Not so traditional mandolin....

[brewerpaul]

If you've ever toyed with the idea of an electric mandolin, I can heartily recommend this easy to build kit:
http://www.amazon.com/Saga-RK-2-MT-10-E ... 454&sr=8-1

Basically, all you have to do is shape the headstock to your taste (a simple coping saw and sandpaper will do the trick),apply the finish of your choice and assemble the instrument. Oh, the action could use some tweaking to get it low enough at the first fret. Still, overall a simple job and you end up with a really playable instrument which sounds great. Here's one in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhSOCm_maV4

I painted mine with spray can automotive paint (black mica, multiple coats of clearcoat). Sanded it with 1500 grit wet sandpaper and buffed it with buffing compound.
I do have some hum from the pickup that I need to sort out, but if I tinker with the control knobs I can mostly get rid of it. An upgraded pickup (humbucker) would help, but I don't feel the need to spend the $$.

[Feadoggie]

Yes, the Saga kits can be pretty neat. And that is a good price on Amazon. There are quite a few Saga Telecasters around here. Most have had everything replaced overtime but the neck - parts is parts, as they say.

I'll stick with my late 60's Harmony H-8025 electric for that Zep vibe. Always liked the Mandocaster though.

Hhhuuummm! Is there a gound circuit to the strings either through the bridge or tailpiece? And you do know that single coil pickups are synonymous with hum, right?

Feadoggie

[brewerpaul]

Yes, the Saga kits can be pretty neat. I'll stick with my late 60's Harmony H-8025 electric for that Zep vibe. Always like the Mandocaster though.

Hhhuuummm! Is there a gound circuit to the strings either through the bridge or tailpiece? And you do know that single coil pickups are synonymous with hum, right?

Feadoggie

Yes to both-- the strings are grounded via the tailpiece. I've already experienced the hum. It turns out that if I turn the volume pot to mid level it mainly goes away: both ends of the range hum a fair amount. I was using a small Kustom practice amp until yesterday when I picked up a very cool Fender Mustang 1. In addition to a pile of on board effects, amp models and a built in tuner, the hum is better for some reason.

[Feadoggie]

Yes to both-- the strings are grounded via the tailpiece. I've already experienced the hum. It turns out that if I turn the volume pot to mid level it mainly goes away: both ends of the range hum a fair amount. I was using a small Kustom practice amp until yesterday when I picked up a very cool Fender Mustang 1. In addition to a pile of on board effects, amp models and a built in tuner, the hum is better for some reason.

OK. I was wondering if they ran the ground to the tailpiece or bridge. But looking at the bridge I was skeptical because it is not all metal. The tailpiece is the better route. So, it's down to the normal 60 cycle hum now? Could have been the ground to the Kustom amp. The Fender Mustang sounds pretty cool.

Feadoggie

[Thomaston]

As tempting as it looks, I'm thinking of trying out the Stewmac campfire mandolin kit.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Mandol ... n_Kit.html

[Seonachan]

I got what I thought was one of those Saga kits on eBay last year, for a bit cheaper than what Amazon is selling them for now. Turns out it was a lower quality knockoff. But other than needing a lot of bridge and nut work, and knobs for the pots (not included!), it turned out ok - no hum even.



It was a good learning experience, especially since instructions were another thing that wasn't included. I didn't keep it though - the mando scale is too small for my taste, and besides I replaced it with one of these:

http://www.emando.com/builders_active/Airline.htm