We're looking forward to our trip to sunny southern California for the annual Winter NAMM show in two weeks. One instrument we intend to report on is the new dark walnut stained Robert Schmidt electric mandolin. Fender has been conspicuously absent from the high end mandolin scene since its widely popular Mandocaster from the mid 20th century. This is more of a low end offering, not enormously more expensive than an Epiphone Mandobird. Still, it's great to see the fret instrument industry giant pay attention to the mandolinist.

More information when our team sees it in person.

From the Fender spec sheet: "Robert Schmidt, mandolin player extraordinaire, of the Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly has exclusively designed his own Fender Electric Mandolin. Based on the FM62 E Fender Mandolin from years past, Robert designed this beauty to sound great and to take a beating but make no mistake this mandolin is a beauty to look at with its dark walnut stain spruce top and carved maple back and sides, bronze cast chrome tailpiece, chrome dome style volume knob, ebony bridge, and rosewood fretboard."

Click image for close up

Body Style: Mandolin
Scale Length: 13.7" (34.8 cm)
Top: Laminated Spruce
Back and Sides: Carved Solid Maple Back, Carved Maple Sides
Body Finish: Gloss
Bracing: Quartersawn Spruce Tone Bars
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Finish: Gloss
Nut: 1.12" (28.5 mm), Synthetic Bone
Bridge: Compensated Ebony
Hardware: Chrome
Number of Frets: 20
Strings: Fender 2060 Phosphor Bronze (.011 - .040)
Electronics: Special Design Piezo

#0955257021 Robert Schmidt Electric Mandolin w/Walnut Stain Finish
UPC# 885978102228
MSRP: $599.99
Street Price: $399.99

Read past article on blue Fender FM62SCE 8-string

Posted by Ted at January 5, 2012 6:40 AM