Congratulations to Tennessee builder, Jon Mann on a fine Steven Stone review in the upcoming Vintage Guitar magazine. Stone reviews a new solid mahogany body SEM-5 with the break-through craftsman's signature neck-through construction.

"In terms of overall quality, the Mann SEM-5 rates with the best. Ron Oates' electric mandolins have cachet from celebrity players and their rarity, but the Mann plays as well and sounds just as good. Mann's is certainly in the same league as Kevin Schwab's fine instruments, but comparing them directly is like apples and oranges. Schwab's electrics remind one of the best boutique guitar builders such as Tom Anderson. The Schwab is a perfect mini-Telecaster with all the Fender-style appointments. Mann's are more like mini-PRS electrics, with their curvaceous top and a neo-modern post-Les-Paul body type. If I played a lot of electric mandolin I'd want both a Schwab and a Mann."

Read entire review: Mann, Oh Mann...

Read previous JazzMando Review: EM-5

Posted by Ted at August 22, 2008 6:01 AM