Michael kelly vs. tyler mountain

[DanielS]

Hey guys! Since the pickings are so slim on lefties, it seems I have the choice of either a Michael Kelly ($500-700) or a Tyler Mountain ($400-500) mandolin. I did pay an FANTASTIC Eastman up in Pittsburgh, but the price was a little steep for me ($1200).
Has anyone here owned the Deluxe or Plus Legacy MK or the TMM-60?
Thanks!

[bradeinhorn]

you could get a used eastman a-style well in your range and you'll probably be much happier than either of those others.

[Jason Holmes]

I agree with bradeinhorn. I played a bunch of MKs and similar instruments before finally settling on an Eastman as a much better instrument for marginally more money. The MKs and similar just didn't impress me that much. I knew that if I bought one while not being all that fond of it to begin with, before long I'd long for something better and kick myself for not spending the extra money on a better instrument the first time around. I've had my Eastman for a year and a half, and while I'd love a Gilchrist or a Monteleone if my finances permitted it (second mortgage perhaps), I'm totally content with my Eastman a year and a half later. I don't think I could have found a better instrument for the money. I did switch the bridge to a Brekke, but otherwise it's a stock instrument aside from the MandoVoodoo treatment given to it by Steve at Gianna Violins, which made it sound noticeably better to my ears than the other off the shelf Eastmans that I played, which were still very nice all things considered.

[bradeinhorn]

or better yet - save a couple hundred more and get that used gibson a-9 for 975. the worst one of those i ever played was better than any eastman i've heard. and some are really excellent mandolins.

[ab4usa]

I'm also a lefty. Gibson if you can afford it. It's going to cost a few hundred to convert. Otherwise an Eastman A. The tyler Mt's are bad and the MK's aren't mutch better.

[DryBones]

Eastman 500 series lefty is all you will ever need.....for now. I already went through the MK and Morgan Monroes and the Tyler Mtn's have a right hand bridge on them so you already have an additional cost to get that replaced, probably need the nut done as well. The Gibson A9 is tone bar braced I believe so I am not sure how that will affect the sound once converted.

[moku9]

You eastman fans always pounce on people asking about mk's. But I don't see you doing the same for other brands. To me, the comaparison is apples to oranges and any argument quickly breaks down thus making the point mute.

Anyway back to this threads true purpose [and hopefully ending the previous rude thread jacking], I love my MK and paid a lot less for it than many other pac rim instruments with the same features. A great value all around. I've not played a Tyler Mountain and so can't comment on them.

The main advice I would give is to play before you buy if at all possible. That said, I got my MK from elderly without playing it and have been very happy.

[Thundercranium]

You eastman fans always pounce on people asking about mk's. #But I don't see you doing the same for other brands. To me, the comaparison is apples to oranges and any argument quickly breaks down thus making the point mute.

Anyway back to this threads true purpose [and hopefully ending the previous rude thread jacking], I love my MK and paid a lot less for it than many other pac rim instruments with the same features. #A great value all around. #I've not played a Tyler Mountain and so can't comment on them.

The main advice I would give is to play before you buy if at all possible. #That said, I got my MK from elderly without playing it and have been very happy.
I'm sorry, I can't help myself...a point may be moot

"moot (no comparative or superlative)

Subject to discussion (originally at a moot); arguable, debatable, not settled.
(US) Having no practical importance; academic."


but I don't think a point can be mute.

[Narayan Kersak]

You eastman fans always pounce on people asking about mk's. #But I don't see you doing the same for other brands. To me, the comaparison is apples to oranges and any argument quickly breaks down thus making the point mute.

Anyway back to this threads true purpose [and hopefully ending the previous rude thread jacking], I love my MK and paid a lot less for it than many other pac rim instruments with the same features. #A great value all around. #I've not played a Tyler Mountain and so can't comment on them.

The main advice I would give is to play before you buy if at all possible. #That said, I got my MK from elderly without playing it and have been very happy.
I'm sorry, I can't help myself...a point may be moot

"moot (no comparative or superlative)

Subject to discussion (originally at a moot); arguable, debatable, not settled.
(US) Having no practical importance; academic."


but I don't think a point can be mute.
Are you sure it's not a "moo" point? You know, like the opinion of a cow, one that doesn't really matter?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[DryBones]

Hey I am an Eastman fan AND a LEFTY and all those other mandos in question that I HAVE owned all came with righty bridges and nuts with no help from numerous talks with their customer service people. In fact Morgan Monroe recently told me they are not even making left hand madolins any more. So I am giving GOOD lefty advice to somebody interested in buying a left hand mandolin without any hidden extra expenses. Eastmans come with the correct parts at a good price, so shoot me! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Daniel, If am not mistaken( did you use to have a different handle here?) you should have bought the MK I was trying to sell you awhile back, I had it setup correctly and it played fine but I was sick of dealing with MK and could not keep it out of spite. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Thundercranium]

You eastman fans always pounce on people asking about mk's. #But I don't see you doing the same for other brands. To me, the comaparison is apples to oranges and any argument quickly breaks down thus making the point mute.

Anyway back to this threads true purpose [and hopefully ending the previous rude thread jacking], I love my MK and paid a lot less for it than many other pac rim instruments with the same features. #A great value all around. #I've not played a Tyler Mountain and so can't comment on them.

The main advice I would give is to play before you buy if at all possible. #That said, I got my MK from elderly without playing it and have been very happy.
I'm sorry, I can't help myself...a point may be moot

"moot (no comparative or superlative)

Subject to discussion (originally at a moot); arguable, debatable, not settled.
(US) Having no practical importance; academic."


but I don't think a point can be mute.
Are you sure it's not a "moo" point? #You know, like the opinion of a cow, one that doesn't really matter?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[DanielS]

Excellent, thanks guys. I know the Tyler Mountain might be a piece, but I still want to know more about it! No one has played one or even seen one/heard one? Boy howdy! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[ab4usa]

Daniel,
A lefty friend of mine started on one. After changing all the hardware and the nut, he had it less tha 3 months before upgrading to a better mandolin. He bought it off ebay and sold it the same way for hat he paid less the upgrades. I dd play it and it sounded just like an over finished, inexpensive, pac rim mandolin. But look on the bright side, althought the tone was terrible it had no volume!