Reasonable Budget to medium Priced Mandolins?

[Adare_Steve]

OK, I've gotta do it. I'm going to add a mandolin to my growing 8-stringed instrument collection. I'll be playing the bouzouki and the OM most of the time, so I don't want to spend more than $600 (less if I can get away with it). I have access to a number of Pacific Rim based maker of Mandolin, including Ashbury. I can also get good deals on Fylde (but that's going slightly above my budget).

Can you point me in the direction of reasonably good, but cheaper makes, to start me off?

Thanks,

Steve

[tnpathfinder]

Shameless plug here.
Check out my ad in the classifieds.
Otherwise, Mid Missouri would be a good choice.:D

[tnpathfinder]

Sorry...that would be the km-380s.

[steve in tampa]

I am very happy with my MK.

[8ch(pl)]

Mid Missouri, US made, solid woods great sound.

[Professor PT]

I have an MK, and it sounds great for what I paid ( $500 ). #Of course, now that it's retail, I think the price is closer to $750. #However, you can get cheaper models without the inlay on the fretboard. #By the way, my comments on the thread earlier today were not meant to offend; #I just take my job seriously at times, and I get frustrated when people who should care about the details of language( teachers and such ) don't seem to care at all. #Well, enough said; #no ill will intended on my side.

[Hondo]

Mid-Mo!

[John Zimm]

I love my MK.

[Nathan Sanders]

OK...another shameless plug. I have a Flatiron 1CH for sale, if you want to go army-navy style.
Flatiron 1CH mandolin (http://www.stringband.com/mandolin.htm)

[Lee]

Adare_Steve, if you're not sure you'll be sticking with the mandolin here's my "two-sense". Go cheap, and buy a Chinese made Rover. It's about $375 most places and has solid top and back, and the scalloped fingerboard extension. I'm no fan of "less expensive" mandolins. But the reason I suggest the Rover is because it's awful dang good for the price and with the couple hundred dollars you save you'll be that much closer to upgrading into something really nice once you know your preferences.

[Stephen Perry]

I suspect the mid-mo and the Eastman A model MD505 will be the best deals. A properly set up factory A (like the KM-380 mentioned) will certainly be OK. But I'm finding the Eastmans to be rather good. The only problem being supply. I tried to get an A yesterday and there were none available. A shame, I've got a couple of festivals coming up and might have been able to move a couple.

Steve

[mando bandage]

I've been playing my Washburn M-3SW for about 2 years. It sounds good, not great, and w/T-I Starks it stays in tune remarkably well. Others on this board have not been so fortunate with reports of sinking tops. I've not had that problem. In short, it's no cure for MAS, but it's good enough for now.

R

[jim simpson]

There is a Olympia F-model on Ebay that is pretty reasonable. I have played 2 so far and both impressed me way more than any other pac rim I have played. I don't know why these haven't been noticed more. Has anyone out there played one?

[RichM]

I recently played an Olympia, and I was favorably impressed. Very nice woody bluegrass-y sound. Certainly preferable to the Washburn, Fender, and Epiphone models that share it's price range (although there's every chance that they are all made in the same factory). Not sure if I happened to get a good one, or if they are generally this good. The one I played was at Guitar Center, so you know it wasn't the great setup that made it sound good!

I recently added an Eastman MD615 to my stable-- now, folks, these are the real deal. Believe the hype. I can't put it down. I'm not going to play the "it's just as good as a [Insert name of very expensive mandolin here]" game, but I will say that this is a very fine instrument, and not just "for the money."

[GTison]

I own a 02 Gibson fern to let youknow where i'm comming from... I went in the local music store yesterday and saw and picked up a Rover F model. It didn't have a price on it so I don't know how much it was. BUT it was a good mandolin. it seemed to be made well and properly. BUT it sounded good. It had a good clean sound not so "stringy" sounding as kentuckys etc. you might check them out. I was impressed and if i'd had the time I would have got a price on it.

[8ch(pl)]

I'd go for the shameless plug on the Flatiron f5dude has for sale. In the second hand market it is one of the better ones.

[fatt-dad]

Here is what I have for sale. All come with hard (chipboard noted) cases and straps. All are readily playable and in very good (or better) condition. None are in need for repair. All can be returned within 48 hours for full refund, other than shipping.

Alvarez A-100 – made in Japan, excellent condition and playability, solid birds eye maple back and sides, solid spruce top, wooden binding, standard fretboard, A-body with f-holes, marked hand made. Non-original “featherweight” hard-shell case. This is not like the current Alvarez mandolins. $325.00

Kentucky KM-180s – made in Korea, excellent condition, solid spruce top and mahogany sides and back (looks solid but may be laminated), extended fretboard (clear to the 14th fret), A-body with f-holes, chipboard case, missing tailpiece cover, plays great. $215.00.

Kentucky KM-160s – made in Japan, excellent condition, solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back (looks solid but may be laminated), extended fretboard, A-body with f-holes, original hard shell case. $235.00

Vega VM-10 – made in Japan, excellent condition, spruce top, mahogany sides and back (likely laminated), standard fretboard, A-body with f-holes, chipboard case. Plays great. $190.00.

Alvarez A-400 – made in Japan, excellent condition, solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides and back. This is a clone of a Martin-style mandolin. Oval sound hole. Purchased from an older player from Chicago, who took lessons from Jethro Burns (he said that Jethro loved his mandolin). Marked hand made. Original hard shell case. $300.00.

Fender FM-61SE – Eight string hollow body acoustic-electric mandolin. In like-new condition, other than a nick on the reverse side of the headstock (from leaning against the wall). Sunburst finish with separate tone and volume controls. Original hard-shell case. This is a discontinued Fender acoustic-electric model from about 4 to 5 years ago. $395.00

Yasuma YM-130 – made in Japan, solid spruce top, solid maple sides and back (some flame in the maple), Standard length fretboard, A-body with f-holes. Original hard shell case. Very good condition. $265.00.

Kalamazoo KM-11 Great playability - wonderful old-time tone, but several cosmetic items – a repaired crack on the back (no movement) and a ball-point-pen like mark on the top. Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan c. 1930s. Flat-top, oval hole mandolin with sunburst finish. Solid spruce top and mahogany sides and back. Original chipboard case. $425.00

Aria M-100. made in Japan. Solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back (likely solid also), A-body with f-holes, near-mint condition, but has a slight blemish where the pickguard was removed. Original hard-shell case. $250.00

Ibanez A5-L Lawsuit. Very good condition with original hard-shell case. Maple sides and back, spruce top, extended length fretboard. Prior owner engraved the reverse side of the headstock with an identifying number (maybe the serial number). Back shows a dime-sized stain (original blemish in the finish?). Purchased from Gruhn in Nashville about 2 years ago. Great bluegrass mandolin. $625.00.

Any sale and I will donate 5% to the Plucked String Foundation. Email for more information.