Too good to be true?

[Thundercranium]

I saw this on ebay - all solid wood, made in Taiwan, went for $129. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws....&ih=014 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330088971938&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014)
Has anyone played one of these?

[mythicfish]

If you think it's "too good to be true" ... then it's neither good nor true.

Curt

[Jim Garber]

That is a product of the shop of Antonio (Tony) Tsai discussed many times on this board. Just do a search for Tsai. These are, as far as anyone can determine, instruments made in Viet Nam and possibly decorated in Taiwan or Viet Nam.

Some are all right (I have heard) but many are inconsistent in quality or workmanship and woods. You takes your chances...

Jim

[bradeinhorn]

perhaps too gaudy to be true?

[MikeB]

definitely too gaudy to be good! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[cooper4205]

a guy has one at a jam i go to. it weighs about the same as the stand up bass!

[Thundercranium]

perhaps too gaudy to be true?
LOL

Thanks for the info everybody. It is too gaudy for my tastes, but I'm looking for something my toddler can trash without me losing my cool. If it weighs as much as a bass, maybe it will be more sturdy http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Rob Zamites]

If you want a mando for your toddler to trash, I'd suggest a pawn-shop "Galveston" for $99 or so. Save the shipping. Save the extra $$$.:D

[Jim Hilburn]

Someone entered a Tsai F style with tons of inlay on it in the Mandotasting at the last Mandofest. Mike Compton was playing and there were absolutely no clues in the form of fret markers. Mike spent about 15 minutes finally getting his 30 second piece done on it.

[Jim Garber]

I'm looking for something my toddler can trash without me losing my cool.
Get him/her one of those Rogue mandolins (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-RM100A-AStyle-Mandolin?sku=519193) from MF. Or maybe a uke for even less.

Frankly, I would make him/her a cardboard, toilet paper tube and rubber band instrument. Or cut out a mandolin shaped plywood, sand it smooth and put some rubber bands to play.

Even the plywood uke we had was trashed by the little ones. They really don't know their strength.

Jim

[mythicfish]

An instrument for a toddler to trash?
Why encourage bad behaviour?

Curt

[Mandomax]

I got my 7 month old girl a $49 uke from Elderly and strung it like a mando for her to play with while I pick. I am not "encouraging bad behaviour." She always reaches for my mando when I pick and instead of saying "no,no,no" every time, I just hand her the uke and she strums and bangs. Curt, I guess you don't have any kids- either that or you keep them in strait jackets.

[Thundercranium]

I got my 7 month old girl a $49 uke from Elderly and strung it like a mando for her to play with while I pick. #I am not "encouraging bad behaviour." #She always reaches for my mando when I pick and instead of saying "no,no,no" every time, I just hand her the uke and she strums and bangs. #Curt, I guess you don't have any kids- either that or you keep them in strait jackets.
Exactly. My 2.5 year old is 3.5 feet tall and 45 lbs of muscle. He is nuts about anything that makes music, and will sit and watch Alison Krauss and Union Station for as long as I let him. He sits with his plastic guitar and alternately plays it like a guitar, dobro, or under his chin depending on who is soloing.

I would at least like to get him something that will stay in tune, but something that I won't cry about if he has an accident with it. That $49 Rogue looks like just the ticket! Thanks

[MongoMando]

Beautiful inlays, I wonder how it sounds.

[jk245]

I got my 7 month old girl a $49 uke from Elderly and strung it like a mando for her to play with while I pick. I am not "encouraging bad behaviour." She always reaches for my mando when I pick and instead of saying "no,no,no" every time, I just hand her the uke and she strums and bangs. Curt, I guess you don't have any kids- either that or you keep them in strait jackets.
This one is from the French dealer site
http://www.rfcharle.com/HTML/Matthieuangl.html

The kid was then four years old
Later he says he is the 'greatest'
(Curt-he ain't 'trashing' the instrument - it is called 'playing')

[Jim MacDaniel]

It looks rather understated -- I think it needs more inlays.

[weymann1]

I bought several from him and others. Most were ok at first so I bought a few more. Later they started to crack and some began to sink badly in the bridge area. For the most part, a waste of money. Flee from these. Dan