Looked at a Batwing in a music store and thought it would be good if someone built a replica that was a good mandolin.
Looked at a Batwing in a music store and thought it would be good if someone built a replica that was a good mandolin.
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?
Jeffrey S Wagner
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?
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
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.
Girouard "Talon" mandolin......
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
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.
Jim
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1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
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...?
Last edited by Donal H; Apr-23-2019 at 6:41am. Reason: phone-induced typos
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.
2007 Indiana Scout
2018 Indiana Madison Quilt Elite
2018 Takamine GJ72CE 12 String
2018 Takamine GD93
1963 Gibson SG
2016 Kala Uke
Dean A Style Mandolin (year unknown)
Plus a few lower end I have had for years
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.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
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.
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
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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.
Stormy Morning Orchestra
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"Mean Old Timer, He's got grey hair, Mean Old Timer he just don't care
Got no compassion, thinks its a sin
All he does is sit around an play the Mandolin"
I can't justify buying one, but I'd love to have the electric version. If it's good enough for Yank Rachell . . . .
Gibson A-Junior snakehead (Keep on pluckin'!)
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