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So Antares instruments, I've seen Mandolins and Banjos from them on the web. A friend just picked up a very nice B&&&o at a yard sale for 40$, now I am curious about the company. Are their instruments Asian imports? When were they made? Are they current production or an old company like Vega? And most importantly are the mandolins any good? Thanks
I had one of these, it was a very cheap Asian import, I think from Korea. I got it in high school around 1989, it was actually my first mandolin. It was just awful, made very poorly out of some cheap laminate. But that's what you get for buying a mandolin from an accordion dealer, which is what I did. It's the only Antares mandolin I've ever seen, so perhaps there are other better ones out there.
I have never played an Antares mandolin but I have an Antares guitar in the closet that needs a neck re-set. I think so much of it I will give it to anyone willing to pay the cost of packing and shipping. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/...ons/tounge.gif
Googled on "Antares instruments" -- couldn't find a website, but every listing I found for their guitars etc. had prices less than $100. Looks like a low-end line of Asian imports, "student grade" as they say.
Below student grade. When I got back into playing the mandolin about two years ago, I pulled out my old Antares (which at that time was the only mandolin I'd ever owned or played) and immediately put it down again. The next day I went online found this website and within a week I'd ordered a Mid-Missouri M-2. The Kentuckys are at least playable, I'd say those are student grade. The Antares was something else.
Saw one of these on craigslist for $50. I take it their not even good for beginners? If not, what is a good starter?
That really depends on your budget; if you're looking to spend 50 buxx, you might find something playable though crummy-sounding, or you might find something unplayable though crummy-sounding -- absent the one-in-a-million lucky find.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad Flanery
If you can handle $200, something like this Kentucky KM-150, with good store set-up, will get you started fine.