[Ray(T)]

Personally, if I was thinking about building one (which I’m not), I’d start by buying a case and build one which fitted it. The problem with electric mandolins seems to be than nobody makes cases for them.

[Vernon Hughes]

I bought one of the newer 4 string ones when it came out and was somewhat disappointed in the sound, mainly the no volume E string and intonation issues because of the bridge. Installed a almuse pickup,moongazer bridge and changed the pots with les paul jr's. It screams now and plays in tune.

[David Lewis]

I play a Jbovier ELS, which they don't make any more, but if you can find one, give it a try. I love it - it's my favourite mandolin.

The new mandocasters are I think just as good as the old ones, and should age into a very decent instrument indeed.

[David Lewis]

Are you set on a Mandocaster or will you look at other shapes?

I’m very happy with my Ashbury AM240



https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...Ashbury-AM-240

It replaced a cheap (approx $100) Mandocaster and I’m still very happy with it. Way lighter than its predecessor but more importantly easy to play and a great tone with the stock pickup.

It gives me a Brian May vibe, though it's also reminiscent of an SG. Either way, I think it's beautiful.

[OneChordTrick]

Thanks!

[Dave Greenspoon]

Why particularly the 'caster? Is it for the body style, or the sound you associate with it as a mandolin? I ask because of the electronics. The 'caster and the Ashbury are single coils & lipsticks. Lipsticks in particular usually run hot and loud (not in a good way) from my experience. I'm always inclined to put on a good humbucker and a three-way switch (at least) for more tonal possibilities. I've been told by builders there is too limited space for multiple pickups (usually) on an e-mando to make a real difference in sound, so I am really discerning regarding my pickup choices.

In the Quiver
Stealie, Jerman Custom, Almuse Moongazer (wired 3-way)
Dillion 335 style, stock Alnico 5 humbucker (p/p 2-way)

Come & Gone, (my oh my)
Jerman #11 had a Bartolini twin rail.
Bessy, a KM-300E had a lipstick; replaced with a Wilde Bill Lawrence L-45S
Epiphone Mandobird, stayed stock (and sounded fine, but Pete Mallinson's hot rodded 'bird had me drooling)

Then of course, there is the entire 4-5-8 strings conversation, covered by threads numerous times over the years.

[prairieschooner]

I am thinking of a solid bodied electric mandolin for the sound. I am playing a Collings MT2 and interested in another sound just for giggles.
Dave, I came to a similar conclusion about the pickups so leaning more towards building because I maybe a bit cheap. I have some really nice ribbon stripped Honduras Mahogany & it could be a great way to use that. Besides it wouldn't need to be completed in a day and I could easily purchase parts over time.
Really like the Stealie, Jerman Custom, Almuse Moongazer!

[OneChordTrick]

Why particularly the 'caster? Is it for the body style, or the sound you associate with it as a mandolin? I ask because of the electronics. The 'caster and the Ashbury are single coils & lipsticks. Lipsticks in particular usually run hot and loud (not in a good way) from my experience. I'm always inclined to put on a good humbucker and a three-way switch (at least) for more tonal possibilities. I've been told by builders there is too limited space for multiple pickups (usually) on an e-mando to make a real difference in sound, so I am really discerning regarding my pickup choices.

<snip>

I'd been warned that the lipstick pickup on the Ashbury would be harsh - if that's what you mean by hot? Sort of distorted/dirty, almost overdriven? I had an Almuse pickup on the mandocaster that I had before. If anything the lipstick is quieter than the Almuse and the sound is as "clean".

P.S. What exactly is a lipstick pick up? How does it differ from a single coil? Is it just the shape or is it different inside?

[David Lewis]

https://www.premierguitar.com/articl...andolin_Review

If I didn't already have one of these (an EMC-5), I'd be having DTs trying to find one.

Four, five, or eight strings is up to you.
- How would it fit your repertoire?
- Are you solo? In a band?
- Do you have an amp, or do you plan on going through the PA?

I started with an Epiphone Mandobird IV. I'd start with 4 strings and really explore it as a different instrument than your usual 8 string mandolins. If you feel the need for 8 strings then get one of those. If you wish you had some more bottom end to reach some of those cool guitar riffs, get a 5 string.

Look into all kinds by starting here: http://www.emando.com

Hope this helps!
Daniel

Did JBovier make the best solid bodies? I think there's an argument they did.