Shopping for a $500 mandolin

[hafner]

A friend of mine has been letting me borrow his Epiphone MM-30 A-style mandolin for about a year now; he's been great about it, but my guilt for keeping it so long and my desire to own my own instrument that I can love has prompted me to buy something I can call my own.

I am a pretty raw beginner after even a year, so it's not as if the MM-30 is holding me back. But I've begun to be annoyed with its tinny upper-register tone and the fact that strings that are in tune when open turn sharp when fretted.

So - after scrimping and saving, I have $500 for a mandolin, and am hoping that is enough to get me a good upgrade, something decent that can grow with me as I learn. While it'd be great to get a beautiful mandolin with a gorgeous inlay, fantastic finish, etc., what I really, really want is a great player that will hold its tune, intonate correctly, and give me something as close to that gorgeous liquid mandolin tone as I can get at this price point. I am looking for bang for the buck.

I've done a lot of research online, but I've hit a bit of a stopping point, and this is where I would love to get some advice. I've narrowed down to a few reputable brands and a few models that look good, but I can't seem to differentiate them. The difference between solid sycamore, maple, mahogany - is there really a difference in tone? Rosewood vs. ebony bridge and fingerboard - is that just an aesthetic thing? Should I hold out for non-generic tuners? I do want all solid wood.

I would just go down to a local shop to see which feels and sounds best to me, but I haven't found a place in Seattle that stocks these. Guitar Center has two mandolins, both Epiphones like the one I'm already familiar with. Dusty Strings is a nice place, but its mandos are way, way out of my price range. And I've checked both the Kentucky and Morgan Monroe dealer locators and there are none nearby.

So, if I can't try these myself, could somebody please help me make heads or tails of this list?

So far I've narrowed it down to, with best prices:
Morgan Monroe MMS-2W (spruce/sycamore) - $379
Rover RM-75 (spruce/maple) - $381
Kentucky KM-505 (spruce/maple) - $446
Morgan Monroe MMS-3W (spruce/maple) - $449
Morgan Monroe MMS-4 (spruce/sycamore) - $449
Kentucky KM-620 (spruce/maple) - $470
Michael Kelly MK17 Legacy Plus (spruce/maple) - $499

I've seen a few used higher-end Kentuckys, Michael Kellys, and Washburns around near my price range. And the Gold Tone GM-70 and "The Loar" LM-500 are near enough to my price range that I could stretch if they are worth the premium.

But to be honest, I just can't differentiate these. The specs all look similar, and I think they're all imports. Of course, every retail site I visit uses the manufacturer text, so according to them, every one of these mandolins gives ringing tone, great bark, and the best performance for the dollar. I'm sure much of the tone comes from the pick and strings you use, but I would have to imagine there is at least *some* difference between these mandolins. I've looked at the Folk of the Wood videos, but not all of the mandolins here are represented there and the sound in the video is tinny enough that it's hard to tell much about the tone (to my ears, anyway).

I would appreciate any advice that would help me make order from this chaos. If anybody actually owns any of these mandolins, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience ...

[Steve Ostrander]

Assuming that you want an f-hole model rather than oval, from your list of new mandos I personally would pick the Kentucky km505. At your $500 price point I wouldn't even consider an F style, unless it was a used mando, and that's a whole 'nother discussion.

The good people at the The Mandolin Store have sound clips on their web site. While it's not the same as playing one or being in the same room, it will give you some idea of the sound.

[hafner]

Assuming that you want an f-hole model rather than oval, from your list of new mandos I personally would pick the Kentucky km505. At your $500 price point I wouldn't even consider an F style, unless it was a used mando, and that's a whole 'nother discussion.

Thanks for the response! The KM505 does seem to be a nice mandolin - it's the nicest of the reasonably priced A styles I've seen. My own concession to vanity is that I would prefer an F style, but the KM505 is a nice-looking mando.

My question is this - what about the KM-505 makes it better than, say, the KM-620 F style? Is there something intrinsic about it that would give better tone/playability? Aside from a radiused ebony fingerboard (which sounds nice) its basic specifications look the same as the F style mandos in the same price range.

I fully believe the KM-505 is fundamentally a better instrument - it looks nice - but I'm curious as to why that's true.

The good people at the The Mandolin Store have sound clips on their web site. #While it's not the same as playing one or being in the same room, it will give you some idea of the sound.

Ooh, thanks for the steer.

[mrmando]

On the Seattle Craig's List, you'll find a used Mid-Missouri and a used Tacoma that are both within your price range. I would take them over anything on your list except perhaps the Kentucky 505.

I'd also recommend running over to the U-District to check out The Trading Musician and The Folkstore. The former has had a Bob Givens flattop in stock for quite a while now. Forget what they were asking, but it's the nicest mandolin in the shop. They also usually have some Saga products like the Kentuckys. Folkstore might have some mandos in your price range as well. Instruments in these two shops will be decently set up, which is more than I can say for any mandolin at any Guitar Center in the area.

Ted Brown's in Tacoma is carrying quite a few Eastmans these days ... not sure what the prices are but it might be worth asking.

PM me if you want more information.

[mrmando]

And to answer your question, the KM620 has a laminated top. Ouch. Never buy any mandolin with a laminated top. The KM505 has a solid, handcarved top. If you see a new A-style and a new F-style that are the same price, you have to figure that someone cut a few corners when building the F-style.

[hafner]

And to answer your question, the KM620 has a laminated top. Ouch. Never buy any mandolin with a laminated top. The KM505 has a solid, handcarved top. If you see a new A-style and a new F-style that are the same price, you have to figure that someone cut a few corners when building the F-style.

Yikes. Not sure how I missed that. Some of the other F-style mandos in this price range have solid tops, I think - though I thought the KM620 had a solid top too, so now I'm questioning my research.

The KM505 does seem to be towards the top of its range, though, something that is not true of the F-style mandos in this range. For example, the MMS-8 Morgan Monroe is above the MMS-4. I guess my confusion is whether that means something for tone and playability or just gets you nicer inlays and appearance.

Also, thanks for the advice on local retail stores. I had been to the Trading Musician and had seen lots of low-end new mandos - I missed the Bob Givens - and somehow I've never even heard of The Folkstore.

Thanks for all of the help.

[John Flynn]

On your list, I would go with the 505 also. Unfortunately, I have not yet had a chance to play one, but the specs on are really great for the money. If you get a good setup on one of those, I think you will have a very decent instrument you can be satisfied with for a while.

[mrmando]

I wouldn't touch Morgan Monroe.

[mrmando]

P.S. If it's bang for the buck you want, why aren't you looking at used instruments? Anything on your list will depreciate by a hundred bucks the moment you pay for it.

[Alex Orr]

You could probably find a used Eastman in that range.

Also, even if a cheap F has a solid top, then the back and sides will be laminated.

Whatever you buy, remember to factor in set-up costs.

I've been thoroughly pleased with my Kentucky 380S. I would assume the 505 is a better version of what I have, and although quality varies, it would seem like yor best bet.

Also, I wouldn't pay $500 for a used mid-mo. No offense to those guys, they make a nice little budget oval-hole, but for what you're wanting to spend, I think you can do better. Also, based on what you've listed, it looks like you're looking for an F-holed model for use in a bluegrass setting.

I'd also agree about the Morgan Monroes - I've never played one that I thought sounded like much of anything.

[kww]

You can get excellent mandolins for that kind of money if you are willing to forgo the bluegrass styling. I'm happy with my tricordia from Lark in the Morning. I've heard good things about their Senorita mandolin as well.

[hafner]

Thanks for the feedback on the Morgan Monroes. I have to admit, they looked like a great deal for the money, so now I know why. I'll scratch them off the list.

P.S. If it's bang for the buck you want, why aren't you looking at used instruments? Anything on your list will depreciate by a hundred bucks the moment you pay for it.

It's a great point. I am actually keeping an eye on used instruments, both in the Mandolin Cafe classifieds and in Craigs List. I'm totally open to buying used, but there is such a wide variety of brands and models available used that it's harder to pin down. Brands I don't know, models I don't know ... for example, Trading Musician has had on their site an older Mateo F-style mando. The image looked nice enough, not that that means anything. But I know nothing about Mateo, a search here turned up nothing, and a Google search turned up nothing. There's all kinds of stuff in the classifieds here that I know nothing about.

Learning new mandos seemed a little less daunting (though still daunting enough to prompt this post). There's more info out there and the selection is more standardized. I'm totally willing to learn, though, and I'd be ecstatic if I could find a great used mando that is of a higher quality than the ones on this list.

[terrierguy]

The Folk Store is owned by a mandolin player. They have Kentucky s among other things. Give them a call before you go just to be sure that they have what you are looking for. I think they are on Roosevelt just north of 50th.

[Mattg]

What kind of music do you want to play? If it's bluegrass, I couldn't see banging on a Mid-Mo the ones I've seen (repaired one for a pal too) seemed flimsy and I had trouble playing hard which you will do in a jam of any kind. I can move the bridge from side to side. I made a bigger one and it still moves.

I would second the 505a. I really like the 380s and the 505a seems better. I also second looking for a 505 eastman. Can't go wrong.

[hafner]

Thanks, everybody - seems like a pretty strong consensus for the Kentucky KM-505. Based on the feedback here I've also been noodling around looking at used mandos, and eBay does have some used KM-675 Kentuckys in my price range - they are pretty nice, I believe. The classifieds here also have a Washburn MS3W for sale in my price range.

How do those stack up?

[hafner]

What kind of music do you want to play?

Primarily bluegrass and old-time fiddle tunes - that's what I've been starting off with. Probably folk music as well and old-time music that I can strum as people sing around.

I also love the way the mandolin sounds in rock music. There's a part of me that would love to rock out with a mandolin with some grinding power chords ...



I can't profess to any great proficiency with the mandolin yet, but I just love the instrument - the way mandolins look, the way they sound, the way they are tuned ...

[olgraypat]

The Washburn looks pretty good. It obviously would be best to compare, but unfortunately you can't. If you really like the f style, you might just want to take a chance on it. But it looks like you're on the right track. I agree that the Mid Mo or the Takoma might be better mandolins but not likely to fit your desires. Probably just need to go with your heart. Maybe you can get a trial on the Washburn if you pay the shipping both ways (?)

[Eddie Sheehy]

The Gypsy is better for Folk music than Bluegrass but Walt could probably fix you up with something in your price range. Great bang for the buck, and American made with excellent customer service.

[elvisNoir]

The Folk Store is owned by a mandolin player. #They have Kentucky s among other things. #Give them a call before you go just to be sure that they have what you are looking for. #I think they are on Roosevelt just north of 50th.

Not only is Stu at the Folkstore a Mandolin guy, he also sells Kentucky mandolins, and other mandolins as well, but most importantly he has my Orpheum (Korea) for sale as well, which is in your price range. The Orpheum was generally well regarded, but not overly common, it seems.

[Onesound]

I would seriously check into an Eastman. #Even their "bottom of the line" 500's are good to great instruments when compaired to their price competition. #Also, check into the RedLine Traveler by Cumberland Acoustic. #I've heard good things about them. #So much so that I've ordered one for myself. (I picked them over the Eastman for their dimunitive size - ideal for traveling.) #Used Flatiron Pancakes usually go for more than $500, but are typically great sounding instruments if they have been well cared for (though they are not a traditional bluegrass sound).

Bottom line is, though, play as many as you can and go with the one that sounds and feels the best to your ears and hands. Definately, do not buy based on looks alone. But, be prepaired for surprises... I once played an "inexpensive" pressed top Washburn Scroll F that sounded seriously complex and woody -quite satisfying actually.

[Stephen Perry]

KM-505 warmer, not quite as fast, surprisingly good. Eastman MD505 faster response, crisp, perhaps more treble and cut than you want. Both nice. I like the Eastman better, but I like fast lock time always.

[Keith Newell]

I am curious as to what is used to measure a "faster response time"? Just wondering so I can rate various mandolins I run across.
Keith

[John Flynn]

KM-505 warmer, not quite as fast, surprisingly good. Eastman MD505 faster response, crisp, perhaps more treble and cut than you want. Both nice. I like the Eastman better, but I like fast lock time always.

Yeah, I'm also wondering about the term "lock time." What is that? I've never heard it used in relation to musical instruments before. That would seem to be measurable also. I can't even fathom what it might mean.

[morristownmando]

I think you would not be dissapointed with the kentucky 505 but if you wanted a f style i would check craigslist and ebay for a older japan made f like the older kentuckys km-650 700 750 800 850.Sometimes you can find one of these for around $500 and they will hold there own with alot of higher end mandos also the craftsmanship on these mandolins are excellent.

[mrmando]

Used Eastman for $500 on the Seattle Craig's List. Go check it out.