Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV
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Talks like an electric mandolin, thinks like a guitar.
A crossover mando for those who like to go against the grain! The Epiphone Mandobird Electric Guitar with gig bag puts a new twist on the classic Gibson Firebird shape. The Mandobird IV features a custom single-coil pickup and mini Grover tuners. The electric mandolin/guitar combo features a mahogany body, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, and 14" scale.
Features
- Mahogany body
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Bolt-on mahogany neck
- Single-coil pickup
- Chrome hardware
- 14" scale
This little 4-string can do it all! Order now!
Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 23 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
Most Liked Positive Review
What is that thing?
After having looked for months at electric mandolins I had just about given up finding an inexpensive instrument that would get the gritty blues sound I was looking for in a mandolin. I found a...Read complete review
After having looked for months at electric mandolins I had just about given up finding an inexpensive instrument that would get the gritty blues sound I was looking for in a mandolin. I found a picture of the MandoBird online and thought "I've got to play one of these" I haven`t looked back. This odd little thing was exactly what the doctor ordered. The humbucker gets a hot tone and sounds great with any amp, solid state or tube. I run it through my keyboard amp when I want a more traditional clear mandolin sound and through a Peavey Delta Blues when I want to rock out on it. One thing for sure, there aren`t many folks around playing something like this so I feel like I`m breaking new ground every time I pull the thing out on a gig. Alot of folks have no idea what it is and it draws alot of attention. It has become a great second instrument. One slight drawback would be the situation with the strings. You`ll have to experiment with various guitar strings to find something that will work for you. It uses ball-end strings so traditional mandolin strings with hoop ends won`t work. You`ll have to loosen the screws on the bridge saddles to make string changing easier. It`s not a difficult job once you get used to it. I`ve been using Fender 150 strings which seem to produce the sound I`m after. I`d recommend one of these to anyone who wants to be different. It`s really a neat little instrument that you won`t want to put down.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Cool Bird has intonation problems
I purchased my Mandobird in May 2005. I've been playing guitar and bass for about 30 years and have been playing mandolin for about 3 years. Since I'm a Firebird fan and have several ...Read complete review
I purchased my Mandobird in May 2005. I've been playing guitar and bass for about 30 years and have been playing mandolin for about 3 years. Since I'm a Firebird fan and have several Gibson Firebirds I thought it would be fun to pickup the Mandobird for travel. The Mandobird is very cool. I purchased the gold flake version. The electronics are quiet, the finish is well done and the neck is straight. The nut is just plain junk and the action is too high. Since I've been working on guitar for over 20 years that is easy to fix. The real issue is the intonation. The bridge is set too far forward. Even is you set each saddle all the way back the intonation will still remain sharp. I even removed the springs to get more space and that only helped a little. The intonation is still sharp. There is no work around on the bridge because the Mandobird has a string thru design so you can not reset the bridge. One option is to reset the neck to add string length but this should only be done by a experienced repair person. I like the Mandobird. It's unique and fun to play. It's not a replacement for a real eight string mandolin but it's cool in it's own unique way. The intonation issue really is a hassle if you like to play in tune.
Reviews
Reviewed by 23 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Consistent
- Good Tone
- Strong
Cons
- INPUT JACK WAS LOOSE
Best Uses
- Backup
- Concerts
- Practicing
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
I got this not only for stage appeal, but also for the music that we play that requires one. I may consider getting the 8-string mandobird as well.
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
I bought this used. Excellent condition. Had to shorten the G string screw.Adjust pick-up.Pickup is excellent. I already have an 8 string. Wanted both.Check out my band "Rockville" on Facebook to hear them in action.These little instruments have been a huge enhancement to my musical experience.They sound great if you already sound good and know what you are doing.A good processor and a good amp make all the difference. I play-jazz-rock-pop etc...thru several amps and effect configurations and these things kill thru all of them!
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
Im not going to lie, this is an interesting instrument. Only one pickup and one tone knob is a little tough to work around to tell the truth, and with no truss rod, it makes up its own mind, so you can get false notes sometimes. But In all reality, Ive owned this for a little over a year and this is my final conclusion. Good beginner electric mandolin. Yes, there are hundreds more out there, Fender has several solid body models from the 70s and you can still buy then, but this is a very good beginner electric mandolin.I would give it a 10 on looks, just because I am I a firebird junkie. Sound, gets a 6, the tone is very hard to work around, and the distortion makes up its own mind some times, it takes a bit of tinkering to get it just right. But Im a perfectionist, so this was a big downfall here. Sounds very nice with some heavy overdrive, and I can say I have tried a pi little big muff on this and It sounded, different.This thing can take a big hit from distort, and really flaunt your style, but its mainly a practice and beginner mandolin. In all honesty, Im going to sell mine, and get a Fender FM-60E if I can, but this little mandobird spawned many good times and many lessons. If I dont sell it though, Im just going to mount it on my wall. Over all, 7/10
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
I got my mandobird about five days ago. It looked great, and the action was pretty good. I plugged it in(I didn't know it came with a cord!) picked a couple songs and then played a chord. Intonation was way off. Thankfully, it came with instructions for setting the intonation. I set that up earlier today, and now it sounds great! Can't wait to record with this!
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
Pretty cool mandolin. The black satin finish shows a few flaws. Well made with a great sound. If you are having trouble finding strings, you can use guitar strings. I used Ernie Ball Power Slinky's, only the 11-14-28-38 strings. The 38 guage string helps with the intonation on the low g.
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
The Epiphone Mandobird IV is an awesome mandolin! It sounds great clean or distorted and is a perfect instrument for hardcore players or those looking to expand their musical horizons!
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
I got this mandolin about 2 years ago for my birthday. I have never had any problems with the instrument, only the cable. It is the best mando I've ever played.
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
Let me just say,this thing is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!I love it,it works pretty good for lead riffs & such. It's totally awsome distorted! It is pretty small & portable,which makes it great with a Marshall mini amp. It also looks pretty cute next to my Goth Thunderbird! It's totally worth your money, so if you're reading this,BUY IT! Anyways,I like playing alternative stuff like Angels & Airwaves whatnot,but yeah. Fun for light easy riffs.It's a great Instrument!(^_^)
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
This mandolin is a great instrument for those who are looking fo r something different to play. It has a great electric guitar like feel but plays like a mandolin. This mandolin is functional with most amps and effects pedals. The mandobird has really opened up a new door of musicality to me, allwoing me to branch out beond bluegrass and my normal playing relm. I fittingly named it a Little Wing after Jimi Hendrix's song. Great instrument, solid feel for a reasonable price.
Comments about Epiphone Electric Mandobird IV:
I have a red one. In retrospect, it is a bit obnoxious in red, maybe I should have bought the dark sunburst. This instrument is great for learning tunes and sneaking in some extra practice on mandolin, since you can play silently or as quiet as you want. I play it through a mini amp during lunch. Since I play mostly Irish and Scots fiddle tunes near first position, I haven't noticed any intonation problems. The pole piece for the e string doesn't quite line up and the pickup is a single coil, so it doesn't really get a fat sound in a hard rock situation (but you can beef it up with FX).The four string model sounds more guitar like, but it also has less string tension which is good if you have wrist strain or carpal tunnel. Additionally, the wider string spacing is helpful when you are trying to learn new chord shapes. With four strings, you can use distortion and FX if you want, whereas the 8 string may not be as clean sounding after processing. I plan on getting the 8 string model someday just for the more natural clean sound. I do wish Epiphone would make a five-string model with a rail humbucker, but I can't complain about this model. There are some other e-mandos on the market that cost WAY more than this and probably aren't any better.
