Wiktor Wise
The electric mandolin is an instrument that is tuned and played like a mandolin but amplified similarly to an electric guitar. Electric mandolins come in many forms, with the most common being a carved-top eight-string instrument with an electric pickup. Solid-body electric mandolins are usually in 4-, 5-, or 8-string forms, while acoustic-electric mandolins also exist in various forms. Electric mandolins have been observed to sound less like a mandolin and more like an electric guitar, especially when played with modified guitar licks and riffs. However, some electric mandolins are designed to sound as close to an acoustic mandolin as possible, only louder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of strings | 4, 5, 8 |
| Sound | Similar to an acoustic mandolin but louder, or a distorted sound like an electric guitar |
| Volume | Louder than an acoustic mandolin |
| Tone | Bright, with a "bark" acoustic |
| Tuning | G3–D4–A4–E5, or G–D′–A′–E″ |
| Design | Solid body, semi-hollow, hollow-body, carved-top |
| Brands | Fender, Godin, Eastman, Weber, Almuse, Rigel, Mix, Schertler, Gibson, Vega, Paul Bigsby, Eastwood, Epiphone |
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What You'll Learn
Electric mandolin vs acoustic mandolin
The electric mandolin is an instrument that is tuned and played like a mandolin but amplified like an electric guitar. Electric mandolins have been around for almost a century, with early versions being built in the United States as early as the late 1920s. They gained popularity during the heyday of the mandolin, when performers needed to plug in to play for large crowds.
Today, electric mandolins come in various forms, including solid-body mandolins with 4, 5, or 8 strings, as well as acoustic-electric mandolins that can be amplified while retaining an acoustic tone. The choice between an electric and an acoustic mandolin may depend on the musician's playing style, the venue, and the presence of other amplified instruments.
Acoustic mandolins offer a more complex and rich acoustic sound, especially in the high end. They are preferred by some musicians for their natural tone and can be played either unplugged or amplified using a microphone or a pickup. However, when played through an amp, the acoustic-electric mandolin's sound may be coloured by the pickup, resulting in a slightly different tone.
Electric mandolins, on the other hand, provide different sound options that may not be achievable with an acoustic mandolin, especially when paired with effects pedals or a talkbox. They are well-suited for playing in large venues or with amplified bands, as they can be easily plugged into an amplifier to increase volume without losing sound quality.
Ultimately, the choice between an electric and an acoustic mandolin depends on the musician's preferences, playing style, and the intended use of the instrument. Both have their unique advantages and can be used in a variety of musical contexts.
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Electric mandolin equipment and pedals
Electric mandolins are a niche instrument and are rarely found in music stores. When it comes to equipment and pedals, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, solid-body electric mandolins, such as the Fender Mandostrat 4-string and Bluestar Mandoblaster 5-string, require an amplifier and pedals to produce a good tone. Some pedal options for these instruments include a clean boost, a drive pedal, reverb, delay, and an octave. Additionally, effects pedals can be used with electric mandolins to create a variety of sounds. Volume pedals, for instance, can be used to create fast tremolos, fade-ins, and fade-outs.
For those seeking a more organic sound, there are pedals that produce a vintage 'analogue sound', such as the Artec SE-ADL Analog Delay Pedal and the Artec SE-VCH Chorus Pedal. These pedals offer a wide range of input signals and can be used with many types of instruments. Overdrive and distortion are common effects used with electric mandolins, but it can be challenging to find options that sound good with the frequency spectrum of the instrument. The Pearl OD5, similar in design to the Ibanez TS 808 (tube screamer), is one option that works well and offers more gain stages and a parametric EQ.
Some mandolin players also experiment with combining multiple pedals to create unique sounds. For example, using a Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus and a generic Chinese digital clone of the MXR M118 analog delay can produce "organ sounds" when combined with a volume pedal. Compression/sustain, octave doubler, and Leslie pedals (which recreate the Hammond B-3 sound) are other creative options. Reverb, chorus, flanger, and phaser pedals can also add interesting effects to the electric mandolin's sound.
When it comes to specific mandolin models, the Eastman El-Ray and the Epiphone Mandobird are mentioned as decent mass-produced options. For those seeking a more affordable option, the Epiphone MM 50e is mentioned as a low-cost mandolin that is still enjoyable to play. It is worth noting that pure electric mandolins are essentially electric guitars tuned in fifths, so some players may prefer to use electric guitar pedals and equipment with their mandolins. However, one challenge with using guitar pedals is that they typically track up to C5, which may require using an octave pedal to achieve the desired effect.
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Electric mandolin players
Electric mandolins can have four or five individual or double courses of strings. They were developed in the early 1930s, around the same time as the electric guitar. They come in solid body and acoustic-electric forms. The electric mandolin is a good choice for musicians who play in loud bars and clubs, as they are easier to amplify than acoustic mandolins. Some musicians also use the electric mandolin to achieve a guitar-like sound.
Tiny Moore, who played with Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys in the 1940s and 1950s, is known for his use of the electric mandolin and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Moore also created the electric five-string mandolin, modernising the instrument. Sam Bush plays a vintage Fender Mandocaster, while Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident plays a custom Rono. Ronnie McCoury and Sierra also use the vintage Fender, but with four strings. Jason Anick, a gypsy jazz violinist, uses an electric mandolin to achieve an amplified hollow-bodied guitar sound.
Other famous mandolin players include Bill Monroe, known as the Father of Bluegrass, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, John Paul Jones, and Chris Thile. Adam Steffey is perhaps one of the most recorded mandolinists of modern times, having achieved five Grammy Awards and ten Mandolin Player of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association.
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Electric mandolin types
Electric mandolins have existed since the 1920s, but they have seen a recent surge in popularity. The most common type of electric mandolin is the acoustic/electric mandolin, which is typically a normal acoustic mandolin with a pickup added. These mandolins offer a great acoustic tone and can be plugged in when needed. They usually do not have advanced preamps on-board and instead use a passive Piezo pickup.
Solid-body mandolins are also common and typically have 4, 5, or 8 strings. Gibson and Rickenbacker introduced solid-body eight-string mandolins in the 1950s, while Fender opted for a four-string version. In 1952, Bigsby built an electric mandolin with five single courses, which was played by Western swing musician Tiny Moore.
Electric mandolins can also be carved-top eight-string instruments fitted with an electric pickup, similar to archtop semi-acoustic guitars. Another option is the Mandobird, which is a solid-body mandolin based on the Gibson Firebird body and sold under the Epiphone label, available in both four- and eight-string versions.
The Fender Electric Mandolin, produced from 1956 to 1976, was a four-string version with a body shape loosely based on the Stratocaster. In 2013, Fender reissued it as the Mando-Strat in both four- and eight-string models. Single-course electric mandolins are also available, such as the Fender Mandocaster and the Eastman Mandoblaster.
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Electric mandolin history
The mandolin is a member of the lute family, dating back to Italy in the 18th century. The instrument was played across Europe but then disappeared after the Napoleonic Wars. The modern bowlback version of the mandolin was created by the Vinaccia family of Naples, with the deep-bowled mandolin, especially the Neapolitan form, becoming common in the 19th century.
The electric mandolin was developed in the early 1930s, around the same time as the electric guitar. The earliest electric mandolins were built in the United States as early as the late 1920s. Some of the first companies to produce them were Stromberg-Voisinet, Electro (which later became Rickenbacker), Vivi-Tone, and National. Gibson and Vega introduced their electric mandolins in 1936.
In the 1950s, Gibson and Rickenbacker introduced solid-body eight-string mandolins, while Fender followed with a four-string version. Paul Bigsby, a luthier and inventor, began building solid-body electric mandolins in 1949. His most famous mandolin, built in 1952, was owned and played by Western swing musician Tiny Moore. This instrument had five single courses, rather than the more common four double courses.
From 1956 to 1976, Fender produced a four-string version of the electric mandolin, nicknamed the "Mandocaster." Gibson manufactured the EM-200 solid-body electric mandolin from 1954 to 1971. More recently, in 2013, Fender reissued the "Mandocaster" as the Mando-Strat in both four- and eight-string models.
Electric mandolins come in various forms, including solid-body and acoustic-electric models. They can have four, five, or eight strings, and are tuned and played similarly to their acoustic counterparts. While the electric mandolin has gained popularity, there are still relatively few recordings featuring it as a lead instrument.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric mandolins can be made to sound like an acoustic mandolin, only louder. They can also be made to sound like an electric guitar. The sound depends on the number of strings and whether it is a solid or hollow body.
Solid-body electric mandolins tend to have a more "electric" sound, like an electric guitar. Hollow-body mandolins can have a more acoustic sound, but can also be made to sound more like an electric guitar.
Examples of electric mandolins with a more "electric" sound include the Rigel with a built-in pickup and the Mix carbon-fiber mandolin with the Schertler pickup.
The Fender Mandocaster is an example of an electric mandolin with a more acoustic sound. The Godin A8 is another example and is said to sound "bright and nice" when plugged in.
Electric mandolin players include Tiny Moore, Sam Bush, Michael Kang, Ronnie McCoury, and Sierra. Moore plays a Fender mandolin with an additional string, a tremolo bridge, and an extra humbucker pickup. Bush uses a vintage Fender Mandocaster.
