Newbie Mandolin Player - Epiphone vs. Flatiron

[Brad Davis]

Hey ya'll!
I am new to the cafe and to the mandolin. I've been playing for about 8-9 days and I start lessons on Monday. Have been listening to bluegrass since I was little. My grandpa played his mandolin all the time, but growing up I never was really interested in it. I've been really listening to nothing but bluegrass for the past year or two and have decided that I will learn how to play the mandolin this year.

Anyway...my aunt let me borrow her mandolin (an A sytle Seville) that is OK to learn on, but I am going to need something a little better. I want an F style and I think I have narrowed my choices down to the Epiphone and the Flatiron. I would rather buy a good entry NEW instrument vs buying a used instrument that I have no idea what damage has been done to it with the previous owner.

My hope is that there are some of you that have played both and can give me your thoughts on one or both of these mandolins. I have picked both of them up in a local store and have listened to them and picked around on them. But I am so new, that I'm not really sure. The only obvious thing is the $450 price difference bewtween them. I will probably buy one of them in a few months when I get my tax return back. I thought that the flatiron sounded better, but is there really a $450 difference in playability? My fear is that if I buy the Epiphone is that I will always want the Flatiron. But if there are plenty of people telling me different, I would listen to you guys because experience is on your side.

Appreciate in advance for your feedback. This is a pretty cool site and very helpful to people that are new to the mandolin.

Thanks!

[Steve Ostrander]

Go for the Flatiron.

[Mike Snyder]

Probably need to be more specific about the particular instruments. Flatiron is the name on many diverse mandolins.

[Coffeecup]

My first mandolin was an Epiphone MM30 but I now mainly play an Ovation. Of the two the Ovation has the better sound but I find the Epiphone easier to play for a reason I haven't understood. To me the Epiphone G and, to an extent, the D strings lack sustain making more of a "plunk" sound. I wouldn't hesitate to say that it's fine to learn on but it probably won't be a long term keeper.

I have no experience with used mandolins but but suggest that they aren't like cars - there's not much that can be damaged and remain unseen. If you can get somebody with experience to look an instrument over for things such as a warped neck it should be enough. The plus side is that a used instrument is likely to have had a set up whereas a new one may not have.

[Brad Davis]

Sorry....see....I told you I was new at this. The two F Style mandolins I was looking at were The Epiphone MM-50 and The Flatiron "Festival" F2.

[GDAE]

Brad, if you're in Rogers, I assume you've gone to Janet Davis Music? If not, you might want to go try out their selection, where there is quite a bit to choose from.

[Brad Davis]

I have been to Ben Jacks and have went to Janet Davis' website. Went to Janet Davis' today but they are closed on Saturdays But will go there when I am ready to buy most likely. They have both of these mandolins there I believe.

[Jim]

If you are set on an F style , consider the Rover RM 75.

[Mike Snyder]

You'll be able to learn something about mandolins at Janet Davis. Hopefully they won't be too busy. Ask alot of questions. Look at and play alot of mandolins, even some out of your price range. She runs one of the best shops in the midwest, it's right in your back yard. Make use of that resource, even if you're not going to buy from her. I always hated that JD wasn't open on Saturday, that's the day that I'm down to jam, when I get that way. The techs (set-up guys) I've run into at JD were always very helpful, moreso than the manager/sales types. They've got some nice stuff. As you're starting lessons, ask your teacher. (Duh! As if you wouldn't!)