Need help with 1st mandolin!

**EmilyAE19** · Jan-11-2011, 3:36pm

Hi everyone!
I'm looking to buy my first mandolin. I have my eye on these models:
Savannah SF-200
http://www.banjo.com/product_p/masasf200.htm

Kentucky KM-150
http://www.folkmusician.com/Kentucky...ctinfo/KM-150/

Which of these do you think would be better for a beginner?
If you aren't too fond of either, any suggestions? My budget is about $350.
Thanks everyone!

**Mandolin Mick** · Jan-11-2011, 3:39pm

Welcome! What kind of music do you want to play? That goes a long way to pick a mandolin!

**mandroid** · Jan-11-2011, 3:48pm

Go forth and play several in the shops.. each unit of production, will have slight variations,
because it's made of wood.
some sound changes , that won't describe, easily, but can be heard.

**Ed Goist** · Jan-11-2011, 3:48pm

Hi Emily; welcome!
I'd probably contact Robert at folkmusician.com (he posts here often, and is a Cafe sponsor). Tell him what type of music you like, what your musical background is like, and what your budget is, and ask him to pick out the best mandolin he has in stock that is within your budget.
Of course, you could do the same thing with other vendors. I'm just suggesting folkmusician.com because that vendor has made it to your final pairing, because they have a fine reputation here, and because they are Cafe sponsors (NFI).
It's nice to get the advice of people who can get their hands on (literally) the mandolins you are considering.
Mandroid's advice of playing some mandolins yourself before you make your decision is excellent. Sometimes it's hard to find mandolins at local shoppes, but even if you only can find and play a few, the experience is well worth it.

**EmilyAE19** · Jan-11-2011, 3:53pm

Thank you for your replies, everyone!

@Mick:
I'm aiming to integrate the mandolin into classic rock music, and maybe some bluegrass.

@Ed:
Thank you for your advice! I'll definitely look into that!

**Rodney Riley** · Jan-11-2011, 4:15pm

Like mandroid and Ed's advice. Find music stores that have mandos and play a few. If possible find a good player to take with you. (I am not an accomplished player and am very hesitant to play at the stores. Take someone with you who can and will give you good advice) An A-style tops the list here for the most mando for your money. But be aware...MAS strikes fast and hard after you get your first one.

**Mandolin Mick** · Jan-12-2011, 6:30am

An F hole model works better for Bluegrass. It has a punchier sound and projects much better.

**Tim2723** · Jan-12-2011, 6:48am

Hi Emily and welcome!

As usual, fine advice from the experts. You mentioned Rock and Bluegrass in the same sentence, and that will also influence your choice. Do you intend to play through an amplifier or PA system? That will need consideration as well.

**Ben Somerville** · Jan-12-2011, 6:50am

I'd definitely go for an F-hole (like Mick said, punchier for bluegrass or rock) A-model mandolin. I've heard great things about kentucky's and loar's, and i've played some great morgan monroe's (better than loar's in my opinion, though I haven't played a kentucky). Obviously it'd be best if you could go try a bunch out to see which one you like best. You could also get a better model for around $350 if you got it used.

**EmilyAE19** · Jan-12-2011, 8:17pm

Thank you for all of your replies, everyone!

@Tim- An amplifier most likely. Maybe a PA system every here and there, but I tend to use an amplifier more often with my other instruments.

Also, what kind would be best for incorporating mandolin into classic rock (kind of like Styx does in many of their songs)? I would be playing more rock than bluegrass.

**Ed Goist** · Jan-12-2011, 9:19pm

Emily, FYI, the best new mandolin I've played that was in the 'up to $350' price category was a Kentucky KM-172 oval hole mandolin. Also, oval hole mandolins are very often utilized in non-Bluegrass genres, especially classic rock. The KM-172 is at least worth asking your vendor about.

It looks like Robert at Folkmusician.com has the KM-172 in stock. It also looks like The Mandolin Store has a few in stock. The Mandolin Store is also a Cafe sponsor, and Dennis is the name of the contact there. Making your purchase from either of these vendors means that you are very likely to get a well set-up and prepped instrument.

One thing to keep in mind though, as a general rule, ff-hole mandolins are more versatile than oval hole mandolins. For example, it's harder to play straight Bluegrass on an oval hole mandolin than it is to play Celtic or Classic Rock on an ff-hole.

Do let us know what you decide on.