Re: Good Beginner Mandolin?
Welcome to the Café, Lerien & Katman,
The two options I point to first are the Kentucky KM140S (solid top only) and the Kentucky KM150 (all solid) A style (teardrop shape) mandolins with F holes. These are well made, good starter (and later beater - a mandolin you take anywhere and don't worry about) instruments. These will run between $190-250. Do yourself a favor and buy them only from places that do a set up first. You will likely want to change the strings once you get it. D'Addario J74 strings are a good starting point. String changing is simple if you do it one at a time. I like these instructions best.
If your budget is less than $200, look into the Rouges or a Savannah and DO NOT buy from E-bay. Those instruments will not come set up and will require another $50-80 to get them set up by someone competent to work on them. Our Café sponsors have budget minded instruments and will set the instrument up to it's potential. Feel free to ask questions.
Jamie
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946
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