Mortan Monroe solid mahogany

[smilnJackB]

There is a new Morgan Monroe A style on e-bay for $249.00 (buy it now price.) It's pretty and I like the look of solid mahogany instruments. What can you tell me about this brand and about the tone of solid mahogany in a mando? Jack

[hungry mountain boy]

Buy my Rover RM 75 in the classifieds instead, same price, more mandolin in my opinion and you will be able to re-sale it for about the same. I have not played the mahogany, but was told they were not that good. Glenn Hurley

[csstanley]

I got a Bean Blossom just like that made out of Mahogany top, side and back. It looks just like the Morgan Monroe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/csstanley/IM000809a.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/csstanley/IM000810a.jpg

I like it a lot. I couldn't ask for a better mandolin for my buck. But that is my opinion. I think the tone is great. Its not a banjo killer but it does it's job for me.

I whittled down the bridge and it has helped it a lot. Personally, I don't think these are bad mandolins for the money.

[smilnJackB]

Kountry! That is a handsome instrument. I was looking at an A style. F styles usually seem too fancy for me. Yours looks rich and beautiful. Jack

[JEStanek]

The Morgan Monroe you saw is labeled as a Bean Blossom as is Kountry's F-style. #These caught my eye as attractive at a price I could take camping. #I have a Morgan Monroe (it's leaving the classifieds soon unsold http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #) and its a good mando but I wanted a less expensive a-style... #I keep waiting to see if anyone reviews them. #Kountry seems to endorse his after some set up work. #My Morgan Monroe under went some elective intonation surgery as well. #I like my MM F style and still play on it. #(I like the Eastman better but it cost more)... I would recommend a Morgan Monroe but definitely get it set up.

The $250 plus shipping seems to be the standard auction price on these... #For a similar amount you could (if you are very lucky) get the Mid Mo m11 (mahogony back flat top oval hole) used. #

Jamie

[Pedal Steel Mike]

I have a solid mahogany mandolin made by a Korean company called VENSON. It's actually not bad for what it is, but it's not a professional grade instrument.

if you can get something that's halfway decent for $250, you may as well. But bear in mind that sooner or later (probably sooner) you're going to want a really fine instrument like a Rigel or Weber.

My advise is but the one you saw, and open up a special savings account to start saving up for a better one.

[csstanley]

Jamie, to be honest $250 is a GREAT price. If I had a seen it before this one, I'd a jumped on it.

And take PSM's advice. Work your way up. I'm working towards a Stanley V5. Chris, who by the way has the same name as yours truly, said that he would send me the label to sign before sticking it on the inside. I'll have my own signature model. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I strongly suggest working your way up. Get what you can afford and build toward another more expensive one.

And with a little knowledge, especially from this board, you can tweak the mandolin to suit you. I LOVE MINE!! It's totally me.

Now that I've talked good about it, pray that nothing goes wrong with it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[JEStanek]

Just to clarify, I bought the Eastman. Love it. These Bean Blossoms look like they would fit the bill for what they are... How vague is that? Since my Morgan Monroe isn't gonna sell I'm probably gonna put a better tailpiece (and maybe tuners) on it. Its still a nice loud mando. Plenty of life in it and range for my skill level. But I still sank enough into it not to want it to get busted up at a fest or by the kids (which is why I have the Johnson for them ( http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif ).

Jamie (Eastman 814 number 22)

[csstanley]

Jamie, I got a Johnson too. And can't get rid of it, YOU JUST GIVE ME AN IDEA!!!!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Jasper]

Jack, For what it's worth, Morgan Monroe makes a decent instrument. While mahogany is a great wood for the back and sides of any instrument, it isn't the best wood for the top of the instrument. I am sure it will have a full, rich tone, but will likely lack in volume because of the mahogany top. Should you buy it, be sure to have it professionally set up to save your finger tips.

[Morgan Monroe Guy]

Hi Jack

The BAM-200 all solid Mahogany Bean Blossom A-Style mandolin has a warmer more mellow tone than your typical blue grass Mandolin. Most of the people that I have talked to that have them describe the sound as more of a Mountain Tone (perhaps more for folk or Irish/Celtic players)

We are selling this instrument as fast as we can get them as apparently people that are picking them up and playing them in the stores are really liking them, so the sell through is pretty rapid.

We did not even have one to take with us down to our Merle Fest booth. The surpise to me at that show was what a hit the all solid F mahogany was. We had a room that people could go into and play our instruments where they could really hear them and I personally got a lot of coments on how much people liked the tone of the BFM-300.

I have personally played a number of the BAM-200 A's as they have come and gone through our warehouse and they have all been very good right out of the box with no set up.

That said, it is always good advice to get a set up so that your mandolin can be all that it can be http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Good Luck

Mike

[earthsave]

Morgan Monroe makes the Bean Blossom. It's like their budget line. I bought one from a guy that had one of those Ebay impulse moments. I leave it sitting out and practice with it more than my Flatiron. But I dont play it out any. It's good to drag around outside and stuff though. It has good volume, but a thin sound. No woof or bark.

[Morgan Monroe Guy]

Just a quick point about the Bean Blossom line, it actually has a very wide range in "Budgets" From all laminated A-style to all solid F-styles.

Also at one point we had an entry level model that sold for less than $100 in the Bean Blossom line. So summing up the Bean Blossom line on one mandolin does not give the full picture. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

My 2 cents

Mike