mando

[Karen Kay]

Looking for a $200 or $300 mandolin for my son's girlfriend - probably an 'A' since that's usually more $ for the buck. She is just starting out but would be nice to have something decent for her on which to learn.
She has my old Fender A but it's pretty much ruined. #
I put this in the Classifieds under 'Wanted' but wasn't sure how many people visit there. #
Thanks for your time.
Karen

[otterly2k]

Look for a used Mid-Mo. There's one on ebay right now in that range if it sparks your interest and you move fast. NFI, of course. Also...check with fatt-dad... he usually has some good inexpensive rehabbed mandos. good luck

[arbarnhart]

I have a Washburn M1SDL that I got for around $200 new and I love it. I got mine through Music123 for a good price, but shipping can be slow. SamAsh.com also lists them. I play primarily blues and folk. I do play a little bluegrass, but the oval hole mandos don't have the bluegrass bark or punchy chop that the f hole models do. But they have a warm resonance and I think they sound better on open strings than f holes do, but it's a personal thing and I am undoubtably biased.

The tuners are cheap, but they work fine and it holds a tuning very well. They come pretty heavily dyed (I got the grand piano black with the white binding) because while the wood is solid (spruce top, maple back, sides and neck) it is quite bland. There are just dots on the fret board; no fancy inlay. But it does have an F style peghead with a flowerpot. It has an adjustable truss rod and comes with the wrench and instructions (unlikely you will ever need to adjust, but nice to have), The bridge is adjustable. Intonation seems fine - I used an Intellitouch to check it.

I had suggested my model (Washburn M1SDL) to someone in New York who knows Andy Statman. I got an update on what he (and Statman) think of it:

Hi, I'm extremely pleased with the sound. When I get the money I intend to take it to somebody for fine tuning and to get it set up properly. (My bridge did not come attached and I spent about an hour and a half using the video on the Folk of the Wood website getting it put together and tuned. Statman also thought it was terrific sound for the money and even recommended it to somebody on the spot. I also took it over to a friend who had just bought a $1200 1920's Gibson, and I also felt that the sound was fuller and mine gets more mileage to the pluck.

My only complaint, although I'm beginning to like the sound, is that I tend to get a lot of sympathetic vibration on the G string when I play.


I recently had the chance to compare it to one of the lower end MK F models (still more $ than mine even at closeout prices) and while they have very different sounds, both the MK owner and I agreed that the Washburn was a superior mando. Yes, I am quite pleased. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I have had some people tell me that Washburn can be very inconsitent in quality. It could be that me and the guy in NY got the two good ones, but I think there are more out there. The few user reviews I found of it were all quite positive. I have not heard of anyone having problems or complaints about this model, just Washburn in general (but there seems to be someone complaining about every brand). It does come with a lifetime warranty.

[Karen Kay]

We just wanted to put a period on this thread. We ended up getting a neat Kentucky "A" from fatt-great-to-do-business-with-dad. Thanks to everyone who responded. It is a testament to the Cafe that we searched, decided and bought from here. Thanks to everyone doing stand up business on the Cafe and a pox on all the houses of scammers!!!
R&K