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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- In the Spring of 1956, Leo Fender introduced the greatest little solid body of all-time, the Fender Electric Mandolin. Nicknamed ,Mandocaster, by collectors, they were designed to replicate the sound of Tiny Moore, and Johnny Gimble, the fiery 4-string mandolin playing veterans of Bob Wills Texas Playboys Band. The instrument was not a success as Western Swing's popularity was waning by the time Leo introduced it, but it found new and exciting uses in the ensuing 70 years. Today we look at the instrument, and the inspiration behind it, with a look at the playing and influence of both Tiny Moore and Johnny Gimble.
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Gear Used:
1958 Fender Electric Mandolin
1959 Fender Harvard Amp
Thanks to the following sites
www.guitarhq.com
www.emando.com
Book Mentioned
Fender The Golden Age 1946-1970
amzn.to/4duer8P
#fendermandolin #mandocaster #askzac
I planted mine and grew it into a Stratocaster.
How often did you have to water it?
😂😂😂😂😂
That’s interesting, because mine grew into a P-Bass.
I used to drool over that in the Fender catalog when I was a teenager in the 70s.
With Epi bringing back the Mandobird it sure would be nice to see Fender/Squier re-introduce the Mandocaster. An eight string would certainly be a bonus. Otherwise, there's always the Eastwood options. Thanks for the video!
I agree, I bet a bunch of specific 1980's style hair metal bands or 1980's style fast blues metal would have a player who only does high end crap using with 4 highest strings of guitar where you need 1 single coil pickup only. Add a Strat like whammy bar and these people would be happy. Even some kinds of chug speed metal using a more 1980's hair metal style this idea would work having a guy doing same thing.
Fender did that about a decade ago with 4 and 8 string models made in Indonesia. Only lasted a year or two at most. I have a 4 string that mainly hangs on my wall. Officially called them mando strats as I think Eastwood trademarked the mandocaster name.
@@2speedy4u22yes. Epi had 4 & 8 string versions, then Fender did.
The Mandostrats were cool.
Although after both Epi and Fender discontinued them, I found a used Mandobird and bought it
Very cool, and fun ro play
@@2speedy4u22 any chance you'd sell the 4 string wall hanger?
I saw Johnny Gimble and his band twice at the Wheatland Music Festival in Michigan. He mostly player fiddle when I saw him. Johnny is legend who is in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Tiny Moore gave me my first mandolin lesson. Tiny Moore Music (the store) was down the street from me in Sacramento.
Billy Jack Wills ran a place nearby called Will's Point that was a dammed up creek/pond with an island in the middle complete with bandstand, dance floor and bar.
There was a strong Western Swing society with regular monthly big stage shows.
I play a solid body 4 string in my blues band occasionally but I'm mostly a bluegrass guy with a '30s F5.
I love your shows Zac and as a bluegrass guy Clarence White and his B-bender tele have been on my radar for 40+ years. I finally have a nice early '90s Mexican tele.
Your shows created my awareness and respect for slant bar technique and last week at our week long blues festival (Centrum Port Townsend)I took up dobro (I play all the other bluegrass instruments) Although the instructor basically warned against using slant bar, an hour later I was milking it, so much fun. I felt like I had a B-bender and pedals.
Thank You
Fantastic
Try the Stacy Phillips Homespun tapes video for learning slants! Practice a lot and wear steel nosed shoes!
Did you know Olen Dillingham?
@@mrbuttons1243 not by name, but maybe I'd recognize him.
Alex Chilton apparently put one to good use on Big Star's "Radio City" album. A lot of the bright sounding parts that sound like a capoed guitar or 12-string ("September Gurls"!)are supposedly Fender electric mandolin overdubs!
Yep, John Fry (RIP)spoke of Alex Chilton (RIP) proudly bringing an electric mando into Ardent. That intro to September Gurls is sonic perfection. If you’re reading this, please take the time to discover the band Big Star. You will be glad you did!
“Back To Back” by Tiny Moore & Jethro Burns-essential.
One of the very best jazz instrumental albums.
I have a Fender FM-60E 5-string mandolin from the early 2000's. It's a sweet little instrument!
I have a Fender five string semi-hollow body mandocaster. It’s a lot of fun.
Sierra Hull plays the heck out of hers.
I got to play a few in my time teaching at vintage shop in Melbourne Australia. They are great and built as well as the big brothers. I ended up building a few offset versions( mando, mandola and octave mando)
I have an old mandolin neck, this video just inspired me to go into my wood shop and build one of these contraptions.
crazy Australian beard guy Warren Ellis plays electric mandos with Nick Cave (and amplified violin in the Dirty Three)
Thanks for covering this and especially the information about the playing style differences between a 4- and 8-string. I'm sure to get a mando someday and didn't know about that. It's sad to me that Epiphone offers a solidbody mando but Squier doesn't. I really like the shape of the old Fender ones.
Those Fender Electric Mandolins are pretty cool! Fender brought out semi-hollow versions around 2000-2001 that had flat tops with binding, made in Korea I think. They came in 5-string (single strings) and 8-string versions, and I bought an 8-string. It had a smaller version of Fender’s 12-string headstock-I love your octave-12-string idea, like the old Vox Mando-Guitar. Emerald Guitars in Ireland have a carbon-fiber acoustic one, called an Amicus, but they’re pretty expensive. Anyway, I thought I’d learn to play that little Fender, but I got nowhere with mandolin tuning, so I did the old Tommy Tedesco trick of tuning it like the top four strings of a guitar. Used it on one gig, and eventually sold it to an actual mandolin player. By the way, I actually got to play with Tiny Moore once, in the early ‘70s. He and a luthier named Jay Roberts were marketing a version of Tiny’s Bigsby 5-string mandolin, and I ran into them at a steel guitar show. When I told Tiny that I was a guitar player, he told me to get my guitar and come pick with him! So I did-I’d discovered Western Swing around the same time, and I knew some of the Bob Wills classics, so I could comp behind him. I was just over the moon, and Tiny was a really nice guy. We must have played for a couple of hours-definitely a high point in my life.
For some great Fender electric mandolin playing make sure to check out Sam Bush!
That 3 pole pickup reminds me of some of the pickups I've bought for cigar box guitar builds.
Interesting video regarding electric mandolins. I like the acoustic mandolin solos by Jethro on some of the early Chet Atkins recordings. Joe Maphis had an electric mandolin as the top guitar of his double Mosrite guitars.
There was a Steel player who played on Lower Broadway and toured with Chuck Mead, Carco Clave who played one.
I had a 70’s Fender Electric Violin with Leo’s magnetic pickup. I sold it because I needed money when I bought a condo in 1980.
One of the most underrated instruments. My favourite mandolin is my JBovier ELS which is incredibly versatile (2 pickups) and sounds great. I’d love a mandocaster as a backup but one day maybe.
Brown eyed girl rips on this. Among many other songs.
This was a very informational segment 👍 . . . did not know Fender made an electric mandolin . . .
I inherited a pink mandocaster. I didn’t know much about it, thanks for making this video.
Maestro Alex Gregory, the master of fender mandolin.
I recently acquired a Mandobird and it’s a cool little instrument. I always wanted a Mandocaster, though. Funny thing is, I don’t play mandolin.
now we need overdriven mandolin. Also cool to see the Harvard out and about!
Thanks for this episode! I recently saw Epiphone has a new four string electric mandolin shaped like a Firebird guitar, and is selling for around 599.00. I tried to find a TH-cam player demo, but most were using with fuzz and distortion, so it was impossible to hear the clean sound I'm looking for. I wish Fender or Squier would make a limited run of these. I would buy it in a heartbeat! Thanks again, and keep up the good work you're doing!
I´ve always wondered why they made mandolins with only 4 strings, now I know,- great story , thanks.
My pleasure!
I bought a used epi mandobird because I thought it would be fun to play fiddle tunes on electric mandolin. I used to play Square dances growing up in West Tennessee. The fiddle player had a pick up in his fiddle, and his rhythm guitar player played a Gretsch country gentleman through a twin reverb. I played banjo with them. I wish I had the electric mandolin back in those days.
Thank you.I saw one of those in a Fender catalog I had back in the 70s.I wondered why 4 string?...after all that time you answered my question.
This little instrument is really cool! If only Fender would revive these now, and keep the same qualities and attentions on them as they do on their guitars, I'm confident that this one would beat every other solid body electric ukuleles on the market and make a big success in the worldwide ukulele community. Fender, if you see this, please do give this a thought. Thanks!
A fascinating insight Zac. Thanks.
The Billy Jack Wills records with the band led by Tiny Moore are excellent, some of the finest Western swing ever put down!
I totally agree!......
Zac..😮 I love the episode on the Fender mandocaster! You're a 100% right they cut through the mix even at a low volume..
Great video. I believe I saw a video of John 5 play this instrument for a tune during his show and he rocked out on it.
Very cool, Zac…hopefully down the road we get a lap steel shallow dive, as well.
Great info thanks, give's me ideas.
Mahalo Zac!
Always love your insight and content! When I saw you spotlighted the Mandocaster I had to watch. I was slightly hoping to catch you name drop John Abercrombie. I love the recordings that the John Abercrombie Quartet made in the 70's - early 80'; and he tastefully uses the Mando with some effects. Look up the song "Blue Wolf" and check out the albums: Arcade & John Abercrombie Quartet. Beautiful albums with Mando all over. Peace!
John Abercrombie made extensive use of the fender electric mandolin in the late 70's through the early 80s or so.
I wish you had touched on the 5 string version. Great video on an instrument I've always been curious about
It has a low C. Makes it mandola + mandolin range
I think the first time I saw a Mandocaster was when Roy Wood of Wizzard ( and the Move and ELO) turned up with one for a TV show recording- of one of their big hits in 1973. A great electric mandolin player in the 40s was Doug Dalton who played with Roy Lanham & the Whippoorwills - and was highly regarded. He played a Gibson EM model at that time. Many of the band's recordings are on YT- "Hard Life Blues" comes to mind.
I have a Robin octave guitar from the ‘80’s gets a lot of use
Pete Anderson used one for the intro of "Streets of Bakersfield."
Always got a kick when I saw Donnie Herron play one with Bob Dylan.
Gracias 4 Tha Vidz. D A D G. keep on pickin' Cowkidz
Enjoyed this a great deal. Thanks so much for all the hard work. Later my friend.
Alright! LOVE it!
...could I ask for an episode about the *plectrum guitar* next?
p.s. - srsly. 🙏🏼
Great History. Thanks!
You bet!
Given how high a mandolin needs to be held, I'd be tempted to call that back contour a "Moob Cut."
About 8 years ago... I came across.....on eBay.....a Fender electric bouziki ......a long, long necked 8 string..... couldn't afford it at the time.... never saw another one....
The one I had never stayed in tune. I really loved the sound of it, but wrote it off because of one bad experience. Damn.
In the mid 70s John Abercrombie put slinky strings on the mandocaster and made it a soprano 4 string guitar one octave above a tenor guitar. GDBE low to high. I got one recently and enjoy that tuning even though I am an eight string mandolin player in 5ths. It just sounds better to me as a guitar.
I have seen a single metal band have one where player was using a repainted all black with tortoise-shell pickguard or possibly a remade all black pickguard who had only 4 higherst strings on and was only doing the high end solo crap on music using doing some kind of 1980's hair metal style.
I know Rory Gallagher sometimes played an Electric Mandolin, although when he played mandolin, he usually played a regular one.
Zac, what do you think of G&L guitars? I'm thinking about buying a used Legacy.
They are great. As always, play it first if you can
I saw these years ago. Never knew who was going to use one and for what - just featured in some pop song mainly. But I also never came across anyone playing one that was not tuned D G B E like the guitar they'd pick up after this. The good side of one of these is they can be played mighty loud before feedback!! There's one for sale in Japan - $4500 - yikes - any luthier could build you one way better! Collectors Rule??!!
You can bend strings on 4 or 5 string, and you cant at all on 8 string. Violin strings work best so the amount of string metal is more balanced for the pup.
Superb informative and very interesting video.
Thank you!
I want an electric Mando and an electric banjo... it looks like it only has 4 strings so its really an electric Uke ? Leo is my guitar hero even though he didn't play. Thanks Zac :p
You could tune it like an uke but it's a mandolin, based on tuning and intent.
I suspend a guitar sound hole pup over the strings where banjo neck meets the pot. I use nuts and bolts through the flange holes, so it's removable. I've played shows with it.
I bought a super secret Fender Electro-Caster
Davey Johnstone's solo on Honky Cat from Here and There...
I have my eye on an Eastwood octave guitar. Kind of the same idea I guess.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Zac, but I don't think it gets any cooler than a mandolin and a fuzz:)
Would be interesting to hear your take on bruce hampton. Matt mundy also
Very cool! Thank you Zac… p.s. you said “double d’s” :)
Zac--About 5 years ago, my wife got a "reissue" of the Mandocaster at a Sam Ash Music in Madison, TN. Do you know how long that ran? It is a sunburst with a rosewood fingerboard and a brown tortoise shell pick guard. Thanks!
Actually, more like 10 years ago.
Pretty short run. Year or 2.
Bob Clawson was going to trade me the Fender Mandolin for a 1950 model Ford truck i had. Traded to my Brother instead.
A full show of acoustic mandolin can be a struggle unless the rest of the band is first class
Needs a Baby Tremolo too
Hey Zack. In Nashville for business later this month. What is the guitar shop to visit if I only have time for one.
Carter Vintage or Guitar Effects Pedals if you’re interested in pedals
@@AskZac thanks!
Id like to see the one Ricky skaggs plays.. pex
Too Bad all the old Greats are Leaving Us . OLE George Asked it Right ! Whos Gonna Fill their Shoes!
Zac, I think that you have grown ten feet! Haha
play more 😊
How would it sound in tenor ukulele tuning, are they similar in scale?? Thanks
I think it would work
Thanks Zac! Would you happen to know what the scale of the Mandocaster is? Your playing is making me look for one😱
Hey I just found out that the Mandocaster scale is 13 1/2- 14 inches. This makes it almost the same as a soprano uke. Thanks
Brown Shark
In the ocean....
John Abercerombie played this instrument a lot back in the 1980's. He tuned it like strings 1-4 of a guitar, up an octave. th-cam.com/video/uRsMt76nAvU/w-d-xo.html
Ukelelecaster ! The mandolin is a classical instrument with 8 strings. (Vivaldi concerto !)
This like a 6 string 12 string...now that IS idiosyncratic!
Maybe im being a spoil sport, but it seems a little lame that it isnt double stringed. Though, maybe that'd up the cost too much.
The reason for 4-strings is laid out in the video.
th-cam.com/video/uRsMt76nAvU/w-d-xo.html
heres a link of John Abercrombie playing one in a free jazz context. Tuned in 4ths like a guitar. He also plays it on McCoy Tyner's "Forbidden Land" off the 4x4 album.
Disney owns the rights now.
Ha!
Played one - Unsuccessful since: no low string, screetchy treble, bad pickup in the wrong location, terrible neck, solid body had no resonance like TIny's or Johnny's [played both of those when taking lessons from them]. I subsequently made a number of solid body ones myself, styled on Tiny's shape and measurements, but with special pickups Bill Bartolini made for me, placed in the right location, according to him and the fat frets and bigsby neck shape, through the body neck for sustain. Not hard to do - just not cheap to make.
I wonder Jimmie Hendrix working on this
Nope, not a mandolin sound. It needs eight strings to make it sparkle. I love the mando sound and this aint it.
MandoByrd. Lyve 4evr Compadrez