Joel Eckhaus of Earnest Instruments in Maine is now retired, but produced a boatload of attractive and innovative instruments while he was at it. Here's one: a "Boomerang" 5-string electric mandolin. It's one of the few e-mandos you'll find with a multi-scale fretboard: it uses the Novax fanned fret system, which seeks to optimize intonation by giving each string a slightly different scale length. (Players report that this is easier to get used to than it looks.)
     Vaguely Gibson-inspired shape. Mahogany body and neck with a warm honey finish; ebony fretboard; Grover tuners and multiple string trees. Pearloid plastic pickguard. Lipstick pickup; chrome bridge/tailpiece with adjustable saddles; tone and volume controls. Good condition. Boomerangs weren't made in great numbers and are quite difficult to find.
      $2,100 plus shipping. Rectangular hardshell case included. 48-hour approval period. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information.