Last Call

[J. Mark Lane]

Jeremy Ain (meskalito), RichM and myself are gathering at Mandolin Brothers tomorrow at 10 a.m., to do some tasting and general hanging about. Our goal is to be as worthless as possible for as long as possible. Anyone wanting to join us is welcome to meet us there. (Jeremy and I are meeting at the SI Ferry on the Manhattan side at 9, if anyone wants to meet us there to head over.)

Of course, a full report will be forthcoming.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Mark

[luckylarue]

Don't forget to bring your mandos for comparison purposes and to play on the ferry!

I'd go but I currently reside in northern New Mexico - far from any ferry boat.

[flairbzzt]

Hmmm...I could play hooky....

[J. Mark Lane]

Hmmm...I could play hooky....
Do it, man! Just drive right on over that bridge and come and meet us there!

[delsbrother]

Could someone please sample a Bridger mandola and/or OM for me? Thanks

[bjc]

If they ahve any Loars, pick me up one or two, I'm good for it, really, hey stop laughing...tee hee

[J. Mark Lane]

Sure, be happy to. That's an instrument I'd be interested in anyway, so if they have one I will definitely pull it off the wall for a test drive.

[flairbzzt]

Even my wife said it's ok.........

[J. Mark Lane]

That's pretty funny. I was responding to the post about the Weber Bridger but Brian's Loar post came up in between. Brian, if I see a Loar, I'll sure play it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[J. Mark Lane]

That's excellent, Rick! Bring something fun with you.

[flairbzzt]

How about the Prucha? Stan doesn't have any of those..

[J. Mark Lane]

Absolutely. That would be very cool. I assume you'll be driving in from NJ?

[Nora]

Nora here. I've been out of town and got back 'bout a week ago. But more to the point. On the way down south my mandolin was stolen, lost, ....fill in the blank. It was real cheap anyway, but it broke my heart. (For those that don't know me, I'm new at learning the instrument.) When I got to FL and my daughter found out, she was broken hearted for me and went to a pawn shop and spent her own money (young kids just starting out and almost as poor as me)to buy me a mandolin. I am very touched. But, it is a hondo, a style, oval hole. Very cheap, too. But that's OK, I'm still learning. I tried for the first time today to tune it. Things are not going well. Longer story short, I am now in the market for a mandolin, so....... if you guys have the opportunity to play something that would sell for under $500, I would greatly appreciate any comments or advice. I want something for a bluegrass/traditional sound. And remember I am still learning and don't want to blow all the dough until I know what I want.

[flairbzzt]

Yes-I'll try and grab one of those 3 parking spaces there.

[J. Mark Lane]

Nora, we'll keep our eyes out for something for you. You might look around the web for an older Kentucky A style, like maybe a KM150s (my first mando, and it was decent). That would get closer to the bluegrass sound than an oval hole, of course.

A quick look reveals this one:

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/90U-4212.htm

Could be a very decent mandolin. The Japanese made Kentucky's are reputed to be the best. Even comes with a decent case.... And Elderly is as good a dealer as there is.

Mark

[flairbzzt]

Nora- Michael Kelly also has A styles now-all solid wood. There's an A+ on ebay now..you could contact Banjobarn and get a better price though-tell'em I sent ya. I think there's an MK F style Legacy solid in the classifieds today for $425 o.b.o. with hardshell case that looks ok. Make an offer!

Gentlemen-Maybe I'll see you tomorrow.

[Nora]

Thanks, Mark.

This site took me to the ones that read KM200S, not KM150 and I don't know the difference. Is there one? On the picture that is third row down, far right (detail) - is what appears to bedamage and if so where does it appear to be to you. How much difference does it make? Looks like my price range. Also, why would names be stamped on the top? I know, I know, I know. But if I don't ask, then I'll never know. I'm still not sure what questions to ask and to whom to address them.

[Nora]

Nora- Michael Kelly also has A styles now-all solid wood. There's an A+ on ebay now..you could contact Banjobarn and get a better price though-tell'em I sent ya. I think there's an MK F style Legacy solid in the classifieds today for $425 o.b.o. with hardshell case that looks ok. Make an offer!

Gentlemen-Maybe I'll see you tomorrow.
Thanks, Rick. I think Michael Kelly is one of the links here. I'll look. Who knows.....maybe this will be a silver lining.

[Nora]

Rick,

I see there is a dealer right here in London. I will go there this week, but I'm not sure what I should be looking for. The link to the Michael Kelly site from here doesn't give prices and I still don't know the real differences between F and A styles. Or for that matter f or oval/round holes.

Thanks

[flairbzzt]

One of the best things you can do is to search this site on those topics and read previous posts about all of the things you want to know more about. Then when you're thoroughly confused, go to the store and buy what sounds and feels right to you.

[bdisp]

JML.............don't forget to check out the ovals.

[flairbzzt]

Made the call to work @ 6:00 am this morning-I'll see you guys there about 10:30/11:00 .

[flairbzzt]

Nora- your dealer should be able to help you with those questions. TAKE YOUR TIME and play everything- there's a lot of models to choose from, and remember the classifieds here. MK's are often first purchases and are sold barely used here as people upgrade. Their used value is significantly less even if slightly used; better than buying new and losing 40% as soon as you walk out the door.

[jasona]

Nora, I think Mark's suggestion was for a new 150S (made in China) but stumbled across that used 200S. The difference is 1) its made in Japan, which has a reputation for being of higher quality and tone, and 2) it has a mahogany back and side which will impart a darker tone. The damage comes from some finish crazing it looks like, plus someone removed the pickguard (the hole you see in the side). I wouldn't think much of either.

A local shop has a nice Japanese 180S, which has maple. I thought it was very nice, especially for the price. Compares well with the current Sumi's I've played.

I bet that Mark's opinion of the Eastmans doesn't change. Any takers?

[Tom C]

How come I did not see this yesterday? I would have come. Instead I'm sitting at work at 825 3rd Ave with little to do except watch policeactivity. -yes, a little too close to british embassy as I walk past it every morning.

[JEStanek]

Nora check out here (http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2617.htm) for a really good Question and answer / general info section on mandolins (difference between oval and ff holes / difference between A and F body shapes). #This is a great place to build some knowledge pretty fast in one fell "click". #Not as great as Mando Cafe but... #

My advice is first invest about $40 in the Hondo at a decent guitar / folk music stor and get the strings changed and a fresh set up (adjust the action (string height at the nut and bridge). #My Johnson mando was unplayable until I did this. #

If you want to go a bit nicer (although I would imagine the Hondo should be fine for early lessons until you find you love the mando (like you wouldn't ;-) )get the best used A style mando you can afford that you can get your hands on and play. #The F styles cost much more with the fancy scroll and points but don't sound much different from a comparably built A style. #Have fun, enjoy the search, get the Hondo set up as a beater mando to take to fests, campfires, and ferry trips and welcome to the Mandolin!

Jamie #(a begginer as well).

[Nora]

Thanks to all for the help.

This afternoon was the first day of my trek to finding a mandolin. I live in a real desert when it comes to instruments (except for guitars, of course).

There is one small store (it had 5) and another almost store (it had one + the one he brought from the back that he said he had recently acquired as his own. There is a flea market that has more instruments than any of them, but they are only opened on the weekends - have to wait until then, for them.

The store that had 5:

A Johnson, A style, f hole, just like the one I had ( mine cost $80) new without case, $179. A Morgan Monroe (A style, f hole) at $250, no case. A Michael Kelly Legend, F style, solid maple, $625, no case. A Michael Kelly Legacy, F style, spruce top, maple sides and back, $750 with case. Another Johnson with case - $250.

In my very limited knowledge, I played them (not the Johnson's, of course) and they all sounded better than the one I lost. But (once, again) in my verrrrry limited knowledge, I couldn' hear $400 worth of difference in the Morgan Monroe and the Michael Kelly Legend. I could hear some difference in the Legend and the Legacy.

The almost store tried to sell me some piece of #### and tried to order me something. Both stores wanted to order me instruments.

I am looking at the classifieds here (probably my best bet from my experience today), but I really would like to play it first. If you are spending less than $500, should you even worry about playing it first, if it is a brand you have tried to educate yourself about?

Thanks,

Nora

[Eric F.]

Well, Nora, I know you want a "bluegrass sound" but I truly believe you would be happier with a quality flattop than a mediocre arched top, and so I suggest a Mid-Missouri. For less than $500 you can own a fine, hand-crafted instrument that sounds great, from a small U.S. company that offers excellent customer service. In an arched top at this price, you tend to get a mass-produced, characterless instrument that LOOKS sweet but offers no richness of tone. For a relative beginner, I think it is more important top have a good instrument than to worry so much about F holes or oval, flattop or arched. And, Mid-Mos are pretty consistent, so playing one first would be less of a priority than it would be with a Pac Rim factory instrument.

[Nora]

Thanks, Eric.

I am still so dumb about all this that I don't know what an arch, flat or other top is.

I'm really not into the F style either. Not yet, anyway.

I will look into the Mid-mos. Thanks

Nora

[Eric F.]

Nora, you can often find a Mid-Mo used for less than $400. The other possibility is an old Flatiron flattop. I bought one recently on eBay for a hair less than $400 and it sounds really sweet. Mandolins with flat tops almost always have oval sound holes. They tend to have a mellow, some would say sweet, tone. It is not the traditional bluegrass sound, and it won't "cut through" a wall of banjos, but they can be excellent instruments in their own right and are _ I think _ just about perfect for beginners. There is much less labor involved since the top and back do not have to be carved into an arch, so the price for a good instrument is considerably less than for a comparable quality archtop. See the long-running thread called something like "Impulsive Purchase" for more about Flatirons and flat tops in general.