One-Of-A Kind.

1997 Fender Five String 'B' Bender' Thinline Electric Mandolin (Fred Stuart and Gene Parsons).

This 10-inch-wide thinline (1.80 inches deep) electric five-string B-Bender mandolin weighs just 4.40 lbs. Single-bound carved mahogany back and sides with a beautifully flamed two-piece maple top. Unique with a Gene Parsons custom built B-Bender assembly. One-piece deep "V"-shape 'flamed' maple set-neck with a nut width of just under 1 7/16 inches and a scale length of 14.00 inches. Rosewood fretboard with 18 jumbo frets and clay dot position markers. Headstock decal with Fender in gold with black trim. The back of the headstock has the serial number "0740" in black, together with the gold "Fred Stuart" oval decal. Individual Fender 'Kluson Deluxe' tuners with oval metal buttons. Two custom made five pole single-coil pickups with outputs of 8.49k and 8.88k. Four-layer tortoiseshell over white and black plastic pickguard with nine screws. Two controls (one volume, one tone) plus four-way pickup selector switch on lower treble side of the pickguard. Telecaster-type chrome knobs with slightly domed tops and knurled sides. Schaller style height and width adjustable custom made five saddle 'roller' bridge. Custom made trapeze tailpiece with silver Fender "F" inlaid on top. This rare little instrument is in mint (9.50) condition. Housed in the original Fender two-latch 'tweed' hardshell case with tan leather ends and red plush lining (9.25).

Fender Custom Shop Certificate of Authenticity dated "6-97" Model "Bender Mandolin" serial number "0740" signed "Fred Stuart" together with a letter signed by Fred Stuart stating "Bender Mandolin #0740 / This instrument was built for the 1997 Summer NAMM in Nashville. / The bender was custom built by Gene Parsons, and the bridge and pick-ups are all custom made for this one-off instrument. / I have been playing this instrument off and on for some time, but I'm not much of a mandolin player, so it's time to let a real player have a shot with it. The bender is a very useful addition. Fred Stuart"

The instrument is strung as follows:

0.10   high 'E' (one octave above high 'E' on a guitar)
0.15   'A'
0.24   'D'
0.34   'G'
0.44   'C'