jazz mandolin...

**mando on the side** · Aug-30-2005, 10:23pm

Anyone have any ideas on a decent mandolin for jazz sounds for under $1000?

**John Rosett** · Aug-30-2005, 11:04pm

i really like my teens gibson A for jazz. i play a regular acoustic jazz gig with a guitarist, and it has plenty of volume and a sweet, warm tone. i think you could find a nice one for a grand or less.

**Eugene** · Aug-31-2005, 9:30am

You might draw the advice of even more of those who know by posting in the "Jazz, Swing, Blues, Bossa, Choro, Klezmer & World Music" section.

**250sc** · Aug-31-2005, 11:30am

I'll probably get flamed for this but in my opinion anything that plays in tune and has decent action should work if you make it work. There isn't a "standard" jazz mando tone established that I know of so there shouldn't be any pre-conseved notion as to what a mando should sound like in a jazz setting. Listen to Django's guitar tone. It isn't warm or rich or full of overtones but it certainly does the job because he is playing it. I read somewhere that Coltrane played a plastic sax for a while. I would think that a plastic sax wouldn't have the resonance and tone of a brass one but for that time in his life it is what he wanted.

Personally, I would select the mando that played well and sounded good to me and make it fit the genre. The suggestion of a good sounding old Gibson A should work in most musical setting.

Good luck.

**glauber** · Aug-31-2005, 11:33am

250, my thoughts, exactly, and i couldn't have said it better.

**Ted Eschliman** · Aug-31-2005, 11:52am

I'm in about 80% agreement with the previous two posts.
However, there is an important consideration that weighs heavier on instruments that will play jazz, this issue of "line."
Mandolins can be a percussion instrument (Bluegrass "Chop") or melody (soloing), and in jazz you want an instrument that will handle more of the latter. Less emphasis on the projection qualities (brilliance, volume) and more on the rich vertical needs (sustain, warmth, body).
This the case, it will be a little more difficult getting a well-made instrument that can handle this need under $1K, but as John says, the teens A mandos are an excellent place to start. Not to say there aren't instruments out there in this price range, just takes a little more looking.

**glauber** · Aug-31-2005, 12:07pm

There's always MidMo, if you don't need F-Holes.

**Pete Martin** · Aug-31-2005, 12:08pm

I have a great sounding Gilchrist F5, but prefer my 1923 A2 over it for jazz. #Seems to have a tone that fits the music better, to my ear.

You can find Gibson As, especially the A0 and Ajr on Ebay for very reasonable. #They just need to be played a LOT to sound full.

**mando on the side** · Aug-31-2005, 1:29pm

thanks for all of your replies, certainly very very helpful. I have an eastman 615 right now, and want to get an oval hole of sorts; there are certainly lots of jazz "looking" mandos out there also. For now, I'm using the f holes, the 615 has great sustain, works well, a bit less mellow for that jazz tone I tend to hear,but I recently switched to the pro-plec 1.5 picks, and I can get a decent warm tone with that pick.

Looks like I'll be getting an A/Oval soon!

**250sc** · Aug-31-2005, 3:25pm

mandohack,

You mention the importance of sustain, warmth and body in a mandolin's tone in a jazz setting. Personally, I agree and strive to get those qualities but when I listen to Django I don't hear those qualities at all. Do you think that is due of the recording technology of the time?

**arbarnhart** · Aug-31-2005, 3:46pm

I will get a bunch of eye rolls for even suggesting it, but my dirt cheap Washburn oval hole A has been compared favorably to old Gibsons (look at this thread for details). For the price (around $200), it's a great choice IMO. Here is a listing if you're interested.