Is an epiphone mm-50 a quality mandolin?

[Baird6869]

Hi folks.... this is my first post so please be gentle!

I bought my first mandolin yesterday and after playing a bunch of sub-$1000 models, I decided on a used (but mint) Epiphone MM-50 as it sounded and played the best.

I have been playing bass and guitar in bands for 25+ years and have always bought high end instruments. As I will be playing mandolin just for fun and when jamming informally with friends, I wanted to buy something inexpensive but good enough to learn on.

Is the MM-50 a good instrument to learn on?

Thanks!

[Byrdmando]

Your Epiphone is a fine instrument to learn on. It might be all you ever want or need, but if your anything like the rest of us you may develop a wandering eye. My philosophy is that what ever you have is ideal for learning on. Have fun.

[Weagle]

Great response!!!!!!

Weagle

[Baird6869]

Your Epiphone is a fine instrument to learn on. #It might be all you ever want or need, but if your anything like the rest of us you may develop a wandering eye. #My philosophy is that what ever you have is ideal for learning on. #Have fun.
Thanks!

I have been playing mostly bass for many years and developed "a wandering eye" with that instrument and now own 10 high end basses. I don't need a similar mandolin habit. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

To build on my original question, what is the purpose of owning multiple mandolins beyond having a backup?

[MikeEdgerton]

...To build on my original question, what is the purpose of owning multiple mandolins beyond having a backup?
For the same reason one would own 10 high-end basses.

[Soupy1957]

When I went through my phase of MAS, I think it was "to have a model of each" for the sake of trying each for longer than the music store would allow me.

Once I got a sense for how repeatable the feeling/sound was, I was able to scale back to the one I liked the best, for looks and sound, and kept a backup in case the other one got obliterated by a dog or grandchild.

(Secretly I'm hoping that when my two grandchildren are about 6 or so, I can get them to try it, and maybe one of them will like it, and we can play together, and I can learn from THEM!!)

-Soupy1957

[Patrick Sylvest]

I just sold my first mandolin, an Epiphone mm30E. It's a fine little instrument that I got for $100.00. It was intonated and tuned perfectly and I certainly earned more money on it than I paid for it. It's still a decent instrument and will serve its new owner well until he catches the virus within it. If'n he's lucky, he'll possess the immunity to fight, but the poor soul is most likely like the rest of us.

[Lee Callicutt]

When I went through my phase of MAS, I think it was "to have a model of each" for the sake of trying each for longer than the music store would allow me.

Once I got a sense for how repeatable the feeling/sound was, I was able to scale back to the one I liked the best, for looks and sound, and kept a backup in case the other one got obliterated by a dog or grandchild.
That's about as close to my own secret rationale as I can imagine.

[Bob Wiegers]

yes, the mm-50 is great for your needs especially. I've got an mm-30: my first and still only standard-scale mandolin. after 10 years I've lusted after an upgrade now and then, but after trying other stuff out, I ask "is that one really 5 times better than mine for me?" since I'm a very cheap person, the answer is always "no"

now it's a little different if it's a different instrument all together...like an octave for example. hmmm...is that how you guys justify so many? A, F, 2 point, oval, f -- all different! I guess my thinking is that if the wife cant tell a difference in sound, it's not worth it (sorry for the ramble)

[TomTyrrell]

To build on my original question, what is the purpose of owning multiple mandolins beyond having a backup?
For me it is the differences in tone I can get from different mandolins. I have several mandolins but none are the same.

[CES]

What Mike said...

Also, if you want to play varying styles (ie, bluegrass, old-time, Irish/Celtic, classical, jazz) and get "true to style" tone, then you'll require several models to accomidate those tones...like wanting a Telecaster for country/blues, a Strat for the "chink-a-chink," and a Les Paul for the chunk (sorry, don't know basses but would think that you'd want an upright/acoustic for certain situations, an particular electric when you want to get your Flea on, etc.).

The MM-50 is fine to learn on, and depending on ow deep into this youget may be all you need provided it's set up well. Like all Pac-rims, some are "duds," but some are pretty darn good, too. If you like it and it plays well run with it (well, not literally, b/c then you might fall and break it, but you get the idea

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

[Chris Biorkman]

The one I had was fine to learn on, but I wouldn't say it was a quality mandolin. The tone was pretty tinny and the workmanship was not that great. The newer ones might be different. The one I had was from the early 90's.

[Baird6869]

...To build on my original question, what is the purpose of owning multiple mandolins beyond having a backup?
For the same reason one would own 10 high-end basses.
I have many basses for the following reasons:

- I use different tunings
- Different type of strings (flats vs. round wound)
- 4 string vs 5 string
- Noticably different tones are avalible in different models

Does any of this apply with mandolins? As stated, I am a complete newbie with mandolin and am curious if there is much of a difference tonally between quality mandolin "A" and "B" (or A and F style).

Thanks!

[Tim2723]

There are countless reasons to own several mandos. For me it's also the different tones, but I need VERY different tonal qualities to really tell the difference. I have an F-style, a bowlback, an electric-acoustic, and an oval-hole archtop. They all have radically different tones.

And yes, just as all of your basses have thier own character, the various mandolins have theirs. All the reasons you mention for owning lots of basses apply to mandolins as well. There are even mandolins with an extra course of strings that extends the range just as in your five-string bass.

[allenhopkins]

Does any of this apply with mandolins?

Yes, pretty much all of it.

As stated, I am a complete newbie with mandolin and am curious if there is much of a difference tonally between quality mandolin "A" and "B" (or A and F style).
You'll never know until you try 'em. #But in my experience -- and I have over a dozen mandolin-family instruments, all different -- it's exactly what you stated about your bass collection.

A bowl-back is different from a flat-back with a bent top, which differs from a carved-top instrument. #Mandolins with f-holes don't sound like mandolins with round (or oval) holes. #Mandolas, octave mandolins, mandocellos are in lower tuning ranges than mandolins. #Then there are resonator mandolins, banjo-mandolins, etc., which are constructed differently and thus sound different.

I have a wide variety of instruments explicitly to produce a wide variety of sounds as I need them. #I've used every one of my "arsenal" in performance or recording at some time.

If you can hear, appreciate and utilize the sound variations of ten electric basses, you've got an even wider spectrum of mandolin-family instruments with which you can familiarize yourself. # Your Epiphone may be the nucleus of a large family -- who knows?

[struma6]

excellent! i have recently delved into the mandoworld via an epi mm-50. many years on 6 strings with a little exposure to mandolin playing. played a BUNCH of sub $1,000 mandolins (would LOVE to be able to spend $3,500 but...uh-uh) a few MM-50's were not good...the one i have turned out to be pretty good IMO. had to set up the action a bit and still need to get it intonated and file the nut slots a tad to lower the action at the first fret a taste. but, overall i am pleased!