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Thread: Inexpensive solid body electrics

  1. #1
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Inexpensive solid body electrics

    I know nothing about these and obviously NFI but these things are popping up on my eBay feed daily all of a sudden.

    https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...dolin&_sacat=0
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  2. #2
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    They’ve been out there a while. I especially like ‘Johnny Cash black’.

    Never heard one.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  3. #3

    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    Quick search shows Cozart to be an established importer of Asian electric instruments who’s in MS. Lots of encouraging reviews for their guitars, which don’t seem to be advertised directly by that name. Guitars are in $100 range, apparently usable after a little setup. Very low end tuners, simple pickups, light weight, many different types and finishes. Adjustable truss rods.
    I’d guess that the mandolin version would be similarly good value because there simply aren’t too many things to get wrong in an electric if you can make a flat neck. Yes, I do understand that sophistication does cost money, but a Model T gets you down the road.

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  5. #4
    Every day is a gift. Sheila Lagrand's Avatar
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    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I know nothing about these and obviously NFI but these things are popping up on my eBay feed daily all of a sudden.

    https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...dolin&_sacat=0
    Please educate me: What does "NFI" mean?
    Phoebe, my 2021 Collings MT mandolin
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    Louise, my 193x SS Maxwell mandolin
    Fiona, My 2021 GSM guitar-bodied octave resonator mandolin
    Charlotte, my 2016 Eastman MDO 305 octave mandolin
    And Giuliana, my 2002 Hans Schuster 505 violin, Nehenehe, my 2021 Aklot concert ukulele,
    Annie, my 2022 Guild M-140 guitar, Joni, my 1963 Harmony 1215 Archtone archtop guitar,
    Yoko, my ca. 1963 Yamaha Dynamic No.15 guitar, and Rich, my 1959 husband.

  6. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    Quote Originally Posted by Round2 View Post
    Please educate me: What does "NFI" mean?
    No Financial Interest, meaning if you go there and you happen to buy one I don't make any money off that sale.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  7. #6
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    With a little set up work... nut slots and frets... I bet for money it would be an alright electric. Probably a fun project for the tinkerers out there.

    Upgrade the tuners and pickups it may be a little better.

  8. #7
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    Quote Originally Posted by Round2 View Post
    What does "NFI" mean?
    In other words, interested, just not financially. More conversationally. So to speak.

    I enjoyed the two EpiPhone MandoBird IVs I picked up a dozen years ago. They cost about $125 each. I used ultralight strings, which let me bend 2-3 frets. They were a bit underpowered, though, with just one pickup. Took some tweaking with pedals and amp to get them to sound as strong as I wanted, but I got there. They served as good trainers for when I stepped up to something more real, the custom-built Ryder, which is just ... there. These remind me of the MandoBirds, but having two pickups is an improvement. Also, the MandoBird has been discontinued. I see where used ones are being offered for sale at $600. At that price, people should get something good.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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  9. #8

    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    Bought one of these in ivory about a year and a half ago for quiet late night jamming on an 8 string vs. my Mandobird IV. There's a lot to complain about it but perhaps the worst sin is the 9th fret dot.

    Otherwise, the hardware is terribly cheap. Pickups are trash. The neck, which is tilted sideways about 5 degrees in relation the body, is a thick D shape. Fretboard is flat and widens dramatically as you move towards the higher frets.

    But is it worth the $115 I paid for it? Absolutely. The bridge is just adjustable enough where I was able to bypass the neck tilt to have consistent string height over the decently dressed frets and it intonates pretty well. I didn't have to touch the nut and even with the action set low there's no buzzing or dead frets, making it easy and enjoyable to play. I could spend some money on it for a pro setup, better components, etc. and may do so eventually, but I'm just as likely to sell it because I hardly ever play it since I now have a much more engaging option for night picking.

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  10. #9

    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    If it just had the Stratocaster jack..the invention of the ages.

  11. #10
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Inexpensive solid body electrics

    Ought to be able to rework it and put the Strat Jack plate where the pickup selector switch is ..
    cheap enough to not be Precious..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
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