2008 Crafter M75E Acoustic/Electric Mandolin

Overview: This Korean-made, Ovation-like mandolin has been in-shop for a while but I completely forgot to post it! I see this model every few years and, when it was new, it was a popular choice for rock band mando-players as there weren't a ton of electrified acoustic instruments on the "grab and use" market. It's also got that folk-rock look about it, no? They're not the loudest instruments acoustically but they do have a warm and mellow sound due to the bigger body, depth, and string-load style.

Interesting features: Like the Ovation models, it has a glued and bolted, guitar-style bridge with "tieblock" string mounting. There are two issues I don't like about this setup -- too much tension on the bridge itself, less of a "slack" feel as the strings fix right at the bridge and have no afterlength, and the fact that the bolts in the bridge do much of the work holding it to the top as they glued these over the finish most of the time. I gloss over this by converting them to a tailpiece string load (I've done this for all the Ovations I encounter, too, which have the same issues). This gives them some of that "fixed bridge" sound while also keeping them happy and healthy, too. Spanish bandurrias and lauds have the same sort-of bridge style. Oh, and yes, the pickup works just fine and gives you some amount of adjustment of tone via its onboard preamp.

Repairs included: It got a setup, tailpiece added, and restring. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 3 lbs 1 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/16"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 27/32"
• Depth at seventh fret: 55/64"
• Body width: 11 5/8"
• Body depth: 3 1/4"
• Top wood: ply maple (figured)
• Back & sides wood: synthetic
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood glued/bolted
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 36w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/smaller

Condition notes: Aside from the tailpiece/bridge mod thing, it's pretty clean and original. There's a little (very light) wear and tear here and there but it looks good. The bridge wings have some lift off the top but the bridge is secured just fine.

It comes with: It has a gigbag.

Consignor tag: NSJH