fretsandnecks
TDPRI Member
As soon as I can get the money together to buy the parts, I am going to build me a doubleneck tele/electric mandolin. Has anyone else built or seen anything like this?
Mandocaster?
- Thread starter fretsandnecks
- Start date
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roscoestring
Tele-Holic
All that I have seen are on ebay made in China (I think).
joe desperado
Tele-Meister
Ive done several necks for these. Very cool instruments. The originals were 13.75" scale.
roscoestring
Tele-Holic
My homemade Mandocaster (in progress).
JBennett
Tele-Afflicted
I built an electric ukulele based on the scale of the old fender electric mandolin.
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Depending on how much of the building you'll do on your own, I recommend a member here named JackDaniels (aka joe desperado) who builds amazing necks for all kinds of instruments. His prices are great and the necks are amazing.
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Depending on how much of the building you'll do on your own, I recommend a member here named JackDaniels (aka joe desperado) who builds amazing necks for all kinds of instruments. His prices are great and the necks are amazing.
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Jack Wells
Doctor of Teleocity
It would be great if we could get some drawings for one of the original Fender Mandocasters. Several photos here.
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There's one for sale on eBay but I don't want one that bad.
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There's one for sale on eBay but I don't want one that bad.
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joe desperado
Tele-Meister
jack, send me a ping...
JBennett
Tele-Afflicted
A guy named Paul Setzer over on the gretsch pages was working on a mandocaster. He's working on a proper clone. I think Joe (jackdaniels) also made his neck.
DesmoDog
Tele-Afflicted
While opinions vary on Phil X (I like him...) he did do a video with one that some people might like to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_XXiwssVM4
I'd like to see a scale drawing of one also... looks like it could be a fun project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_XXiwssVM4
I'd like to see a scale drawing of one also... looks like it could be a fun project.
JCJCJC
Tele-Holic
Maybe this is a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway! Why do some electric mandolins have four strings rather than four pairs of strings? I would also like to see a drawing for an electric mandolin that I could attempt, and even a bouzouki and a mandola.
roscoestring
Tele-Holic
Dunno. Why do guitars have 6 and 12 strings?
I prefer the sound of an 8 string over that of a 4 string. Never played a 5 string yet.
To me the 8 stringer is more for bluegrass type stuff and the 4 works better for most everything else. However, most bluegrassers won't play electric.
I prefer the sound of an 8 string over that of a 4 string. Never played a 5 string yet.
To me the 8 stringer is more for bluegrass type stuff and the 4 works better for most everything else. However, most bluegrassers won't play electric.
JCJCJC
Tele-Holic
Not realy a straight comparison - a 12-string guitar is really a different instrument from a six-string, it can make sounds that a six-string can't, eg the intros to Hotel California, Annie's Song, Mr. Tambourine Man etc. The G, D, A and bottom E strings (on a standard tune) are pairs an octave apart, the top E and B are pairs in unison. On a mandolin, all the pairs are in unison.
I used to play acoustic mandolin a lot, melodies and chords. I learnt the theory playing violin in a school orchestra as a teenager. I always liked any electric mandolin I ever played, a guy I currently gig with occasionally has an Ovation that is really nice when it is plugged in. I wouldn't mind getting back into playing mandolin occasionally, particularly if I could make one.
roscoestring
Tele-Holic
Actually, my comparison (intention) was that you do get different sounds from 6 and 12 stringers just as you do from 4 and 8 stringers. People are always searching for something different. Trying to capture that special sound that no one else has. I've never held one or even seen one but I've heard of 12 and 18 string basses. I can't even imagine trying to hold down 3 bass strings at once. But someone was looking for something unique and with a different sound and created it. Also, I tried once to tune my 8 string mando to a different tuning much like a 12 string guitar is. I would not recommend that and I got tired of it really quickly but it did produce some interesting sounds. I play my 8 string (Eastwood elec) every week. I play my 4 string hardly ever.
Jack Wells
Doctor of Teleocity
I recently ordered Mandocaster plans from Guitar Plans Unlimited.
http://www.guitarplansunlimited.com/Mandocaster.htm
With shipping, cost was $21. Here's what you get. The plans come in a mailing tube but mine was crushed a little hence the wrinkles in the drawing. Not a big deal to me. Excuse the lousy picture.
As you can see, the drawing includes extra copies of the body, neck, pickguard and fingerboard so you can cut them out to make your templates. I know people on this forum want things for free but the seller James Unden has done an excellent job on these plans and I think he should be paid for his efforts so if you want the plans, buy them.
Note: The pickup cutout is for 1/2 of an EMG Select P-Bass pickup. You would have to modify the plans if you're going to use a regular Mandocaster sized pickup.
http://www.guitarplansunlimited.com/Mandocaster.htm
With shipping, cost was $21. Here's what you get. The plans come in a mailing tube but mine was crushed a little hence the wrinkles in the drawing. Not a big deal to me. Excuse the lousy picture.
As you can see, the drawing includes extra copies of the body, neck, pickguard and fingerboard so you can cut them out to make your templates. I know people on this forum want things for free but the seller James Unden has done an excellent job on these plans and I think he should be paid for his efforts so if you want the plans, buy them.
Note: The pickup cutout is for 1/2 of an EMG Select P-Bass pickup. You would have to modify the plans if you're going to use a regular Mandocaster sized pickup.
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CJFearn
Tele-Holic
A long long time ago, like maybe in the mid '80s, I built a couple of solid body electric 8 string madolins. As I recall I was very disappointed in the sound not being at all like a twelve string guitar but sounding like there were only 4 single strings on it. I've been thinking recently of building another one and putting a piezo bridge pickup in it to get that double string sound back. If I get around to making it I'll put up a build thread here.
JBennett
Tele-Afflicted
JW. That drawing looks great. If you need to find the right bridge... try Moongazer music. They make a great mandocaster bridge and they'll modify it for you too if you ask. I had mine drilled for string through body set-up on my tele-uke. I know Setzer ordered one with twin brass barrels like the originals.
Jack Wells
Doctor of Teleocity
Thanks. The drawing calls for taking a Strat hardtail bridge, cutting the ends and drilling new mounting holes.
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JBennett
Tele-Afflicted
I can see how that would work, but I'd go with Moongazer. Their bridges are great. They don't just sell you a bass bridge.
oldsoultroy
Tele-Meister
I always only put 4 on my mando's acou-and elec.
