Looking to buy a REALLY cheap mandolin (really) [Archive]

irishman

Sep-29-2004, 5:33pm

I play a mid missourri M-5 which I really love. However, a bunch of the guys at the office also play music and are interested in jamming some. Im looking for a low level mandolin that I wont mind leaving at the office, and wont get upset if it gets stolen. I dont want to shlep my mando to and from work.

I was looking on ebay and I found this:

Cheap Mando (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3751885546&rd=1)

However the minimum that I want is something that will stay in tune. It doesnt have to have great sound, just a "Backpacker" that can get bannged up.

ANyone else have any suggestions?

neal

Sep-29-2004, 5:49pm

Well, it is cheap. My experience with cheap c-r-a-p is that I wished I had spent more. Fatt-dad has some inexpensive, but playable mandos to sell. Tom Flood usually has something in the classifieds for around 175, but I'd go no less. That's pretty cheap. Search the classifieds for "carl" and for "Flood", that may bring up a few inexpensive items to consider.

Troyer

Sep-29-2004, 6:02pm

$35 to ship a $25 mando seem fair!

fatt-dad

Sep-29-2004, 6:10pm

My cheapest mandolin is a Vega at $190.00. I have two Kentucky's at about $215-$235. Shipping UPS ground is about $10 to $15. I once bought a Hondo (still have it in my office) for $40.00. It really is not very nice to play as there is just no tone. Strings on a cigar box comes to mind.

fatt-dad
fatt-dad@richmond.com
www.fatt-dad.com

JiminRussia

Sep-29-2004, 6:37pm

About those really cheap mandolins. You'll need fingers likecrowbars a big red "S" on your chest if you want to fret one. Lowering the action wont hep either. the frets are so uneven that it is going to buzz somewhere if you try to lower it. They just aint worth the bother of ordering.

om21ed

Sep-29-2004, 8:02pm

what about the Harmony in the classifieds. i had one years ago and wish I never got rid of it. I have a cheap washburn A at my office

irishman

Sep-29-2004, 8:32pm

The harmony needs repair, from the sound of it. I dont want to drop $80 on a broken mando.

Martin Jonas

Sep-30-2004, 2:42am

I think the common consent is that the below-$100 mandolins are basically unplayable plywood boxes. One option that may be interesting for you is the Troubadour (http://www.troubadour.uk.com/mandolin.html) Josquin, which is $175 including shipping to the US from the UK. That's an all-solid wood Romanian-made flattop mandolin which should have a tone somewhat reminiscent of your Mid-Mo. There's a review from Cafe member Jeff Stallard here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=5;t=14569;hl=portuguese). I haven't played one of these, but I have a vintage German one with the same construction which is very nice (certainly way better than a new Pac Rim plywood) and I'm currently waiting to receive one of their bouzoukis. Old German flattops come up on Ebay Germany all the time (and more rarely on Ebay UK) for between $40 and $60, but there's always the gamble of whether they're playable. For instant availability and (by all accounts) great playability, you could go for a Crafter (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3749470543&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW) at $179 plus shipping.

Martin

irishman

Sep-30-2004, 4:56am

Well, I admit the Troubador looks nice, but I have very large hands being 6' 4". And its on the smaller scale. Its actually so nice, Im sure Id be upset if I lost it at work. However you guys do make a point about playability. I may go hunt the local pawn shops and see if I can find anythign interesting there.

Keep the ideas comming though.

lindensensei

Sep-30-2004, 6:21am

Epiphone makes an A model for about 175.00 that doesn't sound too bad with the strings that come stock, but sounds great with 74s. #Really great. #I bought one to take camping and over the next several days three friends stopped by, said hmmmmm and on the way home stopped and bought one themselves. #This model was finished in gloss black. #They're all happy.

Jim Garber

Sep-30-2004, 6:21am

I have a friend who bought one of the octave mandolins from Surf City (http://www.surfcityinstruments.com/stella_mandolin.htm). He said they were pretty good for the price. This mandolin is only $60. They also sell on eBay.

I have not had direct experience and YMMV

Jim

Martin Jonas

Sep-30-2004, 6:47am

Those Surf City Stellas do look interesting: clearly a European design pitched quite a bit below the already cheap Troubadours. I'd think they have the 13" scale as well, but I'd like to reassure irishman that he'd probably adapt in no time: I'm 6'4" as well and play 13" instruments as well as 13.75" ones. I find that I have no problem with the shorter ones (even for my large hands, I appreciate less of a stretch for the 7th fret pinky) and switching from one to the other is pretty much subconscious.

Martin

John Flynn

Sep-30-2004, 7:01am

Here is my hint for beaters, which has worked well for me. Pay as little as you like, but get a 100% money back guarantee, in case it has some major defect. Take it to a good mando luthier and have him look it over. If it has major problems, send it back. If not, have the luthier do a full set up for about $75. Have him put mellow strings on it that will take some of the tinny sound out. Strings like T-Is, Silk and Steels or D'Addario Flat-tops come to mind ($5 to $25). If the tuners are really bad, replace them with Grover Sta-tites for about $25. It seems counter-intuitive to put more money in an instrument than you paid for the instrument itself. But you can wind up with a very playable, decent sounding instrument for under $200. Personally, I would spend a little more than the Ebay special you are considering and do all of the above on a used Mid-mo M-0 or Mini-mo for about $200.

Phantoj

Sep-30-2004, 7:23am

I got my Kentucky KM-150S for $90, shipped, off of the harmony-central classifieds.

At least mine's not plywood.

I suppose bookmatching the wood used for the back would have been too much to ask.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

irishman

Sep-30-2004, 7:38am

Hey those Surf City seem interesting, all under $100. Can I get some more information on them from you? How good are the tuners, etc... I assume the octave Mando is a full octave lower than a mando unlike a bizuuki (-5pts spelling) which is a half step lower?

Martin Jonas

Sep-30-2004, 7:45am

Sorry, no direct experience on the Surf City. #Bouzoukis can be tuned to a bewildering variety of tunings, according to personal preference, but the most common tuning amongst Irish players is either as an octave mandolin (GDAE) or GDAD. #So, the Surf City Octave can presumably be strung like a bouzouki, or not, depending on what you want, but it probably has a substantially shorter neck than a bouzouki. Greek bouzouki is a different story altogether.

Martin

nupicker

Sep-30-2004, 7:59am

Musicians friend has a rogue bluegrass package mando, gigbag, book(bad), and pitch pipe tuner(useless) for 79.99.
I know two people that have bought this package for beater mandos or work mandos with no complaints.

Phantoj

Sep-30-2004, 8:29am

I was just looking at MF, and this was interesting:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7....c=price (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search?so=asc&sc=price&c=4319&so=asc&sc=price)

For $59.99, you can get the MF Learn the Mando package, including:

Rogue RM-100A mandolin
Mando Methods book
Mando Chords book
Gig bag

or, for $69.99, you can get just the RM-100A mandolin.

or, for $79.99 you can get the Mando Starter Kit, including:

RM-100A mandolin
Set of Martin Strings
Mandolin gig bag
Mandolin strap by Planet Waves

Hmm...

(I'd get a solid-top cheapy from Folk-of-the-wood or fatt-dad...)

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

neal

Sep-30-2004, 1:08pm

Surf City stuff. I have an octave that needed on delivery:
1.fret work, the frets were really bad, uneven, not finished, looked like they were cut of a single piece and placed.
2. shim under the bridge, it was way too low. BUZZZZZZ
3. New strings, shipped with mandolin strings. Hey, it's an octave. about 18"-19" scale. Put the correct ###### strings on it.

After all is said and done with it, it's not bad now. I've since lent it out indefinately to a friend. And it was only 89+shipping I think 20.00, plus the time it took to do the little stuff it needed.

You haven't given a price range, but if you want a cheap beater, call one of these guys on the board and shell out 100-200 bucks with them. In my humble opinion.

Lee

Sep-30-2004, 2:34pm

I'd put my two cents in with the cheap used Epiphone MM-30.

irishman

Sep-30-2004, 2:39pm

Hmmm... can you send me a PM or link to said used Epi? Dang you guys! I was going to spend $75.00 and now Im looking at $150. Three more weeks in this thread and Ill be buying a "used" Rigel A+

Stillpicking

Sep-30-2004, 3:18pm

I have way too many mandolins, I need to sell at least one to make room for a new MK that I just got. I have a Crafter with gig bag that I would sell for $ 150 and I will pay shipping if in the lower 48.
I got it as a travel mando but havn't been doing as much travel with it as I thought I would.
Let me know if you are interested and I can email some pics.

Mike

Martin Jonas

Sep-30-2004, 3:47pm

Not a bad deal that -- last month I saw Dave Pegg of Fairport Convention play a Crafter in front of 27000 people at Fairport's Cropredy Festival. As there's only one Crafter model, that's some endorsement for a $150 mando.

Martin

irishman

Sep-30-2004, 5:20pm

ERRrrrr... see! See what I mean! *points accusingly at Stillpicking*. It just so happens that I met my wife when she handed me a copy of Leige and Lief during an English class in College. MANY years ago. I was thinking about picking up a $150 Kentucky S (solid back and sides) that I found. Not sure which is better, but please send me some pics of the Crafter (email to irishman at carolina dot rr dot com).

Thanks.

irishman

Sep-30-2004, 5:47pm

See how the creep begins? Now that Im thinking that Id spend $50 on a cheap mandolin, and $20 on shipping + 20 to get set up with a decent bridge and strings, well hell thats $100 allready.

So now I have offers on the following
$150 for a Crafter + Bag shipped.
$160 for a used Kentucky 150S + Bag shipped.
$175 for a new Epihone MM20.

Arrgh... see! Im at $175 now. Ill spend $175 on a $75 mandolin.

Arrgh.

irishman

Oct-01-2004, 12:46pm

Well, Ive drop the Epiphone MM20 from my list, because its not solid wood.
The crafter is an expensive mandonlin, but (a) Im not sure I can get over its look, ie a mini acoustic guitar, and (b) its got a Fiberglass back. Although, I must admit its a heck of a deal from Stillpicking.
The kentucky is at 140S, so its all wood, but several people here say they have gotten them cheaper than $150.
Im semi interested in the Portuguese Troubadour Josquin, The only problem is that it seems a #### shoot as to whether you get a good one or a bad one, and then it needs new strings and a setup.

Between the Crafter, Kentucky, and Troubadour, is the Kentucky the most reliable choice?

Phantoj

Oct-01-2004, 12:58pm

On the subject of the Kentucky... yes, I got my KM-150S for $90... but I think I just happened across a good deal, so I pulled the trigger.

You could be very well served with a $250-300 used Mid-Mo; what's a couple hundred dollars when it comes to musical instruments.

Price Loars for perspective.

My KM-150S may be worth less than others - I heard the first few to come out of China were spotty, quality-wise. And mine may have been one of the early China production. It doesn't look real good, but it sounds a bit better than the solid-top China-made Epi I tried at the local Guitar Centre.

I've got fingers like crowbars... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

straight-a

Oct-01-2004, 1:28pm

Get a Rogue. I've played several of them and for what you want, they are just the thing. You can get a scratch and dent from some online dealers for $70 and under. Call them and do some dealing. I know a guy that got one for $40.

Martin Jonas

Oct-01-2004, 4:33pm

The kentucky is at 140S, so its all wood, but several people here say they have gotten them cheaper than $150.
Im semi interested in the Portuguese Troubadour Josquin, The only problem is that it seems a #### shoot as to whether you get a good one or a bad one, and then it needs new strings and a setup.

Between the Crafter, Kentucky, and Troubadour, is the Kentucky the most reliable choice?
All three good choices, probably. I haven't played a 140s, but the 380s is very nice for its price.

"Most reliable" is probably the Crafter -- because of their construction the production is pretty automatised and because it has a fixed guitar bridge, there's no adjustment of action, correction of intonation, fitting of bridge feet or adjusting bridge slots to be done (all of which are notorious problems for cheapo mandolins). I've heard people complain about the guitar-like shape and the guitar-like (i.e. mandolin-unlike) tone, but everyone I've heard thought they were very playable and consistent.

As it happens, I have just today received a new Troubadour bouzouki. Basically, all the things that Jeff Stallard has been writing about the Troubadour mandolin applies to this as well (bridge and zero fret need lowering; bridge is soft wood with ebony saddle, which I will replace), but I'm very impressed with the looks, the wood and the finish -- all much better than I was expecting. Yes, they need a setup (as do all other cheapos except the Crafter), but not new strings -- the Newtone strings that come with it are great.

Martin

irishman

Oct-01-2004, 5:58pm

Im not sure of a local Luither in Charlotte NC, that could do all of the setup items, (lowering the bridge and zero fret, replacing the bridge etc). I dont have that level of skill. Im also not really keen on the guitar like shape of the Crafter, but it is a heck of a bargain.

Whats the difference between a Bouzoki and an octave mandolin? The way its strung? Could you put light strings on a bouzoki and make it an octave?

Irishman

Unseen122

Oct-01-2004, 7:54pm

The difference is the scale length the Zouk usually is about 25 to 26 inches where the OM ranges from 18 to 24 inches the Zouk is better for chords and accompinament where as the OM is better for melody and melodic backing. Also OM has pretty much one tuning Zouk has many. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Baron Collins-Hill

Oct-01-2004, 8:12pm

my friend got a johnson fm100 for 150 bucks on ebay, not a bad mandolin for the price, didnt need any work and sounds decent...

fatt-dad

Oct-01-2004, 8:54pm

(don't laugh)

I bought a Montana mandolin on ebay and other than its four-piece top (at least it's solid wood) and simple construction, it actually seems bulletproof and plays fairly well. It is the mandolin that I take to the beach and manage to make it through the summer vacation without too much longing for a "real" mandolin. They are either madein Korea or Romania. I have no idea who distributes them.

Anybody else have an experience with the Montana mandolin. I should add that mine is a flat top, oval hole model.

fatt-dad

Martin Jonas

Oct-02-2004, 3:13am

Fatt-dad: I've just had a search for the Montana Mandolin on the web. They look extremely similar to the Troubadour, and I'm sure they're either Romanian or Czech (Strunal make this type of mandolin). I think it's possible that they're identical to the Troubadour except for the pickguard which Troubadour have told the factory to leave off. Amusingly, the web shop (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/warwickmusicalinstruments/mandolin.html) that sells them specifies that they have a spruce neck, which seems extremely unlikely. I also don't know where they see a sunburst on what's clearly a uniform finish. Interestingly, it seems they're distributed in the US by Kaman (who also distribute Ovation and Gretsch).

Don't know about four-piece top, though -- my Troubadour bouzouki at least has a two piece top.

Martin

irishman

Oct-02-2004, 7:46am

Can you tune a Bouzouki to GDAE? That might be fun if I didnt have to learn a whole new set of scales and chords.

Martin Jonas

Oct-02-2004, 9:19am

Yes, you can. That's quite a common tuning for an Irish bouzouki, along with GDAD. I have mine tuned to GDAE at the moment. Of course, with everything being twice as far apart, some of the chord shapes from the mandolin won't work, and playing scales and tunes means much more position shifting than on the mandolin.

As the scale length of the Troubadour bouzouki is 660m, pretty much twice that of the standard mandolin, you can use normal mandolin gauge strings for GDAE tuning. Unfortunately, as I've just found out the hard way, D'Addario J74s have (just) enough length for that on the wound strings, but are about 5 cm too short on the bare strings. Why don't they make all strings in one set the same length? Sigh...

Martin

Joe Mangio

Oct-02-2004, 1:25pm

Johnson MA 120....under $150.

fatt-dad

Oct-02-2004, 8:53pm

Fatt-dad: I've just had a search for the Montana Mandolin on the web. #They look extremely similar to the Troubadour, and I'm sure they're either Romanian or Czech (Strunal make this type of mandolin). #I think it's possible that they're identical to the Troubadour except for the pickguard which Troubadour have told the factory to leave off.
My really cheap mandolin, the Montana is shown below. Pay no attention to the fatt-dad. I show it as it is not like the Troubadour as shown in the link. I tried to find one like it at a URL, but had no success. I have seen them on the ebay though. Something scares me about these, as who knows how they are typically set up?

f-d

fatt-dad

Oct-03-2004, 7:43pm

Here is the link to a Montana mandolin with a recently-completed sale on ebay. It went for under $30.00 and had $15.00 for shipping. So, $45 bucks. Like I say, I've seen them on ebay over the last few years and mine is relativelly bulletproof and well suited for the salty beach or other caustic environments.

fatt-dad

fatt-dad

Oct-03-2004, 7:44pm

forgot the link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3750612718&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

f-d

Darren Kern

Oct-06-2004, 5:10am

Phantoj

Oct-06-2004, 6:06am

had a guy at Guitar Center tell me the MF specials were junk

Interesting to note that:

1. MF and GC are owned by the same outfit.

2. The GC salesman was probably telling the truth.

3. GC salesmen are unreliable sources of information.

Keith Miller

Oct-07-2004, 4:28pm

I wouldn't bother with the Crafter unless you want to plug into an amp, mine is superb plugged in but leaves an lot to be desired acoustic, it's heavy with a thick neck as well.Just my pennys worth. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Billy

Oct-07-2004, 7:31pm