Gibson a50 or epiphone mm50?

[Riccardo]

Hi people.

I am new to the mandolin, but I have been a musician of different trades since 6 years old.

A couple of years ago I picked up the violin ( not fiddle :P ) and I got interested in the mandolin as well. To me, they are basically the same instrument, except the mandolin seems far easier to play ( has a fretboard...).

Can you imagine an Italian without a mandolin? No? Here you have one.

So I got a gift for birthday and it was unplayable. China makers spit out this ###### mandolins for 50$, still good looking enough to fool those who buy on the internet and have no clue about instruments...

So I decided to get me something decent, given also that mandolin will not be my main instrument.

I gave a look at the Epiphone MM50, and it looks great, a good replica of the sought after Gibson F-style, although with a toy-ish finish. The Epiphone retails for 500$ on Music123. Usually I boycott anything that comes from Asia, because what you end up holding in your hands is some piece of wood that costed the company 20$ to be made and they sell you at 500$...

On eBay there are often old Gibson A40 and A50 mandolins, from the 50's and 60's. How are those? I see the price is quite low for a Gibson with an average of 400$ each. Are these mandolin runs good or they're somehow flawed, in design, sound, etc? I can't explain why the, relatively, low price.

I would like to get an advice. Should I buy the Epiphone MM50 or save a few bucks more and get a good Gibson A50 ?

I can't figure it out myself and I have no option to play the two to decide which sounds best. Where I live the only mandolin they know of is the Neapolitan one, which I hate, cost as much as 5000$ new, and looks to me like an ugly potato bug.

Thanks for those who will take time to give me a reply.

Riccardo

[Doug Edwards]

Having owned an MM-50 and seen some of the newer ones from China, Gibson A50.

The MM-50 I had was fairly good, but there are other choices in that price range you might be happier with if you have to have an F style. #I would NOT buy one you have not played(as well as some of the other options). #The Gibson however would retain it's resale value if you don't pay too much and provide you with a better made instrument.

Call John Brinkman at Waco Vintage Instrument (NFI)in Mansfield, Texas. He had several A40 & A50 Gibsons the last time I was there and he is an expert in vintage instruments. He could give you and idea of what to expect in value. He has a one of the best inventories of mandolins in the DFW area. John is very old school and does not own a computer. He keeps limited store hours, 12-5 p.m. M-F and his phone is 817-473-9144. John is also a Weber and Eastman dealer.

Sorry, I just saw you are in Italy. Your options may be limited unless it's Italy, Texas. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Riccardo]

Having owned an MM-50 and seen some of the newer ones from China, Gibson A50.

The MM-50 I had was fairly good, but there are other choices in that price range you might be happier with if you have to have an F style. #I would NOT buy one you have not played(as well as some of the other options). #The Gibson however would retain it's resale value if you don't pay too much and provide you with a better made instrument.

Call John Brinkman at Waco Vintage Instrument (NFI)in Mansfield, Texas. He had several A40 & A50 Gibsons the last time I was there and he is an expert in vintage instruments. He could give you and idea of what to expect in value. He has a one of the best inventories of mandolins in the DFW area. John is very old school and does not own a computer. He keeps limited store hours, 12-5 p.m. M-F and his phone is 817-473-9144. John is also a Weber and Eastman dealer.

Sorry, I just saw you are in Italy. Your options may be limited.
Thanks for your reply, Doug. My price range is 500-600$. I have seen a number of A40 and A50 going for that price on eBay, so I said to myself...Why not a Gibson, rather than an Epiphone? At least, exactly as you said, if one day I decide to part with it, I can resell it as a Gibson, not a china made copy.

F-Style Gibsons are very expensive, so I haven't contemplated.

I'd like to give the contact you gave me a call, but unfortunately, I am in Italy. That would be quite difficult. Although I manage to write some decent English, my spoken skills aren't good enough to have a conversation overseas, I guess. It's a drag I can't write him.

However, how is the overall quality of a Gibson A40 or A50? I haven't understood why, comparatively to the F-Styled one, they use to be sold for much, much less, almost as much as a brand new epiphone. Is it a problem about the tone or it just dwelves in the finish and aesthetic realm?

[Pen]

I have a friend who has a 1958 A-40 Gibson. As he doesn't play mando - he loaned it to me for about 6 months a ways back. That mando is an absolute horse. I've offered to buy it from him multiple times and he refuses (was a gift from his dad). It is one of the best sounding and playing mando's I've ever played. My old mando teacher played it and was equally impressed (lol - he tried to buy it from me!).

I've played an A50 and wasn't that impressed (that one sounded too thin - no chomp). I guess it's hit or miss? I've only played those two. Be assured though - there ARE some great quality Gibson's out there for a good price.

[Riccardo]

I make no secret I am a Gibson fan http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

All of my guitars and basses ( yes! even those infamous ones ) are indeed Gibson's.

I will start looking on eBay. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to come by a Gibson in Italy.

As I said, all we have here is Neapolitan Mandolin. And if you say it's not good, they will get quite upset, like "We invented it! We don't need American ones". Still, I prefer American ones http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mandroid]

A50 #N.B. ##20542 in the classifieds has one at $700. a dealer I believe ,
no bidding to win. and wonder if it's legit.

An A9 will give you the extra frets off the body for chording up to 12th fret+ more conveniently. #all the good stuff of 'florentine' F style but minus the costly points and scroll.

A40 and 50 like the oval hole instruments that preceeded them, have 12th fret over the body.
[a violinist would be used to going over the body to get those extra notes] http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Soupy1957]

There are those who will say they've heard me say this before, and know where I will go with this......but at the risk of being redundant:
If you can afford a Gibson Loyd Loar, and play a lot, God bless ya! I'm an advocate for the average joe like me, and vote for the Epiphone MM-50.
I bought a Michael Kelly for about $900.00 that I love, but I'm gonna get an Epiphone when I can.
-Soupy1957

[Jim Broyles]

Soup, I'll pretty much guarantee that your $900.00 MK is better than any Epiphone MM-50 you'll come across.

[cooper4205]

i'd go for the gibson, the only complaint i have heard about them is that they aren't very loud; if you want an F-style, you might be able to find an old epi MM70 or japanese kentucky, ibanez or alvarez for a decent price. alot of the old, higher end japanese mandolins have good reps (just play them first)

[Riccardo]

A50 #N.B. ##20542 in the classifieds has one at $700. a dealer I believe ,
no bidding to win. and wonder if it's legit.
I see a lot of Gibson Mandolins on eBay ( in the States ) but, actually, I wonder how am I supposed to know if it's legit or not. Many of those don't carry any serial number. The logo and the headstock is certainly Gibson, but that can be a counterfeit copy or a clever luthier's decal work.

So if I have to buy one of these instruments, what do you suggest me to do? Go for eBay or, rather, for some reputable shop?

I found a shop in England that sells A40's and A50 for about 1100$ each ( 900 Euros ). Of course I can't play them first. The shop sells mandolins only.

[MandoSquirrel]

No help on the purchase(other than watch the Classifieds here, I had good results buying from an ad here,) But another vote for the Gibson. Any Gibson A will beat any recent Epi , or most any Asian import at the same price.
Now if you have a chance at an Epiphone from before the 1960's, we're looking at a whole 'Nuther animal! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Soupy1957]

jbmando: that bad (the MM-50) eh?!
-Soupy1957

[Soupy1957]

"Now if you have a chance at an Epiphone from before the 1960's, we're looking at a whole 'Nuther animal! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif"
I'm curious if the price for the average "old Epiphone" is akin to the price of an antique, good condition F5?
-Soupy1957

[Soupy1957]

P.S. Gibson Lloyd Loar "F5" that is........
-Soupy1957