Beginner! help please

[rinkerx]

Ok so I wanted to start to play the mandolin. Im a serious musician, I play a couple other instruments like guitar, Harmonica, Bass, and piano. I just love the sound of the mandolin, But I have no idea what to look for in buying one. I know washburn, gibson ect are good guitar makers but im not so sure about mandolins. Basically im looking for the cheapest mandolin that has a half decent sound to start on and practice. I've picked a few up in music stores but the prices are way out of my range.

Ideas anyone? I'd like to stay in the range of 0-150 maybe 200?

Your help will be appreciated.

[ab4usa]

Jeremy,

A used Mid-Mo is a grreat starting point. Although it will be every bit of $200, it's solid wood, well made, good sounding and a great mandolin to learn on. Flat tops like Mid-Mo (now big Muddy) are less expensive to build and, although they may not have great projection, they can be excellent sounding mandolins.

[aphillips]

I'll second the Big Muddy (used to be Mid-Mo) mandos (disclaimer- I'm brand new to mandolins as well, although I am a trained musician). I just got an M-2 solid maple back and sides with a solid spruce top and it seems to have a lot of projection, I guess I don't have much to compare it to - but I was just practicing some chords and without much pressure my ears are ringing... good luck with your purchase! If you're thinking about being more serious about it later on I'd suggest getting a decent instrument instead of skimping now and wanting more later.

[mikeo2]

If you can't find a midmo/bigmuddy in your price range (which i think will be difficult), then honestly just about all the import mandos for $150-200 are case-to-case instruments. Find one that fits well and plays good because no matter which of them you get, you aren't going to be happy with the tone long-term and you will want to upgrade. A lot of the cheapies can be pretty decent with a good setup. I used to sell imports in this price range and work on them. They take a LOT of setup work (and a good percentage will simply not setup well at all), but many of them end up playing very well.

Good luck!

[tbyron]

I am a fairly new player. I have been playing about a year and a half and I tell everyone that is starting out...buy a Washburn A Style...it is under 150.00 and it is not the one you will stay with once you learn to play but for me it was the biggest bang for the buck.

[jk245]

I would go for the Washburn M1S Solid Top A-Style Mandolin)
Don't bother with a higher price model F (scroll) since you want price not looks

http://www.elevation-music.com/wam1ssotopam.html

zsounds has a blem Washburn M1K Acoustic Mandolin
for $120

http://www.zzounds.com/item--WASM1

Also, get a good set of new strings like the D'Addario mandolin strings EXP74 @$9-10 and do a setup. You can have the set up done 'professionally' but there is nothing to lose by using the FREE set up instructions at
http://folkofthewood.com/page2449.htm

[JEStanek]

Anything, I mean, anything you buy for under $200 will benefit 100% from a set up and new strings. Buy from a reputable dealer (like a Café sponsor) and look for at least a solid wood top. You may not get the best tone in the world for that price but if you get a well set up one, you'll be comfortable enough to learn some stuff and not be turned off by a painful instrument.

TByron's suggestion of the Washburn may be good too, I've not played one.

I also doubt you'll find a used Mid-Mo or Big Muddy for under $300. I've not seen them in the classified for $200.I would recommend a Kentucky KM140S (solid top) or KM150S (all solid) probably from a dealer like Janet Davis ($186 and $221 respectively) and pay to have them change the strings for you (unless you're comfortable doing that Frets.com (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Mandolin/MandoString/mandostring1.html) is an excellent resurce). You'll probably want to start with D'Addario J74 strings.

If you're talking ~$100... I got a Johnson all plywood mandolin off E-bay for $50 and spent another $40 getting it set up and restrung. It was OK to learn on but don't expect it to perform well (loud or good tone) when played in a group. It could fit the bill.

A final suggestion, use the Wanted section of the Café classifieds and place an ad for a good playing instrument from someone for $150 bucks. You might get a hit from a Café member who has an old beater that's just collecting dust (s)he may send you for that.

Jamie

[Andrew Faltesek]

Fender makes a "mandolin Starter Kit" often available for < $100. with plywood A mando, nylon case, strings, pick, etc. Often I let my buddy play my STE, and I play his (same)Fender. It was terrible at first, but with a little of your own setup work, not too bad...for a while.

Honestly, if mandos move you and you may stay with it; I'd suggest saving $$$ for a while longer and get something better/used.