New Mandolin picker

[engr-tech]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and to the mandolin. I currently have a very inexpensive mandolin that has served me well, but I would like to get something nicer. I play mostly bluegrass, but some Irish folk songs as well. I would like to get a good sounding mandolin for under $600 to keep learning on, but that is nice enough so I can start playing with others. I would prefer an F style (sorry, I just don't like the A style) and was thinking about several different manufacturers. I have been looking at Kentuckys, MK's, Morgan Monroes, Oscar Schmidts, and Ephiphones. I have also looked at Alvarez and Rover mandolins but have not heard much about them. I only have two music shops that carry mandolins that are better than my current mandolin:crying:, so my ability to be able to play these is limited to just Oscar Schmidts and MKs. I don't know which brand is best of all that I have listed, and for what I need so I would appreciate some advice.

I am sorry to bring this up again, because I know that there are several posts about this subject, and I am sorry it is such a long post.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

[engr-tech]

More specifically, I was looking at the Morgan Monroe MFM-300 (does Mahogany sound a lot different than spruce?), the Oscar Schmidt OM-40, Rover RM-75, Epiphone MM-50 to name a few.

[Ace]

FWIW I started on a Rover RM-75 which I still have but only play every now and then due to I now have a Gibson but, I would recommend that one to anyone starting out. It has a really good "bark" hence the name ROVER and it looks good too! Its easy to play and I have had many compliments from local pro players!

Ace

[Mandojulie]

Hi and Welcome

There's a Fullerton for sale in the classifieds. It looks beutiful. He's asking $329.00!!?? I don't know too much about Fullertons but I was tempted. Please buy it because I don't need it.

No really, it looks very nice and is in your price range. You might take a look at it.

Julie

[engr-tech]

Thanks for the suggestions. What about the Kentucky KM805 in the used classifieds? Is that a good mandolin for $550. I looked online at several different places and they seem to be going for $800-$900 new.

[Barbara Shultz]

Hi! I don't know about most of the instruments that you are asking about, but I will chime in about the F body vs the A body. I believe that it's a general consensus that you pay extra for the F body, so that means for a certain amount of money, you get less 'quality' mandolin with and F body, than you would an A style.

I think, soundwise, the biggest difference is in whether you have F holes, or an Oval (round, D) hole, more so than the sound of an F body or A body.

I don't play bluegrass, I play Celtic & Old-Time, and my mandolin style of choice is and A body with an Oval (or similar) hole. But, if you are into bluegrass, you'd probably want the F holes.

I would also recommend buying used. You'll also get more instrument for the money that way.

My first mando was a Michael Kelly Legacy O, that I got off eBay. My fellow band member also plays a Michael Kelly Legacy O. These are their F body mando, with an oval hole. I see that there are several Michael Kelly Legacy Plus F style F hole mandolins on eBay right now, well within your price range. They would be the F body with the F holes.

If you were open to A body, Oval holes, I'd recommend a looking for a used Big Muddy, or Mid-Missouri. Great american made mandolin for the price. I recently found one of the Mini-Mo, which is their lowest priced, no-frills mando, and I'd play it in permorance, if I needed to.... very loud and easy to play!

Good luck in your search! If you are like me, you'll ALWAYS be looking!

Barbara

[Payit Forward]

Thanks for the suggestions. What about the Kentucky KM805 in the used classifieds? Is that a good mandolin for $550. I looked online at several different places and they seem to be going for $800-$900 new.

My 2 cents:

The Kentucky KM805 is a very good choice for an F-style mandolin if you want to spend less than $1000 (new). I spent the last 2 years trying out all kinds of mandolins in that price range. My top choice would be the JBovier tradition which is about $950 new. If you search long enough you may find a used one for about $650-700. Second place would go to a used Eastman 515 or 615. Around $650-850 used. New, they are $1000-1240. Next would be the Kentuckys (KM805 and KM855). About $800+ new. $550 is a good price for a used one. These are all better choices than Michael Kelly, Morgan Monroe, Epiphone, Oscar Schmidt, Alvarez, Johnson/Savanah, Rover. I have not tried a Fullerton, but have heard several good reviews. They are very inexpensive.

This is only MY opinion.

[Jim Broyles]

My 2¢ is that you should buy the Fullerton in the classifieds. You will not be disappointed for $329.00. These mandolins have a very nice bluegrassy sound and they are quite loud. I have upgraded mine with an armrest, a bone nut, a better bridge and a Tone-Gard, but even without the extras, it is a great mandolin, especially for learning. If you do a search for Fullerton Gloucester here on the cafe you will find a lot of information on them.

[Ivan Kelsall]

For my 2p (UK) worth,you're extremely fortunate in the US to have so many quality second hand instruments available. A good quality 'used' instrument will more than likely have cost almost twice as much when new & if there's a good maker's name attached to it,then it's all the more of a bargain.Plus,if it's been well played in & looked after so as to be in good condition,it's a winner all the way. What better way to start,at least you should be getting good tone & playability,then it's all down to you. Another factor here,is that if you decide to sell it at some future date to up-grade,you won't make such a loss on it,
Saska

[grassrootphilosopher]

Don´t think I would like to spam the board with my advice as to certain mandolins. I also do not want to sound like a broken record...

But...

In this price range there is one outstanding brand of mandolin that comes to mind. Small is the group of beginners that know of them. They sound great, they look cool, they are vintage (that means you can´t order them over the internet, you have to look for them...), they put many a highroller mandolin to shame, when you play them, you can forget about all of the lowballs including your MK, Fullerton, Bovier, Eastman and such. They are Strad-O-Lin mandolins. I think Lowell Levinger www.vintageinstruments.com has one. You must play one to know if it´s a good one. It will be a lifelong friendship. I dearly love mine (and my F 5 style, but that´s an entirely different story and pricerange of course).

[engr-tech]

Thanks to everyone for all of your suggestions. I really like the Fullerton from the classifieds. Does anyone know how much these run brand new, just so I can see what to compare it too, I have never seen/played a Fullerton (I know, I need to get out more often)? Also, does anyone have experience with the Loar mandolins like Janet Davis carries?

[Dave Cowles]

Thanks to everyone for all of your suggestions. I really like the Fullerton from the classifieds. Does anyone know how much these run brand new, just so I can see what to compare it too, I have never seen/played a Fullerton (I know, I need to get out more often)? Also, does anyone have experience with the Loar mandolins like Janet Davis carries?

The Fullertons are no longer available new. FWIW, I had one of them, and you need to buy that one NOW. The selling price is just about what they went for new, when they were being closed out. You will not do better for around $300, and many of us believe that you can't do much better for $1000.

Dave

[Dragonflyeye]

Olaf, on your recommendation, I looked around yesterday for Stradolin's, and found a rare solid body one on ebay that sounded great by the sound clip, from a 100% high-rated seller, with bidding starting at $185. Bidding ended early this afternoon, and I got back from lunch late, with 12 seconds to spare, and someone else beat me to it, with their matching $200 bid. Ouch! Thanks for the tip though - I'll continue to hope and dream. . .

Anita

[Steve Ostrander]

I have a Kentucky km855 which is the same as the km805 except for the inlays. It has a nice dry, woody tone that works for BG but probably not what you want for Irish/Celtic. But for an F model, under 1k, it's not a bad mando.

I had an Eastman md615 that I liked, but I traded up for a Collings MT, which beats them both, hands down.

[8STRINGR]

Hello All,

Has anyone here tried out or own the "new" Flatiron Festival F5 mandolins that they could suggest for "engr tech" to consider? I know of a place that have them brand new listed at about $1350 but are selling for $800 if "engr tech" would be willing to go the extra $200. I don't know much about the new models and don't know of any place locally to suggest going to try one out.

I don't have my older Flatiron (Montana made) Festival F5 so I could compare the difference in sound with the new Flatirons. Didn't want to steer someone in the wrong direction in choices. May be worth the investment though if someone here that actually owns one could give their advice on 'em.