Electrics for under $500.00 ?

[Backlineman]

What are the best options for acoustic/ electrics on a budget of $500.00 or less?

[Teletodd]

I have an Epiphone mandobird 4, works fine for me. I think they go for around $200.00. Came with a padded gig bag.

[CES]

For solidbody electrics, agree with either the Mandobird or Goldtone's offering. For A/E I'd recommend a used Godin A-8. They sound great plugged in, and surprisingly good unplugged, though not quite as good as a typical carved top F-hole. They're also really pretty well made. Otherwise, look at Michael Kelley and Fender's offerings (FM 62-sce). Neither are spectacular mandolins in and of themselves, but are very servicable A/E mandos. There are also a couple of Morgan Monroe models under 500 that work well. Depending on your setup, though, all of these may require some pre-amping...

[Tim2723]

That pretty much lists the current options with the addition of the Celebrity version of the Ovation. There's also an Applause version, but the Celebrity is a lot more instrument while still in that price range.

As you hunt around you're bound to see an A style mandolin that usually sells for around $150-$200 with a magnetic pickup and volume/tone knobs sticking out of the top. It comes in a bunch of colors and is made by either Saga or Samick (or both) and can bear any number of labels including Fender and Epiphone. You'll know it as soon as you see it; it's everywhere. That one is not highly recommended. Here's an example that happens to say Ibanez on the headstock:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-...ctric-mandolin

[Ben Milne]

Solid body you could include the Eastwood mandocaster.
If you want AE I would save a couple more pennies (or see what's around 2nd hand) for an Epiphone mm50-E, or if that is beyond your budget, condsider a new Fender Rob Schmidt sig. model mandolin. Kind of depends on whether you're after something to DI and sound like a mandolin, or to plug into an amp for the magnetic pickup tone.

[Teletodd]

I'd look for the solid top ovation over the lam top celebrity or applause

[Tim2723]

So would I, but getting one for the budget is going to be tough. Even now they go for $600-$800 used and keep going up. The new model is an import and the US product is just going to get more and more costly.

[thistle3585]

An IV kit and a shadow piezo bridge for $250 unassembled. You could put a quality magnetic pickup on for another $70.

[Ben Milne]

Here you go... within your budget second hand or there's this new one.
probably one of your best options.

[Adam Sweet]

I have a Kentucky KM300E that I like pretty much it's my only electric now. I had a Flatiron F5 that I had installed a pickup on but never was satisfied with the sound...always needed a pre-amp and effects just to be playable. Anyway I got the KM300E from MandoWorks, but I've also seen em around online and locally in shops http://www.mandoworks.com/electric-mandolins.html

[JMUSIC]

I just got one of these : www.fender.com/news/index.php?display_article=844[/URL and have been surprisingly happy with it. Also, it has a "cool" factor that I like

[Adam Sweet]

I have another suggestion which may or may not work for you: StewMac has electric bridges and they're easy to install yourself. The only problem is there's no tone/volume control on the instrument, but that's easily handled with a preamp...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron..._Mandolin.html

[Backlineman]

Here you go... within your budget second hand or there's this new one.
probably one of your best options.

Yes! thanks I was watching this one.

[Backlineman]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I've settled on a MORGAN MONROE MM-100 SB/E ELECTRIC. Yes...It's Chinese, but I have had good playing time on other Morgan Monroe models, and think I can set this one up and tweek it a bit to play well. It's a gift for my Father who needs to play through an amp, and has been playing a very inexpensive Fender I bought him a few years ago when I talked him out of installing a pick up on a 1914 F4. So this will be a step up from the Fender, and will keep the F4 acoustic only. Thanks again for the suggestions.

[Folkmusician.com]

The MM-100 SBE will be real close in playability to your MMS-5. The MMS-5 will have better tone acoustically (all solid vs laminated), but the MM-100 SBE does fine amped up. You may run into an extra step with the setup. Usually the bridges do not have enough adjustment range on the MM-100SBE, and need some wood removed. Take this off the foot portion. The bridge saddle is two pieces with the pickup in a router channel. This makes it more prone to sagging and if you thin the saddle any more, it can weaken it further.

[Backlineman]

The MM-100 SBE will be real close in playability to your MMS-5. The MMS-5 will have better tone acoustically (all solid vs laminated), but the MM-100 SBE does fine amped up. You may run into an extra step with the setup. Usually the bridges do not have enough adjustment range on the MM-100SBE, and need some wood removed. Take this off the foot portion. The bridge saddle is two pieces with the pickup in a router channel. This makes it more prone to sagging and if you thin the saddle any more, it can weaken it further.

Hey thanks very much. I'll let you know how it goes.