Where to find a distressed mandola

[plunkett5]

Any ideas on where I could locate a good sounding, hurt looking mandola? I can't afford a great collectable condition instrument, but I want a good sounding A style Martin or Gibson. I've played both and either would fit my needs for Irish and Old Time music. I have taken this route with mandolins and have two great old Gibsons that sound wonderful, are a pleasure to play and look like...well, let's leave it that they won't win any beauty pagents. I want to play and listen to 'em, not look at 'em. Thanks- Mike

[John Bertotti]

If you don't mind building your own you should contact luthier, Don Kawalek. I wanted to build a five course mandola/short scale cittern, depending on where your from. He made a few adjustments in his OM kit and now I have a proto type kit that I think is really going to blast. I've read through his instructions and anyone can truly build this themselves. John

[Chris Baird]

Watch out, these days you'll pay more for those distressed mandothings.

[plunkett5]

True enough Chris, but I'm looking for one "honestly" distressed by time or careless children etc. I love the sound and feel of older instruments, the sense that they played music before us and will be played after us. The problem is getting one in a condition that serves musically, but fails to measure up for a collector. I'll keep looking.

[Chris Baird]

Well don't know your price range but saw a mandola or two here http://www.guitarandbanjo.com/. I'm sure there are lots of other places to look as well.