Grateful Dead Music Forum

I am going to buy an electric mandolin and I don't know where to start. Are there any mandolin players out there who would like to share their expertise on the subject? I'd appreciate it greatly.

After 25 years of guitar playing , the past year has brought a change, my primary instrument is now Mandiolin, I have played and looked at a bunch of them and Micheal Kelly makes some great ones that are both affordable and really good instruments

I'm looking for the same advice that you're asking for. I've got a lot of people telling me to get an acoustic. But eventually I want to gig with it and I love the way an electric mandolin sounds through my amp (they had both items at guitar center so I got a chance to hear how the combo would sound at home and at gigs and jam sessions.) I love the tone. I'm not going to use any effects with my mandolin, except maybe a pinch of reverb and a hint of delay.

I've been playing acoustic mandolin for a while now. I just want something new to use in my bluegrass band.

Each time I see this thread title I think of Rubin's painted mandolin.

I've played electric and acoustic mandolin in rock, folk, bluegrass and jamband settings (although my main instrument is bass). I started with cheap barely playable mandolins don't even remember the brand. Then traded in a bass for an amazing vintage Gibson A model from the 1920's..superb mando, eventually put a McIntyre pick up on it and used in through an LR Baggs acoustic DI, this worked pretty well, even used a small acoustic amp on stage on occasion (Crate). I started to crave a Rigel mandolin with built in pickup, bec they looked very cool and the Gibson was worth alot of $$ and didn't like taking in out to bars. I recently sold the Gibson after it sat in its case for a long time without being play and used the money to buy Clara (my custom 5 string bass). Don't remember when, but I also bought a true electric mandolin from fender, it was eight string with pickup , volume and tone control, around $200 used. Had that for a year , didn't really think much of it. Not a very good mandolin sound, I think they have a better version out (more like a F model) and that is supposed to be OK. I know there are vintage 4 string Fender Elec mando's, Sam Bush plays one and it rocks, but is more like an electric guitar sound. Last time I looked they were over $1000. My advice would be to look at an acoustic mando in the $300 range and get a pick up with it, stay with an A model, the extra punch and volume of an F model doesn't mean much when you are plugged in, unless you are going to play bluegrass acoustically into a mike.Hope this helps
http://www.theCAUSEjams.com

If you want to stay under $300 I would look at the Epiphone mandobird IV and upgrade the pickup and electronis.

If you have over a grand to spend, check out:

http://www.honestronsguitars.com/

Ron can build you a nice strat or tele looking E-Mando that is really nice.

In addition, I have dropped this link before:

http://www.manndolins.com

Jonathan Mann will build you a Neck through Tiger copy for about $1400. You won't get all the fancy stuff but a basic electric mandolin that is killer.

Stay away from Rono, they guy who built Kang's e-mando's. He has taken deposits and hasn't delivered. He is being sued by a bunch of people.

Alright, I read all of the posts and thanks for the information. I think the most I'm going to spend is $600 and because I already have a decent acoustic I want an electric (not acoustic with pickups). Also 4 strings would be nice. I was looking at the Eastwood Mandocaster. Can anyone tell me about that?

Honest Ron might be able to put one together for 6 bills. Dangle the money in front of his nose, he might jump..

Also check http://www.emando.com/ for emando info...