Buying a mandolin in Boston MA?

[bongomuffindan]

Hi there,

I'm from sunny England and am over in Boston at the beginning of June and I thought it would be a good time to get me a better mandolin. I play in a country band here, but mandolins are overpriced and hard to find around here, so I though America would be a good opportunity.

Can anyone recommend a good place or store to buy a mandolin, either in Boston or around Massachussetts?

Also can anyone recommend a good mandolin to buy. Hoping to spend around the $700 mark, which I know isn't a huge amount by any means, but was wondering if anyone could recommend some good options?

Many thanks in advance, appreciate the time.

Dan

[rohan]

Hi there,

I'm from sunny England and am over in Boston at the beginning of June and I thought it would be a good time to get me a better mandolin. I play in a country band here, but mandolins are overpriced and hard to find around here, so I though America would be a good opportunity.

Can anyone recommend a good place or store to buy a mandolin, either in Boston or around Massachussetts?

Also can anyone recommend a good mandolin to buy. Hoping to spend around the $700 mark, which I know isn't a huge amount by any means, but was wondering if anyone could recommend some good options?

Many thanks in advance, appreciate the time.

Dan


That would be "The Music Emporium" in Lexington MA., just off Route 2.

http://www.themusicemporium.com/


:mandosmiley:

[Mandoist]

Music Emporium is good....

Fretted Instruments Workshop in Amherst, MA (2nd level in one of the buildings on the street along the Town Green) always has a nice variety...often a few more than Music Emproium. Not always the lowest price, but good quality.

You can also phone them for a quick summary of what they have on the walls, and in the antique display cabinets. Always lots of fine guitars and fiddles as well.

Easy to find, too.

[Bob DeVellis]

Having purchased happily from both, I think the Music Emporium may be what you want. It's close to Boston and always has an interesting mix of new and vintage mandolins, as well as other types of stringed instruments. No criticism of FIW intended at all. Tony Creamer is a great guy and I've done business with him. But the Music Emporium is really quite special. Joe Caruso is also a great guy as are any of hist staff that I've dealt with.

I recommend that you try several options in your price range. They should have Big Muddy, Kentucky, Eastman, and possibly other options in that range. Most offerings will be above that price mark but there should be some within reach. You should probably play some of the pricier instruments, if just to get a feel for what the extra cash gets you.

[Rob Gerety]

My suggestion is that you visit both - but it is a bit of a drive from Boston to Amherst. As Bob points out - Tony is a great guy. I see him frequently at contra dances and he has been telling me for months that he has been out buying a lot of inventory so you might find he will have something up your alley.

[rgray]

Do you just want to take some time out of an otherwise busy day to drop by a music store or are you willing to schedule a day or two of your time in the States to travel the region, do some sightseeing, and check out as many mando shops as possible? If you are open to some travel, I am sure that there are quite a few mando shops within a half-day's drive from Boston that might be worth your while.

[bongomuffindan]

Thank you all - I will definately check out Music Emporium.

I actually know Amhurst really well as I went to UMASS some years ago, I'm actually coming back over as my old room mate is getting married. I remember it be a far drive west though. Happy to give a day or two to have a proper look and see what the best options are.

The budget can go up. I've heard about Eastmans and Michael Kellys which folk recommend in that bracket (they are almost impossible to find in the uk though). Are these makes pretty standard in most stores over there is it more selective than that?

I guess in an ideal world I'll come over will a list of the recommended stores and other, then spends two great days checking them all out.

Again, many thanks to all

[CelticDude]

About the same distance from Boston, but a slightly different direction, is Maple Leaf Music in Brattleboro, Vermont. Nice selection, and you can check online first: http://www.mapleleafmusic.com/. Or there is Mandolin Brothers in Manhattan, but this is a bigger investment in time - longer drive and you'll need to plan time to try everything. But you'll feel like a kid in a candy store.

[Steve L]

There really are only a handful of stores with a small selection of things in your price range and they are all many miles apart. If you're willing to allocate a couple of days to mandolin shopping and you're in the Northeast I would consider getting to Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island in New York. It will eat up a lot of travelling and time, but you'll see more stuff than all the stores you could possibly get to in your trip combined. It might actually be easier than going from Lexington to Amherst to Acoustic Outfitters in NH and then maybe back someplace again.

You can see the current inventory of The Music Emporium online. They always have a few Eastmans. I've never seen a Michael Kelly. The places with a lot of mandos in the states are probably fewer than you think and strewn about the country. Guitars outnumber mandolins at the Music Emporium about 5 to 1 or better. It's a great shop, but if you've only got one bite of the apple while you're in the US try to get to Mandolin Brothers.

[Steve L]

Celticdude and I crossed posts. But Mandolin Brothers in not in Manhattan, it's out on Staten Island.

[Mandoist]

...I would consider getting to Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island in New York. It will eat up a lot of travelling and time, but you'll see more stuff than all the stores you could possibly get to in your trip combined. It might actually be easier than going from Lexington to Amherst to Acoustic Outfitters in NH and then maybe back someplace again.

Wow! Guess you haven't driven to the City lately? I love Mandolin Bros, but hate the grueling drive in and around the Island (not to mention I can get a fine meal for the price of the bridge crossings!) I would definitely opt for the excursion to the Emporium, Fretted Instruments and Outfitters....definitely more instruments on the walls, and a nice scenic roundtrip drive if you avoid the interstates.

[Steve L]

Wow! Guess you haven't driven to the City lately? I love Mandolin Bros, but hate the grueling drive in and around the Island (not to mention I can get a fine meal for the price of the bridge crossings!) I would definitely opt for the excursion to the Emporium, Fretted Instruments and Outfitters....definitely more instruments on the walls, and a nice scenic roundtrip drive if you avoid the interstates.

If you want to see scenery I agree with you. If you want to see mandolins I do not.

[Adam Tracksler]

Acoustic Outfitters has an amazing sumi F5 that I would snatch up if I were looking for something like that.

[Mandobar]

your best bet is the emporium around Boston. many of the stores mentioned here have cut back on inventory over the last year. last time i was in Acoustic Outfitters the walls were pretty bare. Fretted Instruments in Amherst has inventory, but is up several flights of steps in an old building. be very careful now taking instruments across the borders. there are new regulations and procedures in place.

[draino]

The Music Emporium's website isn't always up to date. In particular, their Eastman stock is in transition -- I was in there a couple of weeks ago and they were awaiting shipment of the new Eastman models, but did not have any of the older models listed on the website. They were expecting to receive the new models, including 5-series instruments, in a week or two. They had several Kentucky models, including a KM-505 and KM-1000 (that was a very nice bluegrass instrument); a Rover RM-75; a couple of Arches FT-Os (the walnut model listed on the website has been sold, but they had a beautiful birdseye model in its place); lots of Collings instruments; my recollection is that the Weber selection was substantially less than what is currently listed on their website (though all of those instruments were in the store a couple of months ago.) I would suggest stretching your budget to $5,300 and splurging on the Campanella Due they have in stock :)

[Mandoist]

Hate to burst you Boston Boy's bubbles...but a quick look at Fretted Instruments (Amherst, MA) shows they're fully-packed with loads-o-goodies for ones perusal. Including a complete Gibson Centennial Collection that Tony bought in 1994!

http://www.frettedinstrumentworkshop.com/

[bongomuffindan]

Thanks again to everyone. I'm starting to realise how limited my budget is. been looking on ebay and you can get some decent Michael Kelly's 'b' stock at really good prices and I hear they are good things for the price. Does any one have any experience of these? and does anyone know if there is a MK b stock dealer in MA (shipping and custom to UK is loads!)

Thanks again

Dan

[Rob Gerety]

Hate to burst you Boston Boy's bubbles...but a quick look at Fretted Instruments (Amherst, MA) shows they're fully-packed with loads-o-goodies for ones perusal. Including a complete Gibson Centennial Collection that Tony bought in 1994!

http://www.frettedinstrumentworkshop.com/

As I said - Tony told me he has been buying.

[CelticDude]

Celticdude and I crossed posts. But Mandolin Brothers in not in Manhattan, it's out on Staten Island.

Oops, right you are, Steve.

[allenhopkins]

Thanks again to everyone. I'm starting to realise how limited my budget is. been looking on ebay and you can get some decent Michael Kelly's 'b' stock at really good prices and I hear they are good things for the price. Does any one have any experience of these? and does anyone know if there is a MK b stock dealer in MA (shipping and custom to UK is loads!)

IMHO you'd be better off with a Kentucky, though there are some Michael Kelly fans here on the Cafe. Music Emporium has a KM-505 A-style (http://www.themusicemporium.com/product-detail/product/kentucky-km-505.html) that's all solid wood, carved top, for $450. And, as pointed out above, they may have instruments in the store that don't show up on their website. Michael Kelly mandolins are very visually attractive, but Kentuckies seem to get the most Cafe votes as good mid-range instruments.

"B-stock" instruments are hard to find in stores. Some distributors buy them up and sell them on-line. And while you'll avoid shipping costs by buying in the States, you still can be liable for any customs duties on instruments you purchase here.

[Mandoist]

...And while you'll avoid shipping costs by buying in the States, you still can be liable for any customs duties on instruments you purchase here.


Nahhh....Just mail your paperwork from the mando purchase home in an envelope...and remove all signs of a "new to you" instrument. Make it look 'homey' inside the case, put some of your picks, and general junk in the pocket. No big deal at customs.

For x-tra insurance, pack some dirty ol' socks in there! :))