The electric mandolin is a musical instrument inspired by the acoustic mandolin. Despite being played and tuned like an acoustic mandolin, the instrument is amplified in a manner more akin to that of an electric guitar. A specially designed pickup on an electric mandolin converts the vibrations of the strings into electrical audio signals. Plucking or strumming the strings with fingers is how electric mandolins are played. Western swing, jazz, blues, and country music are among the genres that feature these instruments.
Electric mandolins come in a variety of styles. Four-string, five-string, and eight-string versions of these instruments are available. The eight-string electric mandolin is probably the most popular model. Electric mandolins with a solid body are also popular, as are semi-acoustic and acoustic mandolins.
In the early twentieth century, musical instrument manufacturers in the United States began selling electric mandolins to the general public. The Electro String Instrument Corporation, now known as Rickenbacker Guitars, offered an electric mandolin in their 1931 catalog, which was one of the more successful early advertising campaigns. In 1933, ViViTone also made a number of electric mandolins. Although the National Reso-Phonic company had a prototype of an electric mandolin in 1934, it did not begin mass production until 1939. Both the Vega and Gibson companies offered electric mandolins to consumers in 1936, with the latter company’s offering being far more successful.
Osmar Macedo, a Brazilian musician, invented the first documented solid body electric mandolin in 1942. The cavaquinho, a musical instrument that is similar to both the ukulele and the mandolin, was the inspiration for Macedo’s pau electrico. The pau eletrico was a four-course instrument that was commonly used in the popular Brazilian music frevo.
The five-string mandolin created by Paul Bigsby in 1952 for Tiny Moore, a popular western swing musician, was the first known solid body electric mandolin in the United States. Instead of the more common four double courses, his electric mandolin had five single courses.
The Rickenbacker and Gibson companies both introduced solid body eight-string mandolins in the 1950s. With its four-string version, Fender chose to follow the single-course trend.
From 1956 to 1976, Fender produced the popular four-string Fender Electric Mandolin. They currently sell an eight-string semi-acoustic electric mandolin with a body that resembles the original. From 1954 to 1971, Gibson produced the popular solidbody EM-200. Mandobird, a solid-body mandolin based on a smaller version of their early Firebird, is now available. Both four-string and eight-string versions of the Mandobird are available.
A variety of materials are used to construct electric mandolins. Mahogany, which has a warm sound, and maple, which has a bright sound, are two of the most popular materials.