Celtic star octave mandolin: any opinions?

[timacn]

I just saw an ad on Ebay for "Celtic Star" octave mandolins.

Anybody know anything about this company? They claim to produce their instruments in Europe of all solid woods.

As always,thanks for your opinions.

[JEStanek]

Here is a thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=16;t=38796;hl=celtic+and+st ar) from the CBOM (Cittern, Bouzouki, Octave Mandolin Section) on the Celtic Star Zouk....

I'm very happy with my Trinity College OM, myself. They have been well recieved by others. There are many other threads (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=47d155d669199a75) on them in that section too.

Jamie

[Bertram Henze]

This (http://www.celtic-star.de/) is their website. There is obviously a German luthier behind it. Have not played one of those myself, but from my experience, these small-scale builders in the Irish/German folk community deliver good quality for the money.

Edit: on a second look, they just say "European luthier" suspiciously unspecific - might be a cheap east european connection then.

Bertram

[kk1603]

Hi,

I have a Celtic Star Mandolin. The Juggler. It is Great both plugged in or unplugged.

I can only recomend it.

Kevin

[1-2-many]

I picked up a Celtic Star Bazouki second or third hand. Very pleased w/ it to the extent that I have been looking for one of their mandos. Decent sound acoustically, but really shines when plugged in. I usually play it through a vox tonelab LE (clean setting). Sounds as good as my Alvarez guitar and way better than my Rogue mando w/ a Bill lawrence. Cuts through my Celtic rock band w/ two bagpipers. It's better than I expected for the price. I had an intermediate priced Greek bazouki that I purchased in Greece about 12 years ago and this is a much higher quality instrument.

[Tim2723]

Having played both the Trinity College and Celtic Star (neither of which come from where they sound like they come from), I like the TC a little better. At best the CS is competitive with the TC. For my money the Trinity offers a little more for the buck.

[ccravens]

I agree with Tim. I own a Celtic Star zouk and am very pleased with it. I have also played TC's. If you have a little more money (which I didn't) the TC would be an even better choice, even a used one. If not, the Celtic Star will do just fine.

Although it hasn't made me a "Celtic Star" yet, like Andy. :(

[bjshear]

think these are made in Romania, if you at the photo, of a CS OM, you can just barely make out 'made in romania'.

I have good eyesight, what can I say!
57473

[Mandoviol]

Yeah, that label definitely says "designed in Germany;" hard to tell if that is a "Made in Romania" right under it. But I would imagine that the Romanians would make a fine instrument. They do put out a lot of violins.

[allenhopkins]

Troubadour and Ozark bouzoukis and octave mandolins, sold in the UK, are Romanian made. The large Romanian manufacturer is Hora, but they say they don't make Celtic Star. Consensus of all the research I've done is that the Celtic Stars are Romanian made, and "decent" for the price. I'd guess they'd come sans set-up, so a good pro set-up would probably be in order.