Washburn M1SDL

[Kygha]

Hello, I'm fairly new to playing mandolin. I just starter earlier this year.

I'm not really satisfied with my current mandolin, an Ibanez M510E. I've been thinking that since I mainly play European folk, I might as well get a mandolin with an oval soundhole instead of f holes.

I'm not really wanting to spend a huge amount of money, so I think the Washburn M1SDL would be perfect. But I have no idea how it sounds, or if it is a good instrument at all. I've looked and can't find any reviews of it anywhere, and there aren't any samples of it being played. I also can't play it before buying it, because there aren't any local mandolin dealers nearby.

I just wanted to know if anyone here owns one of these or has played one, so that I could know a little about what I should expect before purchasing it online.

[allenhopkins]

Well, it's 250 bucks and has a solid, pressed spruce top. Which isn't bad. I concur in your finding of "no reviews." The M1S, which was an f-hole version (and is apparently discontinued), got some decent reviews here (http://folk-instruments.musiciansfriend.com/product/Washburn-M1S-Mandolin-with-Accessories-Kit?sku=515146) at Musician's Friend. Though apparently when MF sends 'em out, the bridge is uninstalled, and there was some criticism that the included bridge hadn't been fitted to the top.

Were you willing to go $50 more, the Kentucky KM-170 series (171, 172, 174) is all solid woods, not just the top, and has carved rather than pressed tops. Elderly sells 'em here (http://www.elderly.com/brand/90N_kentucky.html) for $295. Kentucky mandolins generally get positive reviews on the Cafe. And, Elderly does some shop set-up before shipping, so you don't need to install your own bridge.

Where are you located? Is there a store within reasonable distance that might have some instruments in your price range? Always better to play a few first before selecting one.

[Jim Broyles]

That's the A Oval version with an F style headstock, isn't it? There's somebody here who has one and loves it. I always wanted to try one. It sure looks cool. I think I'd go with the Kentucky A oval, knowing what I know now about carved vs. pressed, etc., not that you can't get a good sounding pressed top instrument - there are many.

[Steve L]

We sold a couple of these at the music store where I work. Built like a tank. It had very little tone or volume and the nut slots were off; the D and A courses were too close together. This has been the case with every Wasburn mandolin I've played. It's hard to imagine your current mandolin is not as good. Look at the Kentucky or a used flat top like Mid Missouri/Big Muddy.

[Folkmusician.com]

Just about everything out of that factory had the nut slots off for a long time. They recently fixed that, so if you have a newly produced mandolin it should not be a problem now. The good news was that mandolins (not Washburns) we sold from that factory, also had the nut so high that the top could be taken off and the string spacing changed. :)

[Lee Callicutt]

I have one and it's a more than thoroughly decent instrument for the hundred bucks I have invested in it. The spacing of the strings at the nut and bridge were fine, even though it was a factory second -- I merely tweaked the depth at the nut a bit and fit the bridge to the top and put J-74's on it.

If I were considering spending $250 or more though, I'd probably look at the Kentuckys for all the reasons Allen suggested.

[gregjones]

Were you willing to go $50 more, the Kentucky KM-170 series (171, 172, 174) is all solid woods, not just the top, and has carved rather than pressed tops.

Plus.......you get a choice of color other than red, blue or black.

All solid, carved and not red or blue. (I do like black:redface:)

$50 well spent.

[Capt. E]

Pay a bit more and get the Kentucky KM-160. If you can spend $500, get a Kentucky KM-505

A Mid-Missouri / Big Muddy would be another good choice. They go for $300-$400 used and come up for sale on the classifieds here and on ebay pretty regularly.


Cpt. E