Benefits of electric mandolins
Electric mandolins share a lot in common with their regular acoustic counterparts but they are more beneficial in many ways including:
They are louder
Electric mandolins can be heard alongside other louder instruments in a band setting like a piano, guitar, saxophone, and drums among others. This is why they are highly preferred by onstage performers.
They are flexible
Some electric acoustic mandolins can be played both when plugged in or unplugged. This offers maximum flexibility to onstage performers as they can be able to move around with the instrument easily. In fact, most performers prefer using an electric acoustic mandolin in place of a mic because a mic plants them in one spot on stage and causes feedback.
Features to consider when choosing an electric mandolin
These are the crucial aspects that you must give top consideration for you to make the best buy.
Type
There are 2 main types of mandolins: electric and acoustic. Your choice will mainly depend on the kind of music you intend to play. For instance, if you want to play in a mandolin orchestra, an acoustic mandolin would fit the bill. But if you intend to play bluegrass and some other folk genres then an electric mandolin would come in handy.
Acoustic mandolins can also be electric so you can strike two birds with one stone if you’d love an electric mandolin later. Though it is argued that acoustic-electric mandolins don’t have great sounds like purely electric ones.
Style
Mandolins come in different styles including F-style, A-style, flat-back, flat-top, and bowl back. Your preference plays a huge role in choosing a mandolin style but you have to ensure it matches your style of music.
Bluegrass players prefer the F-style mandolins while the A-style is highly favored by mandolin orchestra musicians. Another thing you should keep in mind is that the shape of the mandolin determines its timbre or tone color. F-style mandolins usually have a more striking timbre than their A-style counterparts.
Construction material
This is another crucial aspect to consider as it determines the durability and sound quality of the mandolin. Be sure to buy a mandolin made of materials of superior quality.
The most common materials used to make mandolins include: rosewood, maple, mahogany, and spruce. A mandolin with a solid top, back, and sides like the
Oscar Schmidt OM10EWH-O-U Electric Mandolin is likely to give you a long-lasting performance.
For added durability and great sound quality, go for a mandolin with chrome-plated hardware like tuning gear and a multi-layer pickguard that protects it from scratches and enhances its tonal quality.
Strings material
The material used to make the strings will determine if it can hold up well to regular rough use or not. There are different types of string construction materials and they include; nickel-plated steel, stainless steel, chrome steel, phosphor bronze, and coated strings. For a perfect balance of tonal richness and brilliance go for phosphor bronze strings. They are highly preferred by seasoned players because they last longer before losing their brilliance.
For brighter tones, especially if you own an electric mandolin, you should choose nickel-plated steel strings. Stainless steel strings are highly favored by players for their longevity and bright timbre. Chrome steel strings produce great clear sounds without a metallic twang. Coated strings, just like the stainless steel strings are highly preferred for their longevity as they resist oxidation.
Accessories
Accessories will enhance your playing experience as well as give your mandolin maximum protection. If you can choose a model that comes with multiple accessories like the Vangoa Acoustic-Electric Mandolin you will not only enjoy using your mandolin but also get to save some pocket change.
Some of the must-have accessories include straps, padded gig bags or cases, capos, strings, picks, and tuners. Mandolin straps are a necessity especially if you intend to play while standing and they come in various styles to suit your personal tastes. Padded gig bags or cases come in handy if you are an on-the-go player as they keep your investment safe regardless of the nature of your travel. You will need capos to play songs in higher keys than those they were written in. They clamp on the fretboard and allow you to raise the mandolin’s overall pitch.
Tuner
Go for a mandolin that has a high-quality tuner as it will make tuning up your mandolin much easier.
Price
Mandolins have varying price tags and because they don’t share the luxury of economies of scale with other popular instruments like guitars and basses, they can be a bit costly. However, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for a good quality electric mandolin. You can get affordable electric mandolins like the Vangoa Acoustic-Electric Mandolin.
Alternatively, you can get a cheap mandolin and get it set up at a luthier’s especially if you’re a beginner. It will still play well and you will be able to learn just as good as on other high-end costly models.
One of the benefits of playing an electric mando is that you can play them with pedal effects. I own an Ibanez electric and I put it through an analog delay that enhances the sweetness of the sound and gives it beautiful sustain. I’ve also made plans to get a chorus pedal, as well. It’s fun to experiment with your sound.