Gettin' a Mandolin

[Kayakboy]

Hi there. #I hope this topic hasn't been posted too many times before. #I recently bought a Johnson MA 100 mandolin and decided to go all the way. #I want to buy another one that will reward me with nicer sound. #Cost is a big, but not huge factor. #If I can have near great quality (relatively) for a few hundred, then that is cool. #But I dont want to compremise my playing if going a more quality route would be more worth while. #I just missed bidding on this Mogan Monroe Mandolin. #
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/MORGAN-MONROE-MMS-6-F-STYLE-MANDOLIN-CASE-LOOK_W0QQitemZ7365558999QQcategoryZ10179QQrdZ1QQ
" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/MORGAN-....QrdZ1QQ</a>
cmdZViewItem
I would'nt be willing to spent Much more than this ($850). #I thank you for your time and would appreciate any input. #Thanks, Ty

PS. I also have an inside deal on a Martin Backpacker Mandolin. I know it is subjective, but are these worthy of daily use?

[arbarnhart]

"all the way"? The high end stuff costs several grand. But I think you can get a reasonably good mando for a few hundred. Use the search function and be sure to scroll down and click the "and older" radio button and look for posts about Mid-Mo, MK, Morgan Monroe and Eastman; maybe even Washburn (that's what I have; they offer a few low end models). Also look at some of the discussions about Gibsons, Collings, Weber and other higher end makers; read up on some custom builders.

[grandmainger]

There are a couple of Eastman in that price bracket in the Cafe's classifieds. These are meant to be good value for money... My morgan monroe was nice, but really felt like a factory-made instrument. Look around, there are some great deals around...

[Eric F.]

Educate yourself before randomly bidding on something that looks nice on eBay is my advice. $850 could buy you a nice Flatiron A if you shop well. Used Breedlove Quartz or Rigel A Natural are other possibilities. A Bill Davis flattop is a great mando in that price range, too. My guess is that playing any of them would be more rewarding than an eBay MM.

[wigginsplayer]

Howdy
Like Kayakboy, I am a beginner at mandolin. I have been playing guitar for several decades. (My wife was worried about the small fretboard, as I have sold guitars with fretboard width of less than 1.75 inches!) I bought a Morgan Monroe MMS-4 on ebay, and I could not be happier. Is it the best mandolin I could find or afford? No. But it sounds good to me, and I am having a wonderful time learning.
By the way, thanks to all the posters, who have helped me immensely!
Anyway, I was able to get my Phantom of the Opry for less than $300, plus shipping, of course.
Pete

[otterly2k]

Ty- I strongly encourage you to read cafe discussions about this, as there have been many, and some clear themes emerge related to several different price ranges.

Other themes (I'll save you some of the reading) include the importance of going and playing instruments in person if at all possible. 1- sometimes one will just dazzle you and 2- there's a lot of variability in instruments at this price point, even within the same make/model...only by playing them yourself will you know whether it's a gem or a dud. Better to find out before purchase.

Other recurring pieces of advice is certainly to consider buying used instead of new... you can get higher quality for the money this way. Better value on A's than F's also, generally. And keep your eyes on the Cafe classified ads. You will almost always get clearer, more reliable information about the instruments than on ebay, and this community values (and reinforces) fair and honorable business practices.

And FWIW, I'd echo Eric F's suggestion about mandos at the price point you mentioned.
KE

[Miles Town Mando]

If you are just starting out and don't want to invest a lot of money because your trying to figure out if you will actually like or be able to play the mandolin then the MMs are not such a bad way to go. Most of them have enough playability that you won't be discouraged to even pick it up.

I started on a MM-2. It was good enough to start on but I quickly became disatisfied. Not so much from MAS but from just flat out very poor tone quality (no matter what the ebay ad says). I was a quick study on the mando and was soon playing in Jams and eventually a local bluegrass gruop. The MM just will not hold up to the other instruments. Some of our jams have been recorded and my mandolin sounds just like just what it is - a $300 mandolin.
The clincher was when we played at a festival and I heard it against other mandolins. Even my wife, who rolls her eyes every time a mention another instrument, couldn't help but notice the difference and is excited about me spending a couple of thousand on a better instrument. Hey! Maybe that MM was a good plan after all!

All that to say you won't be happy very long with a MM. You might as well start with a Flatiron A or you can find used Gibson A-9s under a $1000

[Aran]

I got a morgan monroe for about $400 plus shipping and taxes. it's a low end bean blossom model. Saying that I couldn't be happier with it. sure the finish could be better but it's solid carved wood and has good intonation, I'm not too bothered by what it looks like. With a carved top the mando can only sound better with age and in less than a year of playing it! It has really started to open up and sounds better and better. So I would have no hesitation in recommending that brand!

My brother just got an Eastman and the finish on that mando is really excellent plus it's really loud, it was more than twice the price but he got the 815 and the 615 would be a bit cheaper and probably sound as good.

One of these days I'll get a luthier made number, but at the moment I don't think I deserve one yet!! Also I would feel like a bit of a prat at a session with a $20,000 Gilchrist or even a $7000 Gibson, cause everyone would be expecting me to blow them away and they would definatley be dissapointed. I'm happy with the way things are for now!

Good luck and I hope you find something you are happy with!