Mandolins by mail

[jongolin]

Just kind of a general question here. Obviously a good # of folks by mandolins through the classifieds/internet/mail and maybe I'm just a poor boy saving up his nickels and dimes to buy a real mandolin but I couldn't actually send a large amount of cash for something as intimate as mandolin without first holding it and playing it to see how we feel together. Or do you all know a lot more about exactly how each one sounds and feels before you plunk down yer cashola? Just curious. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Most people who send for a mandolin have either played one that belonged to a friend or maybe tried one in a music store. If you go to bluegrass festivals, and hang out at some of the jam sessions in the campground, you'll hear a lot of different mandos. Some may really get you interested in pursuing one of your own. A word of advice: it's alright to ask a player about the mandolin they're playing, but it's not cool to ask to try it out unless the owner offers first.
Then you go to one of the reputable dealers and get a price and conditions for shipping it to you. Most dealers will offer a "trial" period. If one doesn't, I wouldn't deal with that type of outfit. There have been a lot of good dealers mentioned in the message board threads, one of my favorites is gregboyd.com. Greg will talk your ear off about everything you want to know about the instrument of your choice.

[dasspunk]

I'm with you but it's hard to play a mando that hasn't been built yet!

[Coy Wylie]

Most reputable folks, inclucing individual sellers in the classified will offer at least a 48 hour approval period. If you don't like, you pay the postage to send it back home.

[PCypert]

Plus if you do priority usps it is free returns. I've never been suckered on a cafe purchase. Some great people here with some great mandos. Just talk with the person for a while go to a local shop that has similar instruments, read on the cafe boards, etc. It's really not as scary as it seems. If you'd rather hold it be ready to pay a lot extra to get from a store. I know the reservations, but there are good people out there with excellent deals.
Paul