Buying a mandolin?

[sroberts]

Hi Folks, Just joined the Cafe. Been a guitar player for 31 yrs and picked up the Banjo about a year ago and I want to take on the Mandolin next. My question is, I want to buy a Mandolin either new or used and need some advice as to what gives me the biggest bang for my buck. I want an F-style solid wood Mandolin and would like to keep the cost under $1,200 or so. I will be playing bluegrass and melodic and some classical. Weber, Kentucky, Eastman??? What are my options for a good middle of the road but good Mandolin for that money? Don't know that much yet about the options out there so your help is appreciated. Thanks, Steve

[bradeinhorn]

f-style like an f-5 with a scroll or an a-5 would do you? if the a shape with f-holes is good i'd look into that gibson a-9 at the mandolin store.

people here are going to tell you that with that budget, you will do best tonewise buying an a-5 mandolin rather than looking for an f-5 to fit into that budget.

[mandroid]

Dealer links can be found on the home page, Going to a place with a selection and trying a few will give you a feel of neck shapes and what, amongst the inventory, are the differences in sound. .. nature of being made of wood ...
of course within each brand's model will be a difference too.
machine carved /hand carved tops and backs?
prefer to buy US made, or china/korea?
dealer do pre delivery set-up, or is it a shipping warehouse?
or 2nd hand from a MAS stricken player who went for one that cost 2x your budget.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

scroll and points are blocks of wood, additional carving and binding labor are a cost, passed on. sound chamber is similar size,in the end.

take your ears around if you can, sound is hard to put in words, or pictures...

[12 fret]

You could probably fit a bottom of the range Weber F like the Gallatin into that budget if you shop around and look for a used one. Even if it costs more than the Eastmans or Kentuckys, you'll always be able to get your money back out of it when you inevitably upgrade

[ab4usa]

I have an F style on order. That said....

An F style will cost about 40% more that an equally good sounding A style. Understand what you are paying for. At $1500, it might be wiser to buy quality sound and playability not looks.

I prefer mandolins made of solid wood by people who play (or in the case of my next one) are married to someone who plays mandolin. They are much more likely to play and sound like a mandolin. To often, when they are manufactured in the Pac-Rim, they lack consistency, Could be good, could be bad, might never mature.

[JEStanek]

Steve, Welcome to the Café!

Probably the best of the all solid wood NEW F styles you can get for ~$1200 are the Eastman 615 (or a bit less the 515), or the new Kentucky KM1000. There are threads on the new Kentuckys. J Bovier is getting some good reviews (I've not played them or the new Kentucky). Steven Perry with Gianna's Violins (http://www.giannaviolins.com/) or Dennis Vance with The Mandolin Store (http://www.themandolinstore.com/Scripts/default.asp) are good dealers with the Eastman/Kentucky Line. I bought mine from Steve and would use him again. Other dealers from the front page would be fine too. That's if you have to have to have new and F style.

Like everyone else said, you'll do better used than new, and probably better tone A rather than F style at the same price. Elderly or the Café Classifieds are a good place for used instruments. Currently in the Used section there is a Rigel A+, a couple of Eastman choices, and maybe some Webers that used should be in the $1200 range. No Financial interest for me. Good luck.

Jamie

[sroberts]

Thanks for the advice so far. Ok, don't rip me up on this one, but, I was looking at a Washburn M3SWE F-Style. It looks awesome for the money, solid woods, spruce top and is electric. What I like best is the red wine color. What are going to be the pitfalls of buying this? Sound, playability? just not sure.

[earthsave]

I would venture to say that this will sound very thin. However, if you are plugging in versus acoustic through a mic, then the pickups and electronics are probably more important that solid body, sides and back. This is probably made in China alongside the multitude of other brand names. Definitely a try before you buy.

When I was shopping for mine, I could get an A style for about $1300 (Flatiron), while the same Flatiron with a scroll was nearly twice that.

I'd recommend an A9. If you live anywhere near a Gibson dealer, you can go try before you buy. If you look on here, you might find a used one. Made in Nashville.

[earthsave]

Looks like FQMS lists the A9 for aroudn $1900.. didnt realize they were that much now.

http://elderly.com/vintage/cats/90U.htm has a nice selection of used mandos. A Gibson A9 for $1350 and a Breedlove A for $1500. Two Ratliff As for around $1400 too.

An Alan Bibey for $6k... a bit outta your range, but the Bibey I played was the best sounding mando I've had the pleasure of playing.