Choosing a mandolin

[Gordon]

The mandolin is calling my name.  I've never played one, but I love the sound.  I thinks it's time I bought one and gave it a try.

Anyone have suggestions/opinions as to what I should buy as my first mandolin?  My budget tops out at about $700, so a Larrivee is out of the question.

I want to play blues mostly, and Celtic-based tunes.

What I've read so far is that I should get an A-style, f hole mandolin.



Gordon

[GeeNorm]

Gordon,

An A style will help you stay in budget. I spent a little more when I bought an F style mandolin last year and I still haven't disciplined myself to spend the time and effort to learn to play it.  Like you I can imagine the sound boost I might achieve with some of my music.

There are several folks on the forum who know a lot more than me, so I expect you will get more and better advice than I can offer.

Norman

[Caleb]

Check out www.MandolinCafe.com for all you'll ever need to know about this topic.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Anyone have suggestions/opinions as to what I should buy as my first mandolin?  My budget tops out at about $700, so a Larrivee is out of the question.

Save your money and buy a Larrivee. It will save you in the long run cause you will end up there.

That`s what I did

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[Gordon]

Check out www.MandolinCafe.com for all you'll ever need to know about this topic.

Thanks for the link.    I'd already looked there and found lots of good info.  I'm hoping to get some opinions from the mandolin players here.

Save your money and buy a Larrivee. It will save you in the long run cause you will end up there.

That`s what I did

That never works well for me.  I'm unlikely to ever invest in a high-end instrument that I'm not sure I'm going to play.

Moderate price = mandolin now
Larrivee price = mandolin much later, maybe never


Gordon

[Gordon]

Gordon,

An A style will help you stay in budget. I spent a little more when I bought an F style mandolin last year and I still haven't disciplined myself to spend the time and effort to learn to play it.   Like you I can imagine the sound boost I might achieve with some of my music.

There are several folks on the forum who know a lot more than me, so I expect you will get more and better advice than I can offer.

Norman

Yeah, I'm leaning toward an A-style, f hole mandolin.
What mandolin did you buy?


Gordon

[GeeNorm]

Gordon,

I bought one of these, http://jbovier.net/?page_id=160 from Jeff Cowherd who owns JBovier. (Bovier is French for cow herd.) The zebra wood gives it amazing sustain. I will admit that the unique looks are what sold me. Jeff's instruments are Asian built to what I would call very high standards. Here is a picture of the back of mine.

Norman

Edited to add this link to a magazine review. http://jazzmando.com/j_bovier_f5z_.shtml?iframe=true&width=100%&height=100%

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[unclrob]

Get an A style with an oval sound hole works great with the style's of music your leaning towards.

[flatlander]

Get an A style with an oval sound hole works great with the style's of music your leaning towards.

  I agree, for those style's

[stubby]

Bobsnob, in your price range, I'd be looking at Eastman or Kentucky, two of the better pacrim mandolin makers. I personally own an Eastman that I'm quite happy with. I hear very good things about the Kentuckys as well. I see that you live in Montreal. I'm not sure what's available there, but if you want to try before you buy I would check out either the Ottawa Folklore Centre or the Bluegrass Connection in Iroquois Ontario. Both are in reasonable driving range and should have a decent selection within your budget.

[Walkerman]

Bobsnob, in your price range, I'd be looking at Eastman or Kentucky, two of the better pacrim mandolin makers. I personally own an Eastman that I'm quite happy with. I hear very good things about the Kentuckys as well. I see that you live in Montreal. I'm not sure what's available there, but if you want to try before you buy I would check out either the Ottawa Folklore Centre or the Bluegrass Connection in Iroquois Ontario. Both are in reasonable driving range and should have a decent selection within your budget.

Check out this thread.....

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=31328.0

[Gordon]

Thanks to everyone for their input.

The f-hole vs oval soundhole  decision is one that's tough to make without actually being able to hear the instruments in person.  It looks like I'll need to make a trip to the Ottawa Folklore Center soon.

Grant from the 12th Fret added another complication to the story, suggesting a Trinity College flatiron-style mandolin.

I'll need to try one of those too.


Gordon

[Dr. LJ]

In your price range, the Eastman and Kentucky mandolins that have been mentioned are a good bet.   You can get pretty nice one for less than $700.
A nice used Weber Aspen or something of that nature can be had for $700 to $900 and since the Aspen is an oval hole Celtic style it could be just what you are looking for.  Mandolin Cafe is a good place to watch.  I have an Aspen and it is a really nice mandolin for the money.  I have an F hole Ratliff, too, and the two body styles do sound quite different.  For Celtic, the Aspen is perfect.

I have played some Kentucky ovals that were nice and some that were a bit tinny. I would recommend choosing one of those in person if possible so you can compare them side by side.

If you are operating on a limited budget, A style mandolins will give the most bang for the buck.  A $500 A style is usually a better quality instrument than a $500 F style, but you could get lucky.

Get one, though.  They are a nice addition to the guitar and can be a lot of fun to play.

There's a Kentucky KM 172 Oval A on Mandolin Cafe right now for $250 so it might gbe a good gamble and something decent to start with. 

LJ

[Walkerman]

JMHO....A styles don't look like mandolins to me.  They look like something gypsies play whilst dancing around the campfire.  Gotta be an F style.
Eastman makes a blonde F style...they really stand out.

[Dr. LJ]

JMHO....A styles don't look like mandolins to me.  They look like something gypsies play whilst dancing around the campfire.  Gotta be an F style.
Eastman makes a blonde F style...they really stand out.

I dance around a campfire one time and now you never let me forget about it.

LJ

[Walkerman]

I dance around a campfire one time and now you never let me forget about it.

LJ

Ahhhh...but was it with gypsies?  I'll never forget the gypsy "chick fight" in From Russia with Love...quite powerful stuff for a young man going thru puberty.

[Gordon]

Ahhhh...but was it with gypsies?  I'll never forget the gypsy "chick fight" in From Russia with Love...quite powerful stuff for a young man going thru puberty.

Gypsy chick fight?!!      I haven't seen that in any of the mandolin specs.



Gordon

[Gordon]

Someone recommended a Trinity College TM-250.  Has anyone tried one?  
I prefer the look of arch top mandolins, but the nut of th TM-250 is a bit wider than most of the other mandolins I looked at, which seems appealing to me as a guitar player.

http://www.12fret.com/retail/trinity_college_mandolin_pg.html



Gordon

[Stackabones]

I'd recommend the Big Muddy mandolins (formerly known as Mid-Missouri). They're all solid woods and made in the USA explicitly for the mid-range that's tough to find in the mandolin market. I have a lower end Kentucky and consider it a complete piece of crap.

http://www.bigmuddymandolin.com/index.php

[Caleb]

A-styles are the original design.  And to me they are more "mandolin" than their frilly F-style counterpart.  To each his own, but I'm just keeping the history straight.