Hey there, can you guys recommend me a mandolin for a beginner? I won't be able to spend 1500 bucks on anything nice, but a couple hundred would be fine. Used is preferred. Chinese if I have too. Cheers :laughin:
My friend has this mandolin and its great:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/washburn-m118sw-f-style-mandolin
If that's too pricey, then eastman and the loar make very nice beginner instruments for under the 500 dollar price point.
Also, check out mandolin cafe. They have a classifieds section that has lots of instruments!
I bought a 100 dollar cheapo to learn on and it is almost unplayable so don't make the same mistake I did! Good luck.
Kentucky's are pretty good.
Good start. Thanks guys :coffee
Be sure to check out those Big Muddy's.
http://bigmuddymandolin.com/
Made down in Missouri the old fashion way. By hand.
They aren't carved tops so if that is what you are looking for they may not be for you.
Quote from: Tuba Mike on April 22, 2013, 01:01:09 PM
Be sure to check out those Big Muddy's.
http://bigmuddymandolin.com/
Made down in Missouri the old fashion way. By hand.
They aren't carved tops so if that is what you are looking for they may not be for you.
:+1:
No complaints on my Ovation MCS 148 mando. The intonation is great, it's tough as nails, comes with a pick-up and a really nice case. Got mine used for under $400.00. I took 20 plus years off from playing and it's been a good one to work on again. Plus it beat the heck out of anything I could find in it's price range. Of course, I'd love to get my hands on a Larrivee mandolin someday! I've never even seen one in my neck of the woods.
Quote from: ducktrapper on April 21, 2013, 08:37:23 PM
Kentucky's are pretty good.
My "significant other" has a Kentucky that she's been learning on and I think quite highly of the brand.
Quote from: ffinke on April 23, 2013, 11:05:03 PM
My "significant other" has a Kentucky that she's been learning on and I think quite highly of the brand.
I have the higher end KM-900 and it's really nice. Light, loud and also very sensitive to a light touch. I think it compares well to classic mandos and much more expensive instruments.
http://www.folkmusician.com/Kentucky-KM-900-Mandolin-Master-Model/productinfo/KM-900/
Just saw an A style for $225 on craigs list with a case on the Tallahassee CL.
Played a nice Goldtone A style with an oval soundhole,I think is was around $400.
Hi MPrice,
I've played some pretty nice Eastman's that would be in your price range. Some are better than others inside of a given model. It's best if you can demo it yourself.
The couple Kentuckys I've played were good deals, too.
I'm sure you have found, but in case you haven't, check the classified section over at the Mandolin Cafe. Not trying to steer anbody away from this website, it is just their bailiwick.
Also, talk with Dennis Vance at the Mandolin Store. He'll be very helpful and can demo instruments for you over the phone (NFI).
Recommend "me" a mando........sheesh
Quote from: Walkerman on June 04, 2013, 09:05:19 AM
Recommend "me" a mando........sheesh
But you already have nice mandolins. Why would "you" need another recommendation?
Quote from: dependan on June 05, 2013, 10:40:39 AM
But you already have nice mandolins. Why would "you" need another recommendation?
It's like when John Kerry went to the hunting store in Wisconsin, and said in huskiest voice..."Where can I get me a hunting license"
I believe the correct question would have been..."Where can I get a hunting license?"
(http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/88/39/04/25/0088390425016_500X500.jpg)
This post should at least include a mandolin so I like this EASTMAN MD315 "CLASSIC" MANDOLIN & GIGBAG. (http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MD315C.htm)
I played one late last year and found it to be quite delightful.
(http://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/90N/MD315C_body-front.jpg)
Mine's a Collings
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC_0006-1.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/travette/media/DSC_0006-1.jpg.html)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC_0004-1.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/travette/media/DSC_0004-1.jpg.html)
Beautiful Collings, Walkerman!
I've always liked these breedloves:
Holy guacamole Walkerman!
You have that new 32nd anniversary AND this drool worthy Collings? The sun is definitely shining in your back door. Nice! I currently have a Weber but am looking at upgrading in the not too distant future and an MF or MF5 are on my short list.
I'll ditto the sentiments on the Breedloves. My first "good" mandolin was a Breedlove KO. They're well built and good sounding. Many converts from guitar feel they are a good transition with their wider neck and larger frets.
Okay, I'll play.
I've got a really old Mayflower "potato bug" mandolin that I picked up in a backwater banjo shop many years ago. I've tried to research it's origins, dates, etc. without much success. I've seen similar models that date back to the early 1900s.
It's not much of a player -- frets are hair thin. But it's fun to plunk on every now and then.
(https://imageshack.us/a/img834/3939/mandofront.jpg)
(https://imageshack.us/a/img824/548/mandoback.jpg)
go to the state of Virginia ...turn at the first back road.............
Finnaly got it. I found this Epiphone MM30 for $99 Hard shell case included.
I had this little guy out of the case for two hours before over-sanding the nut and breaking the tailpiece trying to set it up myself.
The intonation was off and the action was high! I thought, how hard can it be?
That was yesterday.
Cheers! :arrow
Took my Kentucky KM-900 in for a set up and got it back today. Terrific little axe sounds and plays great.
Nice flame! Looks like a tiger
Quote from: brandon on July 08, 2013, 07:19:05 PM
Nice flame! Looks like a tiger
Yeah it's a beauty. I think they have a winner here.
I bought a used one on Craigslist (Mitchell). It was a very basic model but the guy included a hard case AND most importantly he'd bought a one year warranty for it. I Googled "how to set up a mandolin" and after following all the advice, it still buzzed on the twelfth fret. Turns out that fret was a bit uneven.
Long story short, I remembered something about the warranty, called the seller and had him tell the warranty company to change it to my name and Guitar Center ended up giving me a $100 credit for the Mitchell which I then put toward a brand new Loar 220 VS http://www.theloar.com/products/mandolins/mandolin-lm-220-vs
This Loar gets pretty good review everywhere I've seen for what it is. It does play better than the Mitchell did (It should).
It seems (from what I've read) that the F shape serves no real tonal function. It just looks more "bluegrassy". So I got the A shape and saved a couple hundred bucks.
I'm happy with it... I believe the nut width is a bit more on this one than most which is also nice.
Hope you found the right one for you.
Larrivee make a pretty nice Mando :blush:
I like my Eastman 505. It's no Collings or Gibson but it has good tone and volume. Mandolins are even more finicky than guitars and most of the tone comes from the player. The main thing is to get one that's set up well, plays easy, and hold tune: not always easy to find in the mandolin world. I gave $400 for mine, used, about 5 years ago. Eastman makes quality and I have no doubt this mandolin will hold up. It's always a good player to reach for when the mandolin bug bites me from time to time. The Mandolin Cafe's classifieds is probably the best place in the world to look for used mandolins. Most folks will give their phone number and be happy to talk it over with you too. A very classy place.
I've spent some time perusing the Mandolin Café classifieds as I'm considering a first mando. Mostly I found pages of high end Gibsons and Collings and other models with names unknown to me, and most ranging into the multiple thousands. I had no luck finding any of the recommended starters for a couple of months of casual looking. Maybe I should just get the Larrivée... and then get divorced :rolleye:
Quote from: bargemule on September 11, 2013, 08:08:52 PM
I've spent some time perusing the Mandolin Café classifieds as I'm considering a first mando. Mostly I found pages of high end Gibsons and Collings and other models with names unknown to me, and most ranging into the multiple thousands. I had no luck finding any of the recommended starters for a couple of months of casual looking. Maybe I should just get the Larrivée... and then get divorced :rolleye:
I just cruised over there and found this on page four of the Classifieds: http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/68855 Good instrument at a good price, and that dealer sets them up well and has a good reputation. Very well could be the only mando you'd ever need.
Quote from: the creature on September 11, 2013, 10:35:55 PM
I just cruised over there and found this on page four of the Classifieds: http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/68855 Good instrument at a good price, and that dealer sets them up well and has a good reputation. Very well could be the only mando you'd ever need.
Of course, what I'm looking for is the guy who bought this new for $499 and gave up on it 6 months later and sells it to me for $299!
Quote from: bargemule on September 15, 2013, 10:26:08 PM
Of course, what I'm looking for is the guy who bought this new for $499 and gave up on it 6 months later and sells it to me for $299!
Watch the Classifieds everyday there. Some crazy deals come along pretty often. And don't forget to enter the Collings contest.
That is a great resource. They have some nice guitars come up for sale as well. There are a couple nice breedlove mandolins on there right now.
Quote from: JOYCEfromNS on August 22, 2013, 03:34:23 PM
(http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43441.0;attach=20073;image)
Larrivee make a pretty nice Mando :blush:
That's the next Larrivee on my list. I have my Larry acoustics and electrics; and then there will be the mandolin.
Quote from: bargemule on September 11, 2013, 08:08:52 PM
I've spent some time perusing the Mandolin Café classifieds as I'm considering a first mando. Mostly I found pages of high end Gibsons and Collings and other models with names unknown to me, and most ranging into the multiple thousands. I had no luck finding any of the recommended starters for a couple of months of casual looking.
Just ordered an Eastman 904 from Virginia that was listed on the Mandolin Cafe classifieds for much less than 1K. Right within my somewhat conservative budget...should get it in a few days. Keeping my fingers crossed that it sounds as pretty as it looked in the pictures. This will be my starter mandolin so I'm kind of excited. Its one of those two point jobs...
Congrats Dotneck. Mandos are so fun. And the left hand pretty easy. I've decided, and started, to start practicing it again. I haven't practice and learned on it forever. I've been playing it when we gig some, but that's it. I realized I was going backwards when I put on Appalacian Swing and tried to play along with it like I used to!
If someone looking for a good mandolin at a good price I highly suggest you check out this site, and keep up with it. Being in Florida I guess they seem to get Michael Kelly "B-stock" items. I got a Legacy Deluxe F style there at a great price a few years ago. I couldn't find anything wrong with it, unless they were talking about the slightest of finish run UNDERNEATH the neck where it sticks out over the body, and it sounds really good!
It listed for well over a grand, went for around 700.00 and I paid 399.00. I also bought a Dobro there for someone as a present and same deal.
http://singnplay.com/michaelkellybstock.php
They have "B" stock and then blemished. and discontinued. I think the one I got was called blemished. Not sure what B-stock means but I do remember they were nice folks and be glad to you and you have option to send back if not happy.
My friend has three mandolins. A Webber, a Michael Kelly and this one which is the most expensive. He special ordered it. Made in China and gets a lot of good reports. Sorry I forgot the name.
It amazes me that guys with big hands can play these so well.
(http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p486/dpndn/20140629_141924_zpseu1uorqh.jpg) (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/dpndn/media/20140629_141924_zpseu1uorqh.jpg.html)
(http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p486/dpndn/20140629_141915_zpsg8ey8lem.jpg) (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/dpndn/media/20140629_141915_zpsg8ey8lem.jpg.html)
Quote from: JOYCEfromNS on August 22, 2013, 03:34:23 PM
Larrivee make a pretty nice Mando :blush:
I want one! !!! And I don't even play mandolin. :cheers. Oops, wrong one. :wacko: that's more like it.
Dan, your buddy has a Northfield: a very nice instrument. They're partially built in a small shop somewhere in a remote part of China; then they get sent to Michigan (I think) for a final going-over, setup, etc. Some heavy-hitter players are using those and they get very good reviews.
Quote from: the creature on August 12, 2014, 11:22:43 PM
Dan, your buddy has a Northfield: a very nice instrument. They're partially built in a small shop somewhere in a remote part of China; then they get sent to Michigan (I think) for a final going-over, setup, etc. Some heavy-hitter players are using those and they get very good reviews.
That's it, Northfield.
My wife bought me a Collings mandolin for Christmas!
Quote from: the creature on December 28, 2014, 04:16:33 PM
My wife bought me a Collings mandolin for Christmas!
wow.... pictures please!
Quote from: the creature on December 28, 2014, 04:16:33 PM
My wife bought me a Collings mandolin for Christmas!
How nice!
Quote from: the creature on December 28, 2014, 04:16:33 PM
My wife bought me a Collings mandolin for Christmas!
Very cool. That has to be fun.
Quote from: the creature on December 28, 2014, 04:16:33 PM
My wife bought me a Collings mandolin for Christmas!
Wow! Two keepers! :thumb
Here's a thread I started over on Mandolin Cafe. Lousy pics I took in the hotel but you get the idea.
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?112255-Collings-Fiddler-s-Green-and-a-Dream-Realized
Quote from: the creature on January 04, 2015, 01:58:14 AM
Here's a thread I started over on Mandolin Cafe. Lousy pics I took in the hotel but you get the idea.
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?112255-Collings-Fiddler-s-Green-and-a-Dream-Realized
I have passed by Fiddlers Green hundreds of times but never stopped in. I need to get in there and check out their stock. A close friend got a very sweet 00 Collings there recently. Edit: It dawned on me that my friend got his Collings at Hill Country Guitars in Austin.
Serious flame...
Tried to post more pics but they're all too large and I can't figure out how to resize them. 😕🔫
Quote from: Caleb on January 05, 2015, 07:29:14 PM
Tried to post more pics but they're all too large and I can't figure out how to resize them. 😕🔫
Caleb, upload your images to photobucket or shutterfly, Picasa, or ImageShack. Then grab the url and you can post it here (or just about anywhere) using the "insert image" icon tool found just below the
B (for Bold) icon.
I, for one, would love to see more images of your new mandolin. I'm sure others would, too.
Ok, looks like I got this to work. Maybe a mod can flip those first two over for me? I can't get them to stand upright. Thanks for the help, Queequeg.
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128595&d=1420658273)
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128596&d=1420658289)
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128597&d=1420658305)
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128598&d=1420658322)
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128599&d=1420658335)
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128600&d=1420658351)
(http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128601&d=1420658365)
Stunning! How much does Collings want for one of those?
Quote from: ducktrapper on January 07, 2015, 07:49:07 PM
Stunning! How much does Collings want for one of those?
Around $2500 out the door.
This is truly beautiful, Caleb.
I can't turn these images here as they are hosted elsewhere.
Mandolins are just the prettiest darn things. The fact that they can be played and make music is just a bonus, as far as I'm concerned.
Hope you get years of enjoyment from this.
This is my last mandolin. In fact I'm done acquiring instruments. Done. I have my Larrivee which is my dream guitar, and now I have my dream mandolin. And to think, both my guitar (D-03BW) and my mandolin are entry-level instruments of their respective makers. My Larrivee is one of the best-sounding guitars I've ever heard, and as ducktrapper noted, the Collings is simply stunning. Life is almost too good to be believed sometimes.
So now play on and make some music, our friend. :guitar
Gorgeous mandolin!! That thing's so darn pretty it almost looks like it could play music all by itself!
That's a fine looking instrument. I've been through the Collings factory three times and it always amazes me the level of skilled craftsmanship on display. They are expanding the property now, so they must be growing. So much attention to details. :+1:
Beautiful! I can see where that would be your last mandolin. A work of art. I feel the same about my two Larrivee guitars. Just beautiful instruments physically and sonically. Enjoy them both.