Washburn Jethro Burns mandolin

**Ray Neuman** · Feb-22-2005, 10:55am

Good morning gang,

I just ran across one of the Jethro Burns Washburn mandolins on a site, and I have to admit it looks great! All solid woods and all.

Anyone ever played one? I have been playing a Washburn A model for about 10 years now, and would consider the Burns model for an affordable F.

Thanks for sharing the wealth of info here. I am still enjoying the Collings F that was so gratefully lent to me. (I just might run away to Cuba with it...smile. I know the owner reads this forum)

Just kidding.

Thanks for the imput. I hope to be able to get a mandolin in the next year for about $1500.00. This one is on the short list.

professir

**straight-a** · Feb-22-2005, 11:26am

Just a personal opinion here. I've played 6 different Washburn Jethro Burns mandolins and I would not recommend them. Especially with a 1500 budget in mind. Yes, they look nice but the sound just isn't there in any of the ones that I have played. I would put that kind of money on a good quality A model and get the tone, volume and playability that you can be satisfied with for years to come.

**Baron Collins-Hill** · Feb-22-2005, 12:03pm

i agree word for word with straight a. go for the A style, thats what everyone told me to do, and i am happy with my descision. correct me if im wrong, but i think you could get a decent custom for about 1500. i played a jethro in a store and it was set up nice and all but the sound wasnt there, i agree they look nice though.

**Pete Martin** · Feb-22-2005, 12:14pm

Ditto. There are way better mandos out there for that price.

**Kbone** · Feb-22-2005, 12:25pm

Get the japanese chocolate one for $675 in the classifieds, they're much better that the current...

**Lane Pryce** · Feb-22-2005, 1:06pm

Gosh for $200.00 bucks more you could get one of laura ratcliff's A styles. Lp

**LarryWilliams** · Feb-22-2005, 3:01pm

I too will have to echo the consensus here. I used to own a left-handed Jethro Burns. It was a fine looking mandolin but no sound. Someone who looked at it thought that Washburn had used a polyurethean (sp?) instead of lacquer for the finish. My Henderson had twice the sound the day I brought it home compared to my Washburn.

Larry Williams