Fender Mandocaster Model Solid Body Electric Mandolin (1956), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 01077, blonde finish, ash body, maple neck, original tweed hard shell case.
One of the Fender company's more obscure but entertaining creations, the Electric Mandolin was in production from 1956 until the 1970's but is a relatively rare item. This example is from the end of '56, the first production year. The Fender mandolin differs from most electrics (and all acoustic mandolins) in having only four strings instead of the usual doubled courses. This follows the ideas of the western swing players who were instrumental in helping develop Fender instruments, and is also seen in Bigsby electric mandolins. This results in a clearer more brilliant electric sound without the natural "chorusing" effect of doubled strings, albeit one that sounds as much like an octave guitar as a mandolin.
This instrument is also just ridiculously cute, resembling more than anything else a "just hatched" baby Precision Bass. All the coolest mid-1950's Fender features are there in miniature, including a one-piece maple neck with a sharp "V" contour, beautiful blonde finish on a heavily-grained ash body, gold anodized aluminum pickguard and reddish plastic-covered single coil pickup with chrome knurled tone and volume knobs. This very early example also has some period-specific features: a body without a rear 'scoop' contour and solid (non-ridged) plated bridge saddles. Tuners are single line plastic-button strip Kluson Deluxes. The gold Fender logo decal has no model designation ("Mandocaster" is a collectors' slang term, but so well known as to be the semi-official model name!). The red-lined tweed case is also a miniature version of the standard guitar case. A really neat early example of an unsung Fender classic.
Overall length is 27 7/8 in. (70.8 cm.), 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 3/4 in. (349 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). A very nicely original instrument; the only alteration is changed tuner buttons. Some general wear, most noticeably a large spot on the anodized pickguard is worn down to the natural aluminum from strumming. Otherwise just some dings, chips and small discolorations to the finish and fingerboard. This is a very fine playing and sounding Fender Mandolin, with a nice original tweed HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
