Emando questions

[John L]

I am interested in buying an electric mando, and have a few questions and comments:

1. I have "a few" acoustic mandolins, including two with pick-ups. For me, and to get something completely different, I am inclined to buy a 4 string instrument. Comments?

2. re. 5 strings - are they tuned C-G-D-A-E? (like a cross between a mandolin and mandola) Just wondering!

3. re. Godin A-8 - I like Godin instruments, and wonder if there is a 4 string (A-4?)?

4. Amazing - I like the look of the "Amazing" 8 string shown in another post- are they common? Was/is there a 4 string version?

5. I have a guitar multi-effects unit - any problem using that with a mandolin? How about with my acoustic mandolins? Tenor banjo with a cheezy contact pick-up?

Thanks for any comments!

[mrmando]

1. See emando.com.
2. Yes, but it's a free country.
3. No.
4. Very uncommon. Only seen two. Built ~20 years ago. No 4-string.
5. Try it. Probably will work best with solidbody electric mando.

[mandroid]

I have found lower pitches to be a good thing
4 string CGDA, a 14" scale
and Bb F C G D on a 15" scale 5 string

2 ways around the weaker high E string output
[as sensed by the magnetic field over the pickup].

The electric parts in the Godin A8 come from RMC in Berkeley Cal.
The element is a per string or per pair,[godin uses 4 double notch]
and sold as each,
for non guitar , less than 6 of them, installations.

You could replace 4 Godin 2 notch pickup elements with one notch per
saddle pickups. the 4 of them are combined , mono, to the EQ/preamp.

I have a 4 string , 1st with a Lace pickup, then I had 4 RMC pickup elements set into the bridge,
I have them separate, divided, out thru a black box,
and can run the output thru an amp, mono,
or thru a guitar synthisizer.

[John L]

I posted this on another thread, but no replies. Would like to hear some views on best value in a 4, 5, and 8 string at different price points, say <$300, 300-500, 500-750, etc.

[Christian McKee]

There's been a lot of discussion about this on times past, in various threads. Lemme try and boil it down:

Your cheapie options are the mandobird or the Kentucky, both of which have been discussed extensively in lots of recent threads. Consensus seems to be that they're playable, but not great performance tools without a little additional investment.

Moving up a notch to the 500 - 600 range the Bluestar mandolins are the most common (and pretty popular.) But check out the recent talk about Andrew Jerman's instruments, they're not that far above this price point, and people seem to really dig them. I've never played any of these.

In the 1k and higher range, there's lots and lots of options. Ryder, Eckhaus, Schwab and Stevens are the working builders who seem to dominate this market. Most of the variously collectible instruments fall into this dollar grouping as well if they're in decent shape, here I'm thinking of Fenders and Gibsons primarily. And of course there are always exceptions, a friend of mine got a '58 Fender for $350, but that was because someone had drilled the headstock for a fifth tuning machine.

The commercial 8 strings I know about are mostly in the cheaper end of the spectrum (I forgot to mention Godins earlier,) I'm pretty much interested in electric guitar type sounds from my mandolin, so I don't pay too much attention there. And truth be told, I don't know if I'll ever get another 4 string, the idea of going onstage without the "low" C is getting further and further from my comfort zone.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Christian

[Frank Russell]

My Jerman was much closer to the $300 range, and is a great improvement in terms of playability and tone over the Kentucky KM300E and Mandobird IV I used to have, and the Eastwood I played recently. I'm not sure if Andrew is taking a break, or raising his prices, but he's worth checking out. I find myself playing the Jerman a lot more than I ever did the other two. Frank

[John L]

Thanks Christian. A 5 string is definitely a consideration. I have more than one 8 string acoustic with a pickup, and will continue to plug those in. I know a really good local builder that builds acoustic guitars, and he has also built some really nice electrics. I am thinking about asking him to build me a mandolin. Leads to more questions like scale, electronics... (thanks for any comments)

[Lee]

Check out Mandoblaster from their custom shop on Elderly's site. The wood body looks really nice.