Hello

[Sandi]

Hi,
I am looking for a Mandolin for my 11 year old son. He has a 3/4 size violin that fits him nicely. But he says he likes the sound of a Mandolin better
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Since he is small I was considering this one: Weber Sweet Pea (http://www.janetdavismusic.com/w-sweetpea.html)

Has anyone played this mandolin? I know Weber is a good name from the little research I've done. We've been through the cheap instrument trials with the violin but I am on a budget. So I want to make sure he gets a nice quality instrument in that price range.

As a side note he likes this one:


Paris Swing (http://www.janetdavismusic.com/paris_d_hole.html)But it is a little out of my price range... He says he'd be willing to save up and pay the difference.
BUT does he need a smaller Mandolin like he would the violin? What is the general opinion on the Paris Swing?

Thanks
Sandi

[MikeEdgerton]

Honestly your 11 year old son can play a full-sized mandolin. Take a look at the entry level Kentucky mandolins. The sweetpea is simply a smaller body for travelling with, it won't be any easier for him to play, the neck is still the same size.

[Celtic Saguaro]

Agreeing with Mike. The smaller sized violins are recommended mostly because of arm reach which isn't a problem with a mandolin in your lap. The scale will be longer on the mandolin so the fingering will take some adjustment for him, but that is true of going from a full sized violin as well. A Fender A-style or low end Kentucky A-style is probably a better place to start considering your budget.

[JEStanek]

Sandi,
I have a Weber Sweet Pea and like it alot for what it is... a very small bodied mando that I take to festivals or when traveling. As Mike said the scale length and neck shape are a full size mandolin but, the body is smaller. It still sounds like a mandolin but has very little low end (bass) sound as the sound chamber is so small. The Sweet Pea is nice but for someone about 11 and up a full size mando will likely serve them better.

For a similar ammount ($~250) the Kentucky Mike suggested (perhaps the KM150S all solid wood one or KM380 look at Janet Davis or Elderly - both Café sponsors for prices) may be a better place to start. You can get a fuller sound and get used to the full sized instrument. If its hard for him to fret with doubled strings try lighter strings and then maybe remove one of the pairs from each as he gets started... but you likely won't have to do that.

Welcome and Good Luck.
Jamie

[BigNick]

Check out mandolinhut.com and try a Danville. $199 for everything and you get a solid wood mando. Paul is a really nice guy too..they set everything up and everything. I can't put mine down.

[Sandi]

Hi
Thanks for the advice. I guess the Weber is out. I'm trying to get him to look at a Kentucky or the Fender FM-53S.
He seems to have his sights set on the Paris Swing... He even offered to sell his xbox...
This has Nothing to do with sound quality and everything to do with looks...
He likes the light finish, F style shape, and Big D hole... I guess he thinks he will look COOL playing it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
Of course I would be happy for him to get rid of the xbox. But I have never heard of this particular brand. So has anyone played that one. Does it have a good sound? If not do you know of a similar looking one that does?
Sandi

[Celtic Saguaro]

Much older players than 11-year olds get lured in by the looks of the instruments. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif People who have Paris Swing Mandolins like them, but people who are used to the more common styles often find that they don't have a lot of volume or particularly impressive sound for the price. #It's not that a PS would be a bad choice. It's just not the most logical for one just starting a new instrument.

[mandroid]

Mid Mo/Big Muddy put the previous Kid Mo back in the lineup?
those are/were made for 4 strings, so 1/2 the string-tension.

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

I'd say, jumping up to a 4/4 violin, 13" scale and a 13.875" mandolin would be a good combined move .

the fingering of the longer fretted mandolin and switching back to the much shorter 3/4 violin would drive me crazy, and would throw the fingering off on the fiddlin' going back.

a side story:

a buddy had his 4/4 double bass fall off the stand in the wind,
[sound of neck-heel "crack"]
and had to borrow a 3/4 one,
and his fingering was put off,
quick thinking by school band teaching member of the band,
got out some duct tape strips to marker the neck,
to get thru the gig.

[mandolirius]

<Honestly your 11 year old son can play a full-sized mandolin.>

I have a recording of an 11-yr-old Chris Thile playing with the Richard Greene Band. Nuff said!

[MikeEdgerton]

Ricky Sklaggs was on the Flatt and Scruggs television show at 7 if I recall.

The Paris Swing isn't a bad instrument, it's a decent choice, it isn't what I would call a starter instrument but if it looks good and that will get him to play it and you can handle the cost go for it.

[LateBloomer]

My son just turned 10 last week and he plays my Mid-Mo .... even trying to call it his mandolin now! The size is just fine - he was playing chords on a full size guitar and wanted to learn to pick - mandolin is a good fit for his hands (except trying to reach the 7th fret with his pinkie - but that is hard on everyone in the beginning).

[allenhopkins]

If your son really really likes the Paris Swing, he'll play it more and improve faster, even if in our opinions it's not the ideal mandolin for him. I mean, he offered to sell his X-Box!

There are factors other than design to be considered, such as "appeal." Apparently the P-Swing has that. When one is really "into" a particular instrument, one puts in lots of time with it. Later on he can decide that what he reeaallly wants is a Gilchrist; then he can sell both your cars to buy it.

[JEStanek]

I've not played a Paris Swing but there are some folks who have played them who's opinions I value. Overall they don't seem to be wastes of money. If your son likes the look it may be a good way to motivate him to earn the money to get one.

You can read more about them in a bunch of other threads here. (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=47744aab366b7fda)
Or read Ted Eschliman's review from Jazzmando.com here... (http://jazzmando.com/paris_swing_samois.shtml) Ted is a board moderator here and multi-instrumentalist "Jazz-Freak".

I hope the links help you all make your decision.

Jamie

[Barry Platnick]

I have a kentucky KM 150 A style that I bought to take on vacation. It sounds pretty good and is quite loud (loud is good ask any 11 year old).

My 11 year old violin playing daughter loves to show off by picking it up and playing her violin pieces on it and does so quite easily.

[earthsave]

The Weber Pea lists for $375. I'll assume that is your price range.

Got to the following websites and poke around. They all will sell you a playable instrument that is setup well. I'd stick with the A-style body (teardrop body versus curly-q F-style). Some names at these websites to look for are Epiphone, Fender, Johnson, Kentucky, Morgan Monroe, and Mid-Missouri.

Elderly.com Mandolins (http://elderly.com/new_instruments/cat_or_pgc_page?page=2&query_start=21&step=20&cat_or_pgc=90N&special_links=&sort_on=cat_or_pgc,artist,title)

First Quality Music Store Mandolins (http://www.fqms.com/Mandolins_C1708.cfm)

Janet Davis Music's Mandolins (http://janetdavismusic.com/mandolin.html)

Other things to consider are the style of music your child in interested in playing. The violin and the mandolin are tuned exactly the same, so the fingering can transfer over. Bowing versus picking is a different story. If your child knows this, maybe the violin will be interesting to her for a while longer until you find the right mandolin.

[Sandi]

Hi yall
We're still looking for a nice beginner mandolin for my boy. The local music shop (yep there's only one) has a natural finish Asheville with a case for $150. Never heard of it...
And I don't know enough about them to tell the good from the bad... But it does have the light finish that he liked so much on the Paris Swing... Should I run?

Oh I found out there is a pickin' every Friday & Saturday night about 2 miles from our house.
Sandi

[Jim MacDaniel]

Here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=26446&query=retrieval) is a great value on a barely used Kentucky KM-174 mandolin in the classifieds. These new oval hole Kentucky's have received some nice reviews from owners here in this forum, and it will be hard to find a nicer mandolin at $200 IMHO. As an added bonus, the shop the buyer purchased this from does a proper setup on the instruments they sell -- which is essential for inexpensive factory-made instruments.

(Here is a link (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=44698;hl=kentucky) to a discussion about this same Kentucky model in a different color, and one more here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=43103;hl=kentucky).)

[earthsave]

Hi yall
We're still looking for a nice beginner mandolin for my boy. The local music shop (yep there's only one) has a natural finish Asheville with a case for $150. Never heard of it...
And I don't know enough about them to tell the good from the bad... But it does have the light finish that he liked so much on the Paris Swing... Should I run?

Oh I found out there is a pickin' every Friday & Saturday night about 2 miles from our house.
Sandi
I'd say it's a hit or miss thing with very low end imports. If you can find one that is playable up the neck, that is the key. Doesnt really matter if it sounds thin, as long as it plays the right note when in tune. I've seen A Asheville's online for as low as $89 and I think the one you mentioned, blonde, for $175. Again the playability is the key.

Make sure they at least come with a chipboard case.

[earthsave]

Another thing to consider it, go to the pickin on Fri and Saturday and hang out to listen, ask questions about mandolins, and play a bit. People there might be helpful.

[mandolooter]

[QUOTE] I guess he thinks he will look COOL playing it.

Nothing wrong with looking cool... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Look here for a review...Paris swing (http://jazzmando.com/paris_swing_samois.shtml)

PS sell the x-box!

[Sandi]

Hi again
And thanks everyone for answering.
We've decided to hold off on buying right away because the boy has his mind set on that Paris Swing. He has a taste for jazz and blues type music anyway so it does make sense. Sort of... course he also likes bluegrass, country, celtic... The list grows every day. He has downloaded every playable MP3 on this site and is constantly listening to Mandolins.

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

So we are going to go to this pickin close to our house and see if we can find some other events to take him to also.
I feel like if he has some of his own hard work into buying a new instrument then he will be more likely to stick with it.
Also one of the banjo players at the music store said there are mandolin and banjo competitions. I've never seen one and thought it would be good to go watch. How do I find one around here?

[JEStanek]

Sandi,
This page (http://www.mandolincafe.com/contests/) has some info on regional mando competitions. Folks at your local jam/picking event may have more info. Hopefully, someone there may want to take the boy under their wing and show him some stuff or at least let him try out some different instruments.

Good luck. Sounds like you're making the right decisions about everything!

Jamie

[earthsave]

[QUOTE] I guess he thinks he will look COOL playing it.

Nothing wrong with looking cool... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Look here for a review...Paris swing (http://jazzmando.com/paris_swing_samois.shtml)

PS sell the x-box!
That'll draw a lot of questions and attention. That is one weird looking mandolin.

[Sandi]

[QUOTE= ] I guess he thinks he will look COOL playing it.

Nothing wrong with looking cool... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Look here for a review...Paris swing (http://jazzmando.com/paris_swing_samois.shtml)

PS sell the x-box!
That'll draw a lot of questions and attention. That is one weird looking mandolin.
I think that is why he likes it so much.
He likes to stand out in a crowd.
He races bikes and check out his favorite one to play with
http://www.loopd.com/RFS/10/775c95a5-c32b-4663-9150-30076c3a365cl.jpg

[otterly2k]

Well, all hail and welcome to the budding non-conformist! #Great pic, Sandi. #It's great that he has your support and encouragement. #Once he gets his hands and ears on some different instruments in person, he may change his mind about how important that design is to him. #Or not.

And while there is certainly tonal difference that comes from different shapes and designs, the biggest difference is made by the player. #If he loves it, he's more likely to be persistent... Make sure there's some $ set aside for a good set-up (or be willing to buy from a dealer who does set-up for new customers). #In my opinion, it is very important at the beginning that the instrument's playability be as good as possible. #

Nothing worse than working hard to learn something and having your equipment working against you! I remember my very first guitar... it was the absolute WORST... the action was so high I could barely fret the thing. THere's always some fingertip pain when you start, but this was ridiculous!
I'm glad I convinced my parents to get me something better pretty quickly, so that I didn't lose momentum.

[mandroid]

Favors a 'penny-farthing' rather than a BMX bike too cool !

[guitar junkie]

if he is willing to sell an X Box to get a mandolin, you are having a hard time making the call? HELLOOOO

Sell that X Box! get rid of the thing, if he is willing to play mandolin of a game.... THEN THROW EVERYTHING YOU GOT AT IT!

I am 99% sure he will learn more useful life lessons playing mandolin than X Box...

[Sandi]

if he is willing to sell an X Box to get a mandolin, you are having a hard time making the call? HELLOOOO

Sell that X Box! get rid of the thing, if he is willing to play mandolin of a game.... THEN THROW EVERYTHING YOU GOT AT IT!

I am 99% sure he will learn more useful life lessons playing mandolin than X Box...
LOL I am all for selling the Xbox...
Just a question of whether the mandolin he wants will be worth the price http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
And from what I hear it will http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif