Good mandolin for playing solo?

[Plectrum]

Hello. New member here looking for first mandolin suggestions in the $800 - $1,500. range. I've been playing the guitar for about 40 years and now interested in the mandolin. I like jazz standards, blues, folk, some country, etc.

I like to play chord/melody type of tunes on my guitar, some Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Danny Gatton, etc. I like the idea of taking tunes I like and trying to make an interesting instrumental arrangement. I'm not saying I'm overly successful with this. It's a hobby, it's fun, challenging and it makes me feel good.

I'd like to try and play a variety of music, solo style, on the mandolin too. I've been lurking around for a bit and it seems like a Breedlove Quartz KF or Rigel A Nat. or A+ might fit the bill for me. Like most guitar players, I like the idea of a wider neck with a radius on the fingerboard. I guess I'm looking for great playability, great tone and an instrument that will improve with age and I won't grow out of.

Would the mandolins above fit the bill? Any other recomendations? Also, anyone have any listening recomendations of artists that play crosspicking solo stuff? Ensemble stuff is great too, I'd like to hear some great mandolin playing in about any genre. Thanks and great site!

[steve in tampa]

Ovation MM68 has a wider neck, ebony fret board, excellent electronics, made in USA, low action and comfortable to play for hours. I have 2. Not a bluegrass instrument!

[John Flynn]

I too, played guitar for decades before I got mando-fever. I think a used Rigel A+ Deluxe would be the best of the ones you mentioned and in your price range. It is has a great tone for jazz and blues, although it works very well across styles. It has great volume and great playability. The internal pickup is excellent for when you want to plug in.

[John Rosett]

i think that you should check out some vintage gibson A style mandos. the pre-1922 ones have a nice, wide fingerboard, although they're flat, not radiused.
i have a '13 A, and i use it mostly for an acoustic jazz duo with a guitarist. not only is it great for single note work, it also sounds just right for the full-sounding chords i need to play to back up the guitarist. i also play chord melody stuff, and it works great for that.
good luck, john

[siren_20]

Another good choice might be a Breedlove. #I have a '98 Columbia model that has a really nice, low, woody tone. #Very sonorous and great for playing classical and jazz...strong fundamental with plenty of sparkly harmonic content to the note. #They additionally have a wide neck, and each string in a pair is placed slightly closer to one another. #Great mandolins all around.
J.T.

[odeman]

After Homer Haynes (of Homer & Jethro) passed away, Ken Burns ( Jethro ) built a whole new career as a solo mandolinist, playing chord/melody arrangements of jazz standards. There are several great ones available to listen to. I would suggest an A-style or a good flat-top style mandolin to play in a guitar-like style. A brand that immediately comes to mind is Tacoma. They are very well built (in Tacoma, Washington), they fall into your price range, they have wide fretboards and they also have better sustain than your average bluegrass mandolin. They are not great "chop" instruments, but the ones I've played were pretty good at chord/melody playing. You can also find used ones fairly readily on e-bay or here on Mandolin Cafe.

[phillyfred]

I also would reccomend the Tacoma or Mid Missouri------atleast give em a try before ya buy one

[dasspunk]

You could have Laura Ratcliff (http://www.silverangelmandolins.com/products.html) build you one of her A-styles.

I have one and absolutely love it. Mine's (http://dasspunk.com/index.php?wl_mode=more&wl_eid=120) 1 1/4" at the nut with a 7 1/4" radius and sounds fantastic...

[dwmand]

I'm a singer songwriter and if you happen to sing and play mandolin solo, I find the old Gibson A mandolins nice for that. Another nice instrument for solo is the mandola. It's got the sound of a mandolin and a range closer to a guitar, so it's not so biting as a solo instrument - it's a little mellower.

[250sc]

If you can find one try a Collings MT.

[DerTiefster]

Another good choice might be a Breedlove. I have a '98 Columbia model that has a really nice, low, woody tone. Very sonorous and great for playing classical and jazz...strong fundamental with plenty of sparkly harmonic content to the note. They additionally have a wide neck, and each string in a pair is placed slightly closer to one another. Great mandolins all around.
J.T.I'll be resurrecting this thread for my own purposes, but so be it. I wanted to contact siren_20 for some details about his older Columbia. I recently purchased an older Columbia myself and I wanted some comparison info for it. Thanks. I have yet to really do anything with it other than learn that it sounds very nice. I'm looking forward to using it and improving myself.

[Jill McAuley]

Right now in the classifieds there are 3 Webers that fall within your price range:
-Weber Y2K going for $535 (flattop oval)
-Weber Aspen #1 going for $700 (flattop oval)
-Weber Gallatin going for $1400 (carved oval)

I have nothing to do with any of the above sales, but I did recently purchase a used Weber Aspen #2 and I absolutely love it. I play Irish trad stuff and also mess around a bit playing chords along to my own songs and I am incredibly happy with this mandolin. Lovely neck and action, super easy to play, lovely sound, great sustain. I think any of those Webers mentioned above might suit your needs (possibly the Gallatin edges ahead of the others), and they all seem to be priced fairly as well. Best of luck in your search!

Cheers,
Jill

[Jim MacDaniel]

Check out board sponsor Gypsy's Music mandolins. They come standard with a wider neck (1-1/4" at the nut), and Walt can put a radiused fret-board on them for you as well. They have a nice open, full tone, with plenty of volume -- and you can find many nice reviews from happy Gypsy owners here in the discussion boards.

(NFI)

[kestrel]

My guess is, that since this thread is five-years-old, the OP has probably found something by now. :)

Gene

[DerTiefster]

Kestrel is undoubtedly correct. As I noted in the post #11 resurrection, I wanted to contact siren_20, who may no longer be active and has no enabled email/P.M. options for contact. Selfish of me. But the topic may be of interest to a new sub-group of readers (including me).

This kind of thread resurrection occurs on an automotive board I frequent, and I've never personally thought it inappropriate except for some years-old "for sale" listings that start drawing availability questions.

The best kind of outcome from educational standpoint would be if Plectrum hissef would return and enlighten us about his choices and lessons learned/perceived between then and now.