$500-$600 electric

[swinginmandolins]

I've been toying with getting a 4 or eight string electric mandolin, most likely a 4, and was wondering what would be a good quality instrument in that price range maybe used if I have the patience?

[wichitamando]

Ron Lira of Honest Ron's Guitars makes them for slightly more. I just received a custom one that he built for me about a month ago.

Here's a link to a picture of one:
Honest Ron Mandolin

He has a walnut one in the shop for $650. It's been there a while, he might take less. He also has a single cutaway, mini-LP body style in the shop for $750.

I've been very pleased with mine, although I have Ryder pickups rather than his standard Duncan mini-humbucker.

[mikeomando]

Hi,
A Bluestar Mandoblaster goes for $637.50 at Elderly instruments new without a case. I have a purple 5 string that I like a lot. I guess I'd sell it for $610, delivered, with a hard case. You could take off one of the strings and have a great 4 string. In your price range, the mandoblaster is about the surest thing that I'm aware of. The fretboards are rock solid, they have a low action, and they stay in tune. I had to spend roughly twice as much to get an emando that was better.
Good Luck...

[swinginmandolins]

Thanks for the responses. I knew that mandoblasters were an option, and thanks for the Honest Ron recommendation. I've been considering maybe going with the 5 but not quite sure yet. I know I can get something nicer if I look at going in to the $1000-1200 range which may still happen.

[mrmando]

Andrew Jerman is building some pretty nice-looking ones for less than $500. He's here on the Cafe (thistle3585) and has a new 4-stringer on eBay (xroadswood).

[swinginmandolins]

This is my first attempt at trying to post an image on the board so we will see if I read the instructions correct, but it is the in progress pic of a soon to be mine Jerman 2 point emando. It's going to be a 4 string. I can't wait!

[swinginmandolins]

Thanks to all who responded to help me on my quest, I appreciate it. I will post a pic once it's done, and soundclips on my soundclick page once I get some done. It should only be a few weeks before I get to enter the Emando world
I have to say too that Andrew is an awesome guy!

[mrmando]

Very cool. I don't get down to Shelton much. Think you'll have it by Wintergrass-time?

[swinginmandolins]

If all goes well I should have it by Wintergrass. You can contact me the week before and I'll let you know. I won't have an amp by that time, but if you want to check it out, and I don't have anything going on we could meet up at Guitar Center in Tacoma and I'll let you check it out.

[mrmando]

that'd be cool ... it'd be nice to review one of Andrew's instruments.