I wanted an electro acoustic mandolin and I fully intended to buy a more expensive one until I got sensible and realized I would only be playing a handful of songs on it while performing with my band. So I lowered my sights and bought this Ortega mandolin. Out of the box, the action was high, the intonation was out and the strings sounded dull. I put a set of D'addario XS strings on, lowered the action as low as it would go and set the intonation. Now it plays and sounds brilliant acoustically.
I wanted a mandolin with a magnetic pickup rather than a piezo one as it is less susceptible to feedback in a loud band situation. I must say the original pickup is awful. it's hummy, noisy and it sounds horrible too.
WARNING. what I'm about to tell you will invalidate your mandolin's warranty.
I removed the original pickup and fitted an EMG S4 pickup (also bought from Thomann). It's almost a straight swap. You will have to slightly elongate the pickup hole in the pick guard and slightly enlarge the volume and tone control holes and jack hole. No soldering is needed for this job as it is all push on connectors.
Now there is zero hum and noise and the sound is wonderful. A nice rich bottom end, full mid range and a crisp high end without harshness.
In conclusion, I've got myself a great playing and sounding mandolin for around 250 GB pounds.
