What's a good mandolin

[Mule]

I've got a low end Fender that I'm learning on but I'm going to Townsend,Tn. in May for a festival & thought about doin a little instrument shoppin whilst there. What would be a decent mandolin for $400.00 or less?

[Soupy1957]

I saw a "Dean" Mandolin recently that I thought was pretty horrible for under $400.00..Johnson makes some for under that amount too, I think..

There was an "Old Hickory" on YouTube that I noticed once, and I inquired about the price..(sounded ok), and I was told something like $150.00.

-Soupy1957

[Andrew Lewis]

Mid-Missouri once made a wonderful flattop A-style round hole mando at several price points close to that. They are no longer, but are now building under the name Big Muddy (I think that's the name.). If you see a "Mid-Mo," I and many others would highly recommend checking it out.

[Lee]

Tough price point. In the $400 range most definately looked for a used instrument. A used Mid-Missouri won't give you the carved top tone, but it's a nice well built flat top.
There's an intriquing Alvarez A800 in our classifieds for $500 with some upgrades. (No financial interest of course.)

[mythicfish]

As long as the Fender is well set up/comfortable to play, you're not likely to experience a significant bump in quality
for the money you want to spend. Better to wait until you know how to play, then you'll know what a mandolin sounds
like when properly played. At this point, a "better" mandolin is not likely to make you sound better.

Curt

[Richard Russell]

One that, in your hands, plays better and sounds significantly better than your current mandolin. If you play a few, you will likely find one or two that your ear is drawn to and the decision should be made between those models that stand out to you. I was recently VERY impressed by a Kentucky km-250s that was priced at around $275. I also was quite blown away by a Kentucky km-675 priced at somewhere over $600. There are some good ones out there that don't break the bank. Get it set up well and you're on your way.

[dmamlep]

I have played several Morgan Monroes, and most sound and play pretty well. and I play a Gibson F5L.

[JEStanek]

Look at a used 505 or 504 (ff and oval respectively) Eastman series. Look for a decent solid Stradolin - used. The Mid-Mo / Big-Muddy is a good mando too, used. Look at the Kentucky 300 series (380S I believe).

Go with A models rather than F styles and stay used. For $400 you can get a nice playing / sounding mando if you're not going to be to hung up on looks (unless you, like me, think those old Stradolins are cool).

If you're spending $400 for a flashy looking mando you may not get a bump up in performance or tone from what you already have. A proper set up is critical.

Jamie

[Mikey G]

I have an Epiphone MM50 that was built in 1999, (Korean,) that sounds/looks/plays pretty good, and I think that's about what they cost.

[rounDSound]

i just scored a mint breedlove quartz oo for 529. i'm not sure if this is a common price, but it's deffinitly a beautiful instrument and almost within your price range. might want to look around for these...

[otterly2k]

rounD - that was a real deal on a Quartz OO. They are usually around $700-750 used. Good for you, but I wouldn't expect to find that kind of deal easily or often.

[rounDSound]

rounD - that was a real deal on a Quartz OO. #They are usually around $700-750 used. #Good for you, but I wouldn't expect to find that kind of deal easily or often.

Really? While searching google for them, I came upon another auction from a while ago that sold for $560 so i assumed this was the norm.

Good luck in finding your new instrument Mule...

[otterly2k]

Well, maybe they've come down since I last checked, but I still think those prices are the exception, not the norm. I suppose it might make a difference which tp it has and whether or not it comes with a hardshell case. But still, I think you got a great deal.

[Eric F.]

They seem to draw little interest on eBay. Beats me why. Maybe they're not shiny and scrolly enough. Less than $600 for a Quartz seems like a great deal to me too, Karen.

[MandoSquirrel]

I keep watch on Breedloves, as a very happy KO owner, and anything under $750 is a GREAT deal.

[rounDSound]

Sorry to hijack your thread mule..

Thanks for the words of encouragment on my purchase! Just goes to show that deals can be had on ebay, if one is willing to forgo playing a specific instrument before hand.

Mule, short of a steal of a deal on ebay, my vote is that you try playing an eastman 505. They are beautifully finished and sound very nice indeed.

[Mule]

No problem roundsound. Thanks for all the input folks, I'll keep some of these in mind. I have a Morgan Monroe banjo that I'm pleased with & they have a mandolin that I'm interested in. It's a plain jane lookin mandolin with natural finish, I can't remember the model # right off. I'll try to look it up on the net and post again to see if anyone has experience with one of'em.

[dmamlep]

I have liked most Morgan Monroe's I have played and as for the Morgan Monroe Banjo Our Banjo player played one for long time till he got his Mastertone. They seem to make some quality insturments

[mingusb1]

I played a $500 Eastman (A-style w/F holes) recently that was pretty solid. Nice neck, looked pretty good, projected. Not a complex sound, but one that could be heard in a jam.

Can say the same about very few mandos around 0.5K in my experience.

Z

[allenhopkins]

(unless you, like me, think those old Stradolins are cool).

And they are -- one of the best bargains in vintage mandolins, IMHO. Funky as anything, but a good sound, and available for much less than mid-range Pac-rims or more prestigous nameplates. As it happens, Elderly has two on sale in your price range:
Here's one
and here's another

Both of them need professional tweaking and set-up, but even at that, you could end up with a vintage instrument that outperforms modern "cheapos," and that will increase in value (if you take care of it), while the new one's more likely to depreciate.

[Larry Simonson]

For a little over $100 and a bunch of sweat (actually enjoyable work) you can get a IV A model kit and put it together if you have a little woodworking skill. I got a really nice sounding mando that way and learned a bunch.

[dmamlep]

what's the dif between a mandolin and a stradolin? one bigger and how much.

[JEStanek]

Stradolin is a brand not a different member of the mando family (e.g., mando, mandola, octave, mandocello, mandobass).

Jamie

[dmamlep]

Thanks, see a new-be can get all kinds of info on here
without others making fun, Now ain't that sweet

[Jim Nollman]

I bought a 1920s Kay on Ebay five years ago for $150. It sounded mediocre when i first got it, but I was willing to spend a little more money to experiment on it, because i thought that big body should sound incredible with the right additions. I first had the neck re-set, the fretboard flattened and re-fretted, and a new bone nut installed. $150. Then I bought a cheap but beautiful, heavy brass Chinese tailpiece and Ebony/bone bridge on Ebay, and sanded the bridge down for awesomely low action. $25. I totally splurged and spent $60 on gold plated schaller tuners. I thre3w away the plastic pickguard and carved one myself out of padauk. I tried several types of strings, and now pretty much just use DR heavy gauge strings on it. $8.

The rewsult isa a big sounding, jazz mandolin as good as the $1500 models for less than $400. Plus it's unique, and its my own baby. I'd suggest every player try something like this at least once in their lives.