Washburn M1SDL as traveler for sessions?

**celtic_knut** · Apr-10-2006, 2:14pm

Anyone have an expierience with these? It's another option for me for a cheap travel mando for taking in sessions while on the road. Does anyone out there have any firsthand feedback on its tone, volume, and playability?

Thanks,
CK

**Jerry Byers** · Apr-10-2006, 2:38pm

I bought one for my daughter because she wanted a red mandolin and it was cheap. I still play it now and then because it definitely has it's own tone. It has a short neck (12th fret) and a flat fingerboard. If you set it up properly, it actually plays quite nicely. I need to replace the rosewood bridge because it was not set properly and I want to put an ebony bridge on it. The neck is straight and the finish is real nice. I'm actually thinking about upgrading the tailpiece and tuners. Okay, you get what you pay for, but all in all, it is a nice, cheap mandolin with a sweet tone. It doesn't bark that loud, but it has nice sustain and tone. I did take off the cheesy pickguard.

Tone is good, the volume is okay (doesn't compare to my MK or Eastman), and it fun to play (short neck).

**Steve Davis** · Apr-10-2006, 4:52pm

I have a black one and like it very much. It has a sweet ringing tone, plays easily, and stays in tune.

**arbarnhart** · Sep-08-2006, 10:22am

Ressurecting this thread to catch the eye of other owners or folks who might know...

I am curious if anyone has any inside knowledge on how these are built. Do they really just roll off a big line like the rest of the Washburns? A few things make me curious. First is that I own one and I like it a lot. I have had it over a year now. Sounds good, stays in tune and others who play it are generally impressed with it. I really haven't received any negative feedback (unless you count "it's not really a bluegrass mando" as negative) from better players and my teacher is pleased with it. Second is I am not alone. I have yet to see a complaint about one. Search the net and you will find then for sale all over the place; they are not that rare. Look for reviews and opinions and you will find positive after positive. Someone I e-chatted with even showed his to Statman (lives in NY and knows him) and Statman like it well enough to immediately recommend it to someone else wanting an economical A. Third is that unlike most of the line, there don't seem to be a bunch of identical cousins. This model appears to be unique to Washburn. The only other F headstock on an oval A I have seen is a very different beast. Despite them listing it as the deluxe model of the M1S (their F model A), it has very little in common. There was a thread in the building forum a while back where someone happened to get one used that had the back damaged and when he took the back off he was fairly impressed with the inside and happened to lay it on an A4 plan and found it to be a perfect match.

**5to12string** · Sep-22-2006, 5:30pm

Hi All:
I'm getting my M1sdl in a few days!!
I bought the M6SW and love it.
When I decided to get a mandolin I looked at the eastman but couldnt see paying $1500.00 for a mandolin that didnt sound any better than the Washburn M6SW.
And yes they do run off a production line made by oriantals.
I was lucky and the store I bought from had 7 of the M6SW and out of the 7, 3 were very nice ( but some were very badly made) so I would nor recomend buying a new washburn through the net. Buy only in person so you get what you want.I added a K&K sound transducer to the F style and it sounds GREAT!!!
I'm realy looking forward to the M1SDL to come in.

Scott

**arbarnhart** · Feb-21-2007, 7:42am

I think I found the answer to my own question (above). Here is a link to what appears to be exactly the same mandolin from another maker, but with specific information about who makes it:

http://www.straus.co.kr/am50sdl.htm

In case the link goes stale, here is some of the info:

**cooper4205** · Feb-21-2007, 10:23am

it looks like they make washburn, epiphone, bean blossom and a few other brands

here is youtube video from the factory i came across

factory tour clip

**Martin Jonas** · Feb-21-2007, 11:49am

Arbarnhart,

The web site you found lists an address in China next to the Korean address, which I would think implies that the Chinese may actually make it. The spec says it's mahogany back and sides: is that true of yours, too?

I'm quite tempted by this model as a cheap carved oval (a gap in my current line-up), but it seems that only the "normal" M1-S is being sold in the UK.

Martin

**Lee Callicutt** · Feb-21-2007, 7:37pm

Not to answer for Andy, but the back and sides of mine are maple. #I have seen some ebayers and discounters of this instrument say mahogany, but if you go directly to the Washburn site, you'll see maple. #

I enjoy the heck out of mine. #You can't go wrong for the dollar, and if I didn't already have one and was interested in one, I'd snag thet one that Jerry has listed in the classifieds with a few nice mods.

**arbarnhart** · Feb-21-2007, 7:55pm

Mine is maple as well. The colors for Washburn are also different. But I would bet dollars to donuts it is the very same assembly line just using different source wood and different paint when they fill the Washburn order. And yes, the Chinese location is probably more relevant.