Epiphone Mandobird Takes Off with New Colors and 8-String Option

Mandobird IV in Fiesta Red (Click for a close-up)

Mandobird IV in Gold Metal Flake (Click for a close-up)

Epiphone has dressed up its popular electric mandolin, the Mandobird, with a striking array of new finishes, including Seafoam Green, Metallic Gold, Fiesta Red, Gold Metal Flake and Goth Black. The four-string solidbody mandolin, modeled after the classic Gibson Firebird guitar, will also be available in an eight-string version.

The Epiphone Mandobird sports the angular "reverse body" shape that Gibson introduced on its Firebird line in 1963. Like the Firebird, the Mandobird's headstock has all the tuners on the same side. The Mandobird IV, with four strings, produces clear single-string tones; the Mandobird VII, with eight strings arranged in pairs, will feel and sound more familiar to acoustic mandolinists. The Mandobird comes with a gig bag.

Mandobird IV MSRP (with gig bag): $332. Mandobird VIII MSRP (with gig bag): $415.