Lefty newbie

[Penn]

So I have a no-namer and I'm thinking of getting a nice a style mando - any thoughts on the Michael Kelly's? I play with a guitar and fiddle player, a lot of Americana style music like the Carter Family and Folkie stuff.

[Jim Broyles]

The MK's can be decent and they can have problems. The new ones have warranties and they do honor them. I like the specs of the MK A+ mandolin. My advice is to play it first if possible. If you like it and it feels good, go ahead and buy it. It could be all you'll ever need, or you could develop MAS and require an upgrade once your playing has matured.

[DryBones]

Also check Eastman and JBovier for lefty options. I hear there might be a used lefty Old Wave coming available soon if I don't buy it http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Penn]

Hey thanks guys. Is it normal to have a tech turn a righty into a lefty, or is that a bad idea? I'm looking for low, low action, if that makes any difference.

[Lefty5]

i got a lefty A style Eastman from the Mandolin Store and am very happy with it.

[Jim Broyles]

I'm a righty so I don't know that much about reversing a mandolin. There are guys here who can help you there, but I can tell you that low, low action usually means low, low volume. Are you a guitar player just coming to mandolin? I ask because that's what I thought I wanted when I first took up the mandolin but I found out that the tone and volume are substantially enhanced with the action raised a little bit.

[DryBones]

don't be flippin a righty around. you would need a new nut AND bridge. Also, fret markers on the side of the neck would be wrong and if it has tone bar bracing then those would be off as well. There are plenty of lefty options available, just find one and don't be in a hurry to just get something/anything quick.

[Mandolusional]

Actually there's nothing wrong with converting an A-style to a lefty. That's how I started, with a cheap A-style turned lefty by a local shop. If you go that route just make sure they are the type of shop/tech that knows about the need to replace the nut and bridge saddle.

Tone bars might be considered an issue I suppose, but I doubt it would be much more than a nominal difference. I met a player who had converted a high end lefty A-style to a righty, go figure, and it sounded fantastic.

I'd say your biggest considerations for the conversion would be the nut and saddle, and possibly the strap button if you plan on using one or having it installed. If you go straight lefty, as DryBones said, I've heard good things about JBovier, as well as Eastman, I personally own an MK. There are good and bad at your price point, just try as many as you can and pick one whose tone you like.