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Thread: In praise of solid body mandolins.

  1. #1
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Just because I play mine every day.

    5 reasons they’re awesome

    1) tiny Moore, Sam bush. Need I say more? Actually, no, but I will.
    2) lighter than a Stratocaster.
    3) those lovely phrases you play on a mandolin, electrified, amplified and decontextualised
    4) you can practice unplugged and not wake the rest of the household.
    5) always gets a positive crowd reaction at a gig.

    Why else?
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

    Fender Nashville Deluxe Telecaster; Squier Modified Vintage Cabronita Telecaster; Gretsch 5420T; Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat: Washburn Banjo B9; Ibanez RB 5string; Ibanez RB 4 string bass

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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    No feedback, and, yes, the crowd is almost always surprised at the sounds that “come out of that little thing!”
    Chuck

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  5. #3
    Registered User BoxCarJoe's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    I've been busking with mine all summer and yeah the reaction has been enthusiastic to my tiny guitar.

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  7. #4
    F5G & MD305 Astro's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Which one do you play and which are you favorites?
    No matter where I go, there I am...Unless I'm running a little late.

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  9. #5
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    Which one do you play and which are you favorites?
    JBovier ELS. I like the fenders and the epiphone too. Slowly writing a book on them. You?
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

    Fender Nashville Deluxe Telecaster; Squier Modified Vintage Cabronita Telecaster; Gretsch 5420T; Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat: Washburn Banjo B9; Ibanez RB 5string; Ibanez RB 4 string bass

    Pedalboard for ELS: Morley Cry baby Miniwah - Tuner - EHX Soul Food Overdrive - EHX Memory Toy analog Delay
    Fender Blues Jr Tweed; Fender Greta;

  10. #6
    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    I'm a big fan of them. I have many. I also like solidbody octave , which i have many also.

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    Ibanez 70's 524, 521, 3 511's,2 512's,513,1 514,3 80s 513's, 522
    J Bovier F5-T custom shop
    Kiso Suzuki V900,
    The Loar lm600 Cherryburst
    morgan monroe mms-5wc,ovation
    Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin
    Emandos Northfield octave tele 4, Northfield custom jem octave mandolin 5 octave strat 8
    2 Flying v 8, octave 5, Exploryer octave 8 20"
    Fender mandostrat 4,3 Epip mandobird 2,4/8, Kentucky. KM300E Eastwood mandocaster
    Gold Tone F6,Badaax doubleneck 8/6

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  12. #7
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    You forgot Sierra Hull
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
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  14. #8
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    You forgot Sierra Hull
    Great player! And yes, to my shame forgot her.
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    When the banjo player in the band switched to electric, there was no other road to take. We have moved on to the amplifier wars, and an AC30 most always gets its way.

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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    None of the above has enough strings.

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  19. #11
    F5G & MD305 Astro's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Quote Originally Posted by David Lewis View Post
    JBovier ELS. I like the fenders and the epiphone too. Slowly writing a book on them. You?
    I'm just sitting here trying not to want one...and failing
    No matter where I go, there I am...Unless I'm running a little late.

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  21. #12
    Mandol'Aisne Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    How about:
    6) 100% more control over your tone. No reliance upon sound engineers who may or may not know what a mandolin is supposed to sound like.
    7) Cool chord inversions available if you use a 5 string.
    8) Feedback when you want it, not when you don't

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    Which one do you play and which are you favorites?
    Arrow G5 by Paul Lestock. It's the same body as the 8 string acoustic that Tim Connell uses. But this one has 5 strings, a sunburst, and a Kent Armstrong pickup mounted to the pickguard. It also has a 15" scale length to help power the low notes.

    JBovier EMC-5. Basically a mandocaster but with 5 strings and better pickups --also a slightly longer scale length. I think it's 14.5" or 14.75".

    The Arrow is my main gigging axe, but I record with both.

    Shot of last night's set list and my pedal board.
    -Octave pedal
    -Boost w/compression (loud & louder)
    -Boost
    -EQ with or without boost depending on the room
    -A little overdrive


    Daniel
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  23. #13
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    I'm just sitting here trying not to want one...and failing
    It’s a beautiful thing. The tone knob gives it a mellow sound with just a bit of 'chill' - a trebly overtone if you will. Both pickups make it A humbucker. But it was a good tonal range. The neck is superb. The tuners are smooth and stable. The hardware is great.

    Sigh. I love it so.
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

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    Fender Blues Jr Tweed; Fender Greta;

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    Astro 

  25. #14

    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    One word.... Bends

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  27. #15
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Quote Originally Posted by darrylicshon View Post
    I'm a big fan of them. I have many. I also like solidbody octave , which i have many also.


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    Nice, what’s the scale length of the little bass you have there?

    I’ve been playing a ukulele bass tuned in fifths (which has great tone, fat rubber strings/acoustic) and I wondered what it’s like (playability etc) to play a real steel string solid body bass with electric pickups.

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  29. #16
    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    [QUOTE=atsunrise;1734264]Nice, what’s the scale length of the little bass you have there?

    It's an octave mandolin 19" scale
    Ibanez 70's 524, 521, 3 511's,2 512's,513,1 514,3 80s 513's, 522
    J Bovier F5-T custom shop
    Kiso Suzuki V900,
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    morgan monroe mms-5wc,ovation
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    Emandos Northfield octave tele 4, Northfield custom jem octave mandolin 5 octave strat 8
    2 Flying v 8, octave 5, Exploryer octave 8 20"
    Fender mandostrat 4,3 Epip mandobird 2,4/8, Kentucky. KM300E Eastwood mandocaster
    Gold Tone F6,Badaax doubleneck 8/6

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  31. #17

    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    I am a newbie, literally. But decided to invest straight away in both acoustic and electric. I am too old to wait!

    This beautiful Oldtown will be in my hands next week !

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  33. #18
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    I have a McCormick f-style solid body mandolin. I replaced the original lipstick pickup with a custom Seymour-Duncan. I use it quite frequently.Click image for larger version. 

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    David Hopkins

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  35. #19

    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    I'm partial to semi-hollow for weight reasons but all the aforementioned benefits apply in equal measure!

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  37. #20
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    My goodness there are some beautiful instruments here.

    I mentioned mine, but here it is. Ignore the ugly thing holding it.
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    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

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    Fender Blues Jr Tweed; Fender Greta;

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  39. #21

    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Is there a good youtube video where I can check out a solid body elect. mandolin?
    This is an exciting new thought - and I guess I stayed away because I really did not know where to start!
    Thanks!

  40. #22
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    What do you want to check? Do you want a review, or just to hear one?
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

    Fender Nashville Deluxe Telecaster; Squier Modified Vintage Cabronita Telecaster; Gretsch 5420T; Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat: Washburn Banjo B9; Ibanez RB 5string; Ibanez RB 4 string bass

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  41. #23
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.


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  43. #24
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    That is , yes, DANG!
    JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;

    Fender Nashville Deluxe Telecaster; Squier Modified Vintage Cabronita Telecaster; Gretsch 5420T; Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat: Washburn Banjo B9; Ibanez RB 5string; Ibanez RB 4 string bass

    Pedalboard for ELS: Morley Cry baby Miniwah - Tuner - EHX Soul Food Overdrive - EHX Memory Toy analog Delay
    Fender Blues Jr Tweed; Fender Greta;

  44. #25

    Default Re: In praise of solid body mandolins.

    Quote Originally Posted by ABmando View Post
    Is there a good youtube video where I can check out a solid body elect. mandolin?
    This is an exciting new thought - and I guess I stayed away because I really did not know where to start!
    Thanks!
    Here's a recent thread on Eastman's new El Rey that shows one side of the electric mandolin world

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...y-Video-Review

    Then there's Nash the Slash

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zose15iYVM
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