new mandolin

[Steve Jeter]

Can anyone help me with advice on new mando? I now have a oscar schmidt om- 40. I bought it about 3 months ago when I took up mandolin. I didnt know the f style was the standard bluegrass mando and Im not to into bluegrass. For folk and old time it looks like what I need is a oval hole A style. Any recommendations on mando between 400 and 700 dollars.

thanks Steve

[bradeinhorn]

they will say midmo. just go get it...

[Greg H.]

Well they won't JUST say MidMo. They (I) might say go here Mass Street Music and buy a Y2K or try and come up with $875 for a Davis Flattop.

Of course a MidMissouri would also be a good choice.

[SurebetVA]

You can play folk music on that oscar schmidt, but if you have $400-$700 to spend I would suggest Mid Missouri. #I own two Weber's myself but I like MidMo in that price range better than Y2K. #You will be a lot happier with a MidMo than the Oscar Schmidt I would think. #Just my two cents. #Don't own MidMo but I have played quite a few and like them quite a bit.

[fatt-dad]

You can always look for a Flatiron "pancake" too (i.e., 1N, or anything from the 2 or 3 series also).

f-d

[Steve Jeter]

A lot of people recommend a mid-mo. I am worried that where I live, Houston TX , that the humidity is so high and the heat 8 months of the year. I am concerned about the truss rod not being adjustable. any thoughts?

[Mando-steeler]

Have you checked into Eastman?

Several posts here can direct you to the mandolin of choice.

Good Luck

Gary

[DryBones]

Arches makes a nice looking flat top, Flat Top starts around $800

Arches Mandolins

[Jasper]

Stevo's concern about a non-adjustable truss rod is also a concern if you live in a dry climate, especially during the winter when dry heating and an even drier climate tend to make the action/neck move around. The Mid-Mo that I owned had an issue in Ohio during the winter...it would buzz. Without an adjustable truss rod, the only remedy was a higher bridge, so Mid-Mo put on a higher bridge and sent me two or three more to use. Their mandolins sound great, but if you get one, look into a couple of extra bridges that are higher for changing climes.

[otterly2k]

Jasper- most instruments' sound and shape will change a bit in dry climate...e.g. dry house heat. Wood will do that. I"m glad Mid Mo gave you some bridges to swap in to help adjust for that.

I may be wrong, but I"m not sure adjusting the truss rod to deal with that is the best strategy anyway. My understanding is that the truss rod is really only for adjusting the relief of the neck. Most likely, the changes are coming from the body, not the neck. So bridge adjustment would be the proper strategy.

[chuck.naill]

Save yourself some time. Buy a MD 504 from Eastman. Make sure someone like Steve a Gianna Violins optimizes the product by proper set up. It will cost you around $500 plus shipping.

This is the style of instruments played by Norman Blake and other old time players because they like the sustain in sound that this style allows. More single note and less percussion

Chuck