Some good and some bad. I have collected several japanese mandolins and probably had the best luck with the a-models. There are some real good f-models, but also some real stinkers - tops too thick, heavy on the finish. Don't get me wrong, I have some that I just love, but for some reason, when I set out to get an Ibanez or Alvarez F-5 clone, I guess the ones that were up for sale were the stinkers. I have bought many mandolins prior to playing, and at a gamble. But most were the Japanese A's in the $200 to $300 range. To go into the $600 to $800 range, I would definatly look at the Flatirons.
f-d
ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
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