I need an opinion.

[taylor]

I'm looking into getting a cheaper f-style mandolin because I don't have much money. Which one is better: (1. Washburn M6SW) or (2. Epiphone MM-50)? Thanks.

[fatt-dad]

O.K., I'll start - buy a used mid-priced A-style hand-made mandolin, like a Flatiron. Your resell potential will be great, the sound will be great and you will love it!

Too much of the cheaper f-style mandolins are for looks. There is nothing better than a mandolin that sound good (i.e., complex, loud, crisp, woody, etc.) I would not expect too much from the cheaper f-style mandolins that you referenced. But someone will jump in and suggest that (if you must get an f-style) you look at the Michael Kelly's.

Good luck.

[plunkett5]

When I started playing mandolin I got an old Martin that was cosmeticly challenged, but played fine. I now play two old Gibsons- an Ajr and an A-1 that are also not collectors items because of small cracks or finish flaws, but play and sound great. I'd rather have a good playing and sounding quality instrument to spend my time with than one I thought of as a "starter" that was in perfect shape and was a drag to play. Oval hole mandos are a good place to start as they are generally cheaper than f-hole models. With patience, you can find some great deals.

[Eugene]

Oval hole mandos are a good place to start as they are generally cheaper than f-hole models. With patience, you can find some great deals.
I don't know that this is the case. After all, all those reams of heavily finished, Korean-/Chinese-made, $100 Gibson clones sport f-holes. However, A-style mandolins certainly tend to be less expensive than F-style mandolin models of comparable quality. That said, I'll jump on fatt-dad's bandwagon and suggest that in not having much money, you would be better served by pursuing a quality A-style instrument. If you want to play chop-chord-laden bluegrass, you should pursue an f-holed instrument. I personally would favor an oval-holed mandolin in any non-bluegrass-derived genre.

[jimbob]

I have a Washburn Jethro Burns and it was fine , for the money. I bought it used for about $ 500.00...just like new when I got it...not as good as my Yellowstone, but it cost 1/4 as much...But it plays easily and doesn't sound bad...

[Lee]

There's a guitar store on Ebay who always has Breedlove Quartz mandos for sale, if you must buy new. Buy-It-Now Quartz oval with gigbag is $750. I finally played one recently it's an outstanding mandolin with enough pop for bluegrass, and the quality is such that you won't ever "need" another mandolin. The neck was top notch at any price. I was very very impressed.

[Eugene]

I like Breedlove products too. #The sound is a little variable, but more I've handled have sounded good than otherwise. #They are built of quality solid timbers. #The one thing I don't like on Breedlove is that they use really cheap tuning machines for all but their high-end models. #Still, as reasonable a new solid-wood Breedlove is, buy one and swap out for better tuners if you are offended as I am by them.

[Eric F.]

Eugene, cheap tuners AND a gig bag, at least for the Quartz models. I love Breedloves, but you can easily pay more than $1,000 for a new Quartz K style. At that price, I don't think good tuners and a Travelite case are too much to expect.

[mandoJeremy]

I don't think I would ask for "opinions" on this board being that you are going to receive extremes on any view! #Sometimes they are helpful if you can wade through the ####.

[mandoJeremy]

I still don't understand why this thing edits the word ####! It is not ####! It is the word that starts with C, R, A, and P!

[Michael H Geimer]

Taylor,
I started off with a really cheap Rover A-style, which was - how did Jeremy put that - total $#@! I soon upgraded to an Epi MM-50, which was quite playable, and very nice looking.

I later traded the Epi for a 'Plain Jane' Mid-Missourri which I will probably never let go. It is a daily joy to play.

Scrolls are nice, but Mid-mo are mandolins. At your price point, it's my opinion that you're choosing either a scroll, or a mandolin.

- Benig

[Lee]

It's just my opinion, but I like opinions, especially the ones posted on the Cafe.
It's opinions that make the world go 'round. If ya can't wade through the ones here, the big world's gonna be awfully rough.
Eric, I didn't realize that about Breedloves. Personally; I find gig bags rather useless because they give zero protection against a common and often terminal affliction; getting stepped upon. In fact, I'd venture to say that the common person would be more careful stepping around a mandolin on the floor than a gigbag with one inside.

[flairbzzt]

Sticking just to your original two, I'd go with the Epiphone (Korean made). Epiphone moved it's manufacturing plant to China and are now producing these models slightly differently. The Chinese model had a slightly larger headstock with "The Epiphone" inlaid straight versus the better looking angled headstock inlay. The Korean IMO was much more comfortable to play and had a significantly richer and louder tone. I know someone who's got one practically new. E-mail me for more if you're interested.

[doublestop]

I'll vote for the Mid Mo. Nothing fancy as far as looks go, but tone is what's really impt. I'm really not impressed with the Washburns or the Epis. I played a Michael Kelly yesterday that was a real dud. It had no volume whatsoever and it's top was sinking badly. If you absolutely need a scroll look for an older Kentucky, but let your ears be the judge.

[flairbzzt]

Take a look at the higher end Morgan Monroes. I am vey satisfied with my mms-5 and the mms-6 has a nice, deep tone similar to a Gibson f9. I think there's an mms-5 in the classifieds. The price is good if it is as nice as mine and close to new.

[John Zimm]

I've got an MK that I really love, but I had to play a lot of them to find one that sounded the way this one did. I didn't mind doing the work, but I would never buy one through ebay or otherwise sight-unseen. But if you don't mind the work, if you play enough MKs you'll likely find a good one that sounds nice. MAS will hit at some point and you'll want a Weber Absaroka just like I do, but the MK will tide you over until then. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif How's that for an opinion?

-John.

[Spencer]

I'm pretty much in agreement with Fatt-Dad. I was at Elderly this spring, and a couple came in and was looking at the cheaper F-models, MK and some others, don't remember for sure which. As I was the only one playing mandolins, they came over and asked me to play some of them for comparison. I did, and to demonstrate some differences, I also played some of the little Weber round hole models at a similar price level, around 800 dollars if I remember correctly. For overall tone and punch, they were clearly better in sound than F models: Clearer, brighter, less harsh, better volume. They could also clearly hear the diffence and found, a bit to their surprise, that sound and looks don't always go hand-in-hand. I don't know what they eventually got, and it doesn't really matter to me. At least the choice they made was based on a wider basis.

In this price range, more often than not you get much more sound for the buck with simpler design, hand-built instruments, or used non-scroll or round hole models. And they will probably hold their own better sound wise in a band than a lot of the cheaper Fmodels. Get what you want and like, of course, but I think you should at least consider them.

Spencer

[fatt-dad]

I'll weigh in again: jim_in_virginia has THIS (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3750045625&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT) Flatiron Performer A-model for sale on ebay right now and at $510.00 (current price without a reserve) is a good deal. Heck, even at $700.00 it is a good deal. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a good mandolin, as Flatiron is well known for their quality and sound.

Fatt (nothing-in-it-for-me) Dad

[John Zimm]

Dang, if I had the money I would buy that Flatiron in a second. It looks great and a lot of people have some nice things to say about them. Looks like a good deal.

-John.

[flairbzzt]

Look at the Epiphone mm-50 (used) in the classifieds. This one used to be mine. It's like new. I traded up .

[Brad Weiss]

Here's 3 opinions:

1. A Style over F Style makes sense, and I'll suggest the Rigel A Natural. Roughly the same price as a Breedlove Quartz, a bit more playable, a nifty tone- and a hard case.

2. Whatever you get at this price, play THE instrument you are going to buy before you get it. I have a Kentucky KM675S that I think is great, but I have played many others of the same model -as well as less- and more- expensive mandos that couldn't compare.

3. The Epiphones to my ear and hand are better than the Washburns, but go try 'em!

[mando-in-kingwood]

Look for a Japanese made (early 90's) Kentucky KM-650, 700, or 750. Good sound, playability, and construction/finish.