Blue Star Mandoblaster 5-string by Bruce Herron. $700–800.
For years and years, Michigan luthier Bruce Herron made fun, eye-catching electric Blue Star Mandoblasters, but he is semi-retired and makes them no longer. Hence they have become difficult to find. You may have seen Blue Stars in the hands of pro players like Otis Taylor, Bucky Baxter (with Bob Dylan), or Don Herron of BR5-49.
     These 5-string Mandoblasters feature a "psycho-burst" phenolic finish, a single-coil lipstick-tube pickup, 2-piece black/pearloid pickguard, volume and tone controls, tuneable bridge with fully adjustable saddles, 14" scale length, 1-3/8" nut width, rosewood fretboard with standard mandolin fretwire, and 1-piece maple neck. I have four in stock:

  1. No. 629 features a purple honeycomb finish. Excellent condition, with minor player wear. Original hardshell case included. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $900 plus shipping.
    Mandoblaster
    629
  2. Blue Star
    160
    No. 160 has a silver finish. There is moderate player wear and fretwear, and a dent along the side. There are a few "bubbles" in the layer of phenolic material on the front, which can occur over time with Blue Stars, but otherwise the body is in excellent shape. Gotoh tuners. Gig bag included, or upgrade to a custom gig bag or hardshell case. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $800 plus shipping.

  3. Blue Star
    1343
    No. 1343 has a bright red finish. Very clean apart from some slight scuffing along the side. Schaller-style tuners (but not branded). Gig bag included, or upgrade to a custom gig bag or hardshell case. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $800 plus shipping.

  4. Blue Star
    1128
    No. 1128 has a silver finish. Good condition with minor player wear; has a scrape near the endpin and another one near the strap button on the upper bass bout, which suggests that someone used a strap with exposed metal near the ends. (I don’t know why anyone makes such straps; even less do I know why anyone uses them.) There are also a couple of spots of green residue on the back and side that seem to have transferred from a velvet case lining. Ping tuners. Gig bag included, or upgrade to a custom gig bag or hardshell case. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $800 plus shipping.

  5. Blue Star
    130
    No. 130 has a silver finish. Moderate to heavy player wear on the body, but only light fretwear. A strap button has been added on the back at the bass point, but there's also a hole in the side of said point where, presumably, the strap button previously resided. The pickup has been replaced with as twin-blade humbucker. Gig bag included, or upgrade to a custom gig bag or hardshell case. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $800 plus shipping.
  6. Blue Star
     
    No. 102 has a silver finish. In addition to the original magnetic pickup, it also has a Fishman acoustic transducer in the bridge. Both the volume and tone knobs are dual-action and can be used to select or blend the signals. (You'd need a stereo cable and a splitter to take full advantage of this.) Good condition overall, with no significant fretwear and only minor bumps and scratches to the side and back. Gig bag included, or upgrade to a custom gig bag or hardshell case. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $800 plus shipping.