Re: Electric mandolin: Help!
Originally Posted by
taboot
I don't have any experience taking an 8 string instrument, and stringing it with 4 strings (I think that's what you're asking?) It sure seems like it would work just fine, I think the only issue might be the nut slots would be slightly to one side or the other. Small differences, but we're talking about small instruments...
That's what I did with my EM150, reason being the slightest difference in tuning on a pair of string made it sound pretty ugly. Didn't change the nut because - well, it didn't occur to me and even if it had I'm not keen on modifying vintage instruments. I removed the treble side strings because when I bend strings I tend to pull rather than push.
Originally Posted by
AndyK
I returned my Mandobird because the quiet E-sting made it unplayable.
I haven't noticed this effect on mine. Besides, I use a 7-band EQ which evens out the response. Of course, as I look at its settings, it's weighted toward the treble end.
Originally Posted by
CES
For the record, I have a 4 string mandobird I'm very happy with, but I'm very much a beginner and knew what to expect when I ordered it...that is, a functional emando for only a little cash, and not a custom emando collectible.
I'm with you on this, though I'm not a beginner. It is much more what I was looking for than the EM150 - a real rock, blues, and and country instrument, able to bend strings three frets, make 'em cry and twang, leap small (very small) buildings in a single bound. I also have a 5-string Fender (recent import, not vintage) that I haven't bonded with yet. I may yet add another pickup to the MandoBird, for more power and the toggle action. All in good time. Meanwhile, it's a lot of bang for the buck. New they're $250 but I got mine on ebay barely used for $150.
Originally Posted by
mrmando
You can't do a good mandolin tremolo with single strings, but if you're playing rock music, you probably won't need to worry about that.
You know, while I agree with you as far as my personal experience goes, I have heard some decent tremolo action from guitarists, and they are using single strings. I'm thinking of Eric Clapton on Cream's "Dance The Night Away," though of course this is an example of a master at the peak of his powers and there is some kind of effect being used. I'll bet that tweaking the settings on a reverb or echo or delay effect would help make single-string tremolo sound fuller. But yeah, generally speaking, single-string tremolo tends to sound staccato.
Originally Posted by
whitemperor
OK guys, thank you for yours suggestions. At the end i bought an Ovation mandolin, model MCS148. I'll tell you how it works!
Oh no! Lost another one to Ovation ...
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
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