Advice for a mid mo owner

[Tartare]

This is a general request for advice from a Mid Missouri owner (and long time lurker)

I got mine several years ago - it's an M1. Sounds great, but I never really liked the neck. It's too round and "violinny". It's also thinner than a cheapy F hole one I had. Don't get me wrong - it sounds great but not a good fit for me.

If I were to sell it and look for a flatter neck instrument that was still solid wood, anyone have any suggestions? I just want a mando that I enjoy to play.

Thanks in advance.

[Michael H Geimer]

I wasn't aware of Mid-mo's having radiuses fingerboards. Perhaps yours was originally a custom order?

I have two Mid-mo's (M-0 and M-11). The M-11 has a slightly wider neck than the M-0, but both are flat.

[Tartare]

Hm, maybe. It feels like a violin neck, as opposed to flatter necks that I have played on cheapie F hole ebay specials.

I know it's more of a folk instrument - is this the style?

[Santiago]

Look at an Eastman 605. There are links to Gianni Violins and The Mandolin Shop on the Cafe. Then go hear them somewhere.

[MandoSquirrel]

I never really liked the neck. It's too round and "violinny". It's also thinner than a cheapy F hole one I had.
Are you referring to the neck in general, or just the fretboard? I took you to mean the former, & there are great variations in neck thickness & shape, even within the same model; v or c shapes, fat, thin, on & on.

Fretboards can be radiused to varying degrees, or flat.
Either way, you just have to try a lot of different instruments to find what really fits you, then look for that in future purchases, though you'll probably find that different neck & board styles can be equally comfortable(or un) on different instruments, or for different styles of playing.

Then again, it could be simply a Set Up issue. If you took it to a luthier & explained your dissatisfaction, he or she might be able to make some nice little adjustment that makes it your dream. Luthiers Can pull off miracles, Sometimes.

[JEStanek]

If you feel like selling use the classifieds here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?add_item_button=on) first. Figure out a fair price... I'm not in the market to buy so I'll be crass and suggest 60-70% what you paid for it new. Perhaps some one else will tell you a better selling point. I've seen Mid-mos sell here from $300-500 well. Google Mid Mo M1 and see the prices they sell for for a comparison. Don't sell it short...

I think you mean the back of the neck being the wrong shape for you. U or V or C shaped... and not the fingerboard having a radius vs being level.

Before you buy your next (even a cheapy f hole). Get your hands on one and see if it "fits". I had a beautiful Weber that sounded great but I didn't play it b/c it didn't fit. It has since moved on to another fine home where it does. Win - Win.

Good luck in the hunt.

Jamie

[Tartare]

Thanks JE (and others). It's the neck shape - I guess it's a C shape.

I bought it sight unseen because it was the only all solid wood N. american mando and I do really appreciate the sound, unlike guitars I have had with different necks (like the Seagull I got years ago that was a real wide neck) it's never really grown on me. I think I need more of a bluegrass rather than folk Mando but I have to admit I have a big bias against Asian made stuff, and not necessarily because it's poorly made but rather because it loses so much value right away.

I'll have to try a few. Any recommendation for reasonable solid wood mandos made in North America in the <=1200 range?

[Tartare]

Check that - it's more U shaped that c shaped.

[Eric F.]

Any recommendation for reasonable solid wood mandos made in North America in the <=1200 range?

Flatiron, Breedlove, Rigel, Howard Morris, Glenn, teens Gibson, used A's from various indie builders. Shop carefully and you can get a lot of mandolin for that money.

[MandoSquirrel]

What Eric said. For what it's worth, I love my Breedlove, but be sure to try one first, I think they all come out of the factory with the same neck feel. Their fretboards are a tad wider than some,1&3/16inch & radioused.
I still think if you showed your's to a good luthier & explained, you might be surprised what they can do.

[aries753]

I don't know what it would cost, but I have heard of people having the back of the neck reshaped....

[Martin Jonas]

Lots of good flattops in the <$1200 range. But if you like Mid-Mo and find the neck on yours too skinny, you might also try one with the wider fingerboard option. I have an M-0w, which is not skinny at all. Indeed, it's a bit clubby for my liking but might suit you.

Martin