Looked at a Batwing in a music store and thought it would be good if someone built a replica that was a good mandolin.
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Looked at a Batwing in a music store and thought it would be good if someone built a replica that was a good mandolin.
Agreed but one that has a brake angle at bridge.Quote:
Originally Posted by mandolinstew
I've given this some thought too and here are a few of my ideas.
1) Build a decent replica shape but with nice carved top and back. and without that crazy neck block that takes up about a third of the body in the original. Build it slightly larger in size similar to what Northfield has done with the Big Mon. Offer it as a purely acoustic machine without pickup.
2) Same as option 1) but with a slightly longer scale neck so that it can be tuned down a step and a half so that G chord becomes an E in the same way that Pete Seeger played a slightly longer scaled banjo tuned down in the same way. After all, Yank Rachell tuned his Batwing down a step and a half to make it easier to play in the key of E. This model could be even bigger in size for added bass.
3) Offer a solid body with DeArmond pick-up for full on electrical blues mando madness!
Just out of curiosity, what did the music store want for the Batwing?
It was $400 and a little beat up.No sale.Quote:
Originally Posted by jswag
I’ve said it before and I will say it again:
“Just because you can, does not mean, you should.”
Saying that there is something inherently “cool” about them. Maybe it’s the inner Yank Rachell in some of us?
There was a small shop maker who built pretty much that body shape. IIRC it was Roland White who played one of these, thinking it was in the 1980's or '90's. The points were a little smaller, but an attractive mandolin and it sounded good in his hands.
Bill Bussmann has his two point Old Wave C# model that is somewhat similar. The points aren't quite as drastically different as on the batwing. Andrew Mowry has made them as well
And there's the Nugget asymmetric 2-point model
Attachment 176239
Which is a very long way from a $400 Batwing:crying:Quote:
Originally Posted by jefflester
Girouard "Talon" mandolin......
I think we should have an original Harmony Batwing photo posted here for comparison. Frankly, I don't think any old (or new) asymmetrical two-point is legitimately a batwing without the oddball headstock. It looks like a giant bat took a bite out of the end of the headstock. Plus it should also have those oddball soundholes.
Attachment 176244
Um, a nugget and a girouard..., that is a different league of thing. Might as well mention Ellis 2 point and the Sorenson Sprite... Levels of refinement far past that of the batwing.
Is the harmony flat topped? Or pressed? It can't be carved, right...?
I forgot to mention another idea:Quote:
Originally Posted by Timbofood
4) Solid body electric 10 string tuned CGDAE. This would be the perfect axe for a proper blues power trio.
I love the Girouard Talon and a search on Google revealed a black one that sold on Reverb featuring an owl on the headstock with mice as fret markers. Very cool!
With that in mind, I'd love to see a Harmony replica with a similar theme on the headstock and fretboard, maybe an ugly looking bat's head on the headstock with bats in flight for fret markers similar to a PRS guitar.
Here are some photos of the Batwing in my collection. Although these instruments do not seem to be held in high regard at the MC I like mine for the unique design. Plays in tune, good intonation, beautiful warm finish and MOP block inlays. It has a sweet, smooth sound and is nice on some solo type tunes. Only one year where they wrote Harmony on the headstock and the pick guard. The neck screws on so yes there is certainly room for improvement with the design.
Whether it's a player or not that is one cool instrument.
I have a John Sebastian cd that Yank played on and there is a photo of him with a new Flatiron
Hud,
I think they are pretty cool, they are not earth shattering by any stretch of the imagination but, the cool factor is massive!
Yours is “Factory fresh” too! Very cool indeed.
I'd love to see Jamie Curtis take this on. Early in his career he built several KayKraft-shaped instruments (mandolin, mandocello, probably some others) that were fully carved and sounded quite nice.
I just picked up a 72' Harmony Batwing, I got it on Reverb cause I needed a beater to leave at the office. Well I have to say I am quite surprised at the tone and playability of this mandolin, not to mention how cool it looks! Its possible this one opened up over time, it has been played and has some dings and scratches, I would say it is quite superior to the Pacrim Kentucky and Washburn's I have owned, which were probably built in the late 80s to the early 2000s. Strangely there are no pegs for a strap, I would probably play it sitting anyway.
I can't justify buying one, but I'd love to have the electric version. If it's good enough for Yank Rachell . . . .