The Ovation MM68 is one of the best American-made acoustic/electric mandolins you can get. (It's far superior to other mandolins in the Ovation line—MAE148, MCS148, MM68AX—which are made overseas and have suffered from poor quality control.) Purpose-built as an acoustic/electric, it features Ovation's state-of-the-art onboard OP-24+ preamp, with volume control and 3-band EQ. If you need good amplified acoustic tone at high volume levels without feedback, and without having to mess with extra EQs or signal processing, then the MM68 is your best friend.
      Solid spruce top with proprietary soundhole design. Rounded back of space-age composite plastic. 13-7/8" scale. High-grade tuners and components; custom onboard pickup. Tragically, Ovation has ceased production of the MM68. When available, it listed for $2,149, but you can get ibe here for a little more than half of that. It is becoming increasingly scarce, so snap up one if these while you can.

1. 
   619797
   Serial number 619797 has been brought back from the [near] dead! It was built in 2008, but had been stripped down when I acquired it. I managed to collect the parts to have it restored.
         The OP24+ preamp, pickup, and jack are from an older Ovation guitar: the preamp fits the hole cut for it in the side, but is of an earlier generation than the original. The tuners are a nice set of gold Grovers, but the bass tuner plate had to be cut down slightly to fit the headstock. The gold strap buttons are also replacements. Finally, the original circular cap on the back, which provides access for changing the battery, has been replaced with a black silicone plug. Gig bag included, or upgrade to a hardshell case.
         See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $750 plus shipping.
   
   
2. 
   542495
   Serial number 542495 was built in 1999. It has a natural blonde finish. There is nothing to complain about here; it has been well kept and is in near-immaculate shape. The action is nice and low and it's currently strung with Thomastik flatwounds, so it's an incredibly smooth player. It does not have an original hardshell case, but comes with a highly protective, heavily padded, semi-rigid gig bag. Brown leather strap included.
         See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $1,250 plus shipping.