Sweet Little Duesenberg 12 String Mandola.

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I'm not sure if calling short scale high strung guitars mandolas is a misnomer or not. They do fall within the range of a mandola pitch but we are still dealing with guitar tuning in fourths.

Lets forget semantics and take a look at this beautiful Duesenberg.

With a 15.5 inch scale and ability to intonate each string individually (instead of the more common pairs intonation ) this little giant must just ring with chimey goodness.

Currently listed on Reverb for $2589

R.W. Haller

© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Hammertone OC-12 - Octave 12 string Electric Guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We've looked at 12 Sting Octave Electric guitars ( and the handsome people that play them ) in this post from a few years ago, but this is the first time that we've featured the Hammertone OC-12.

I've had the pleasure to play a Hammertone and was surprised that it was quite playable and comfortable for my big hands. I was expecting more of a mandolin feel, but it actually was fairly spacious.

I don't exactly love the finish on this Hammertone OC-12 but I'd be more likely to use in a studio scenario rather than live anyways.

Anyone out there have one of these little beauties?

R.W. Haller


© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1980s Robin Octave Double Neck Mint With Case

guitarz.blogspot.com:

There's got to be a more convenient way to play a guitar duet than sharing the same doubleneck guitar. But if you and a buddy are really hellbent on re-creating Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan's party piece, then this 1980s Texas-made Robin doubleneck is for you!

It's a Strat-style guitar with one standard-scale neck and an octave neck, and is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $3,562.50.

G L Wilson

© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Mosrite Mini

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here at Guitarz we love Semie Moseley's creations; there is nothing too conservative about a Mosrite guitar, there's always something quirky about them.

This Mosrite Mini although discontinued isn't a vintage instrument, but it's a beautifully formed baby and is much in the spirit of the original Mosrite guitars; early Mosrite doublenecks often combined a regular 6-string neck with an octave "baby" 6-string or sometimes a mandolin neck.

Currently listed on eBay with a reduced rate Buy It Now price of US $550.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Eko mando guitar, 1980s 12-string octave guitar (and who is that playing it?)

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Further to yesterday's post about the Robin Ranger octave guitar, just through sheer coincidence this morning I found this photo featuring an Eko Mando Guitar which is essentially a half-scale electric 12-string. No doubt this was an instrument inspired by the Vox Mando Guitar, the Vox and Eko companies having previously had very close ties in the late 1960s when Vox shifted guitar production to Italy's Eko factory. Unlike the 6-string Robin Ranger, the Eko with 12 strings arranged in 6 courses allows for a more realistic mandolin sound.

"New old stock" Eko mando guitars are still available today via Brandoni Guitars, if anyone is interested in purchasing such an instrument. They also have 8-string Eko electric mandos.

As for the identity of the 1980s kid in the photo (nice tank top and balloon pants!), I have to put my hand up and admit it is me.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Robin Ranger octave guitar from the 1980s

guitarz.blogspot.com:

From Texas's very own Robin Guitars here we see one of their earlier instruments from the 1980s, the Robin Ranger octave guitar.

Designed for guitarists who want to play up in the mandolin range but who want to use the familiar guitar tuning. It's also great for doubling up guitar parts.

This guitar is currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $400 and a Buy It Now price of $750.

It also gives me the excuse to show this video (below) of the Vaughan brothers, Stevie Ray and Jimmy, playing the same Robin doubleneck guitar with 6-string plus 6-string octave necks.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Vox Mando Guitar

Now these hardly ever go up for sale on eBay!

Originally produced between 1964-1966, the Vox Mando Guitar is a half-scale 12-string guitar. It's tuned like a 12-string, only an octave higher, and thus allows the guitarist to get a mandolin sound from a familiarly-tuned instrument.

I used to have an 80s-era Eko mando guitar (still do have it, in fact, but it's in bits - but that's another story). It was quite nice for adding little overdubs to recordings, just to get a different sound in places. However, the Eko had a DiMarzio humbucker much more suited to heavy metal. The single coils of the Vox seem to be a much more sensible choice of pickup.