View Full Version : Shopping Online
Cancunpete
Aug-30-2005, 3:52pm
I want to buy my first mandolin, but do notlive in an aea that is rich with music stores. So I am stuck buying online. I will not use ebay. I always thought I would use Folk of the Woods but I am not so sure now. I want a place I can buy my first mandolin and my second and so on.
Jim M.
Aug-30-2005, 4:06pm
I see from your profile that you're in Oklahoma. If you are able to, get yourself up to Byron Berline's Doublestop Shop in Guthrie. Byron's a great fiddler, former Ok football star, and has a good selection of mandos. You can see some of their inventory at Doublestop (http://www.doublestop.com)
I don't think you will find a trade-up policy as generous as what FOTW allegedly offered. That's not a very profitable way to run a business, and probably contributed to a lot of problems they had. If trade-up is important, ask before you buy.
DryBones
Aug-30-2005, 7:17pm
FOTW is undergoing "ownership" changes...might want to let the dust settle there before shopping them.
just my opinion.
arbarnhart
Aug-30-2005, 7:38pm
Look in the classifieds here.
Do you know what you want and have a price range in mind?
Cancunpete
Aug-30-2005, 9:32pm
I think for the first one under 300. A or F doesnt matter as much as ease of play/
250sc
Aug-31-2005, 10:40am
That's a tough price range!
glauber
Aug-31-2005, 10:45am
Watch the Cafe classifieds for an used Mid-Misouri (MidMo) in for $400-ish (if you're lucky, they're sometimes found for $300-ish). Or shop at fatt dad's (http://home.comcast.net/~fatt-dad/mando4sale.html).
Like others suggested, I'd up your price range a bit and look at a Mid-Missouri. Honest Ron's in OKC carries Mid-Missouri, but the website says he is only open MWF. I have no idea how his prices or service are but at least you could touch one before you buy. If in OKC you might also checkout Lonewolf Guitars. I not sure what mandos he carries, if any, but I meet the owner several times at OIBF and he seems like a pretty straight up guy. Let's see Byron's in Gurthie has already been mentioned, and there is a place in Tulsa some friends of mine seem to like but the name escapes me. I see you've already figured out we live in a hot, dry, dusty prairie and there ain't much here http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Cancunpete
Aug-31-2005, 3:32pm
Youve all convinced me, Im going to up my budget even if I have to do the layaway thing for awhile.
walshb
Aug-31-2005, 4:07pm
Buying on line is not the worst way to go for a beginner, but I'd be prepared to pay for a setup after you receive it. Good luck either way!
Cancunpete
Sep-01-2005, 7:54am
Ive noticed a lot of places online claim to tune and set it up before shipment. where I live I will have to drive a couple hundred miles to find someoen to do that. I plan on going to the OIBF at the end of the month so I think that will be a great opportunity to see some fine mandolins.