Mandolin shopping in Atlanta, Ga.?

**TonyK** · May-07-2010, 5:36pm

Hi Mandolin Players

I have been silently visiting this site for awile and finally registered

. I have been playing mandolin for about 6 months now and I really want to go get a decent mandolin from a local dealer in Atlanta Georgia. Anyone know where I could look for a decent mandolin in stock? Thanks

**TonyK** · May-07-2010, 7:02pm

I am thinking Breedlove or Weber, and I dont want to order one and have it shipped into the furnace of Atlanta, lol.

**recon** · May-07-2010, 7:49pm

I am not familiar with any retail stores in ATL. However, there are several builders within 2 hours of Atlanta. You might find even more if you search the Cafe's builder database for states that border Georgia. Best wishes with your search.

**Trey Young** · May-08-2010, 1:40am

The best place I've found in the ATL so far has been Maple Street Music in Buckhead. They have a couple of Webers, Eastmans, and Collings. Nice, knowledgable staff too.

**TonyK** · May-08-2010, 5:05am

Thanks Ill check them out, want to try it before dropping that kind of money, hopefully find one that I can dig for years to come.

**mishima** · May-08-2010, 5:12am

I second Maple tree Music. I wandered in expressed an interest in mandolin. One of the staff et me up in a room and brought me a different mandolin about every 15 minutes, it was a wonderful hour and a half.

Mike

**EarlG** · May-09-2010, 11:26am

I had a little different experience at Maple Street. I was asked if I was an "accomplished player" and then they taped up the mandolin so I would not scratch it.

I guess it was kind of all right but it put me off a little bit.

They do have a nice selection of mandolins.

**Trey Young** · May-09-2010, 9:34pm

They've always taped the mandolins (and put a clear temporary pickguard on the guitars) whenever I've been in there. I guess when you're allowing people to play higher end instruments you haft to protect your investment...

**TonyK** · May-10-2010, 5:04am

Maybe Ill wear a nice shirt and start counting 100 dollar bills in front of them, that will probably help, lol! I am off on wensday, so Ill go in then and see then, but I want to sleep on it anyway and I have to tell them, heck no if I am an accomplished player, what does that even mean? As long as they don't tell me something condecending, but thats the way Buckhead is in general.

**EarlG** · May-10-2010, 10:07am

True, and I'm not really a Buckhead type. It is a nice area for those with the bucks and champaign taste though.

**Jeff A** · May-10-2010, 10:17am

Maple Street is a great guitar store with many high end acoustic and electric guitars and a few mandos. They have been around a long time with the same owners whose interest is more towards classical guitar. George and Claire are wonderful folks who have always been protective of the instruments in the shop. This is a good thing for the buyer, not the tester. I brought in my Gilchrist Model 1 as George had never seen one and he promptly started fingerpicking it. Strong long fingernails fingerpicking classical on a mando! Very cool.

**oldtimestrings** · May-11-2010, 9:39am

Maple Street is a great shop, and though I've never bought anything there, they've always treated me very well. (I did grow up in Buckhead, but I don't think it shows.) Smallish but top-quality selection of Collings mandolins.

**mandodan1960** · May-11-2010, 10:54am

Yes Maple street has a bit of a "wine and cheese set" air about it. If you go in there knowing that it really helps. As others have said the owners are very nice. They are picky and thats to your advantage. If I'm a instrument salesman I know not to bring them any junk. Although there's a limited selection is been chosen carefully. My 2 cents Nashville is still only 5ish hours away and you really have a lot to choose from there. Big Joes and Gruens are unaffected as well as others. I'm sure they would like to see ya. My other 2 cents don't get taken in by the fancy inlay or "looks" get the easiest playing mando you can find. Another 2 cents Steve Perry is 4ish hours away in Friendsville, Tn. "Gianna violins" has a large selection of Eastmans which are a good "budget" choice. My 6 cents....

**Ivyguitar** · May-11-2010, 11:03am

Sawnee Mtn. Music in Canton and the store on the square in Dahlonega (forget the name) have a good mandolin selection.

**mandodan1960** · May-11-2010, 12:00pm

www.sawneemountainmusic.net // Cumming, Ga.
When I was last up there they had a homemade mando it wasn't the prettiest but it sure did sound good and played easy. Can't remember what they wanted for it but it was not expensive and I would think you could "discuss" price. (can't spell negoiate)

**mandodan1960** · May-11-2010, 12:03pm

Oh, Yeah the dahlonega store is Village Music. They moved last year to the second floor of a sandwich shop on the square.

**mandodan1960** · May-11-2010, 12:13pm

Oops, I see now that you were looking at Weber or Breedlove. I don't know why I thought we were talking lower end. Ya know, Village music has had a Weber Yellowstone for quite a while that I thought was very nice. I have a friend in Dunwoody who just bought a Collings last year and I think he is wanting to sell his Yellowstone. PM me if your interested. It will be less money than Maple Street.

**mandodan1960** · May-11-2010, 12:16pm

Correction **** Correction ****** Correction*****
The store in Dahlonega, Ga. Vintage music

**bigbike** · May-12-2010, 10:06pm

I would second Vintage music in Dahlonega, Ga as having some nice instruments along with decent staff. If you want to go custom-Get a Ratliff from Audey Ratliff up here in Church Hill TN

**JGregs** · Sep-26-2012, 5:15pm

Im gonna bump this thread since I was about to post the same thing. I have few days off this week. I think I am gonna go up and hit both Sawknee and Vintage music. I am not in this guys price range (<$1000) but would like to talk to some knowledgeable people and see what they have to offer

**TonyK** · Oct-01-2012, 6:35pm

This is cool to see this post after so long. I have found several places around the area that have mandolins. The Maple Street had a few that were kept well. I also agree about the Vintage Music recommendation, they have really good prices on preowned mandolins. There are lots of folks who play in this area and many events that would allow a person to look and hear different mandolins as well. There are also some luthiers and builders around that I have heard of but don't have any experience with. As for me, I have a couple mandolins that I play now, I found a Collings that sounds better than I can play for sure thats my top one.