HELP - trying to find a begginer mandolin!! between £250-£350

**Rupert-bluey** · Jan-24-2011, 3:19pm

Hey, ive just signed upto this forum! and am loving what i see already! so many great tips and advice! ive been looking for a mandolin for a while now but i stumbled upon this a while ago and havnt been able to get it out of my mind! i love the look of it and everything!! but the main problem is i carnt get there to test it out!! and when i try do research on this mandolin i cant find much info if any on it!! so i turn to yuo guys to see if by the description you can tell me if its any good for that price as in woods ect ect as i am only a beginner!
all help will be muchly appreciated
Thanks!!

P.S this is the one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Delta-Blue-Gyp...item45f8490b0b

**allenhopkins** · Jan-24-2011, 4:52pm

A bit of Google searching seems to indicate that "Delta Blue" is a line of Asian-made acoustic instruments sold in Great Britain; I found banjo, mandolin and ukulele for sale under that label. The instrument in question is a bit out of the mainstream in that it has a mahogany back and sides, which is a less-used wood in mandolin construction, though not unique. The Morgan Monroe MAM-200 is an A-model mandolin with mahogany back and sides, but maple is the wood most commonly used for mandolin back and sides. The "Gypsy" model (odd name, for what appears to be a basic F-model instrument) advertises "solid hand-carved" top and back, which is good; you will pay a bit extra for the extra carving involved in creating the ornamental scroll and points, but since you obviously "love the look" that's not a major issue.

You're not going to find many mandolinists on a largely-US website, that have played a Delta Blue mandolin. Trevor of The Acoustic Music Co. in Brighton posts regularly on this site, and might be worth contacting for some sage advice on Delta Blue instruments. A check of his current listings doesn't reveal anything in your price range, however.

The quoted £279 for this instrument is comparable to what you'd pay for an entry level Rover or The Loar F-model in the US -- in other words, fairly reasonable, depending on how well the Delta Blue's made, and how well it's set up. It has an adjustable bridge, an adjustable truss rod (well, at least the cover), and what might be a cast tailpiece, or at least the look of one. All these things are positives. Solid wood tops are, in general, an upgrade over laminated ones -- another positive. But to some extent, "shooting in the dark" when trying to evaluate a brand of mandolin that's not currently sold in the US.

**Folkmusician.com** · Jan-24-2011, 8:09pm

I can say with some confidence, that I am familiar with that mandolin. I would be very surprised if it is not what I think it is!

See here:
http://www.folkmusician.com/ShowAddi...sp?number=M-F1
These are not bad mandolins. The versions I sold in the past had absolutely no factory setups.. IE generic bridges that do not fit, uneven frets, etc... No problem with the instrument, just pretty much unplayable until it was setup. Now the Delta Blue version may well be setup fine.

The mandolin is a bit overbuilt. They have a satin finish, but it is still fairly thick and poly. The tuners are OK. They stay in tune well, they just aren't the smoothest. The tailpiece is a good design. The tone is not bad for the price point, but not one of the stand outs either.

Not a bad mandolin, but not my first choice either.

**allenhopkins** · Jan-24-2011, 11:17pm

Originally Posted by Folkmusician.com

I can say with some confidence, that I am familiar with that mandolin. I would be very surprised if it is not what I think it is!...

Guess you nailed it, Robert; Morgan Monroe MF-1 in the US. Not in production now...?

**Grommet** · Jan-25-2011, 2:49am

I played one of the ones that Robert mentioned and although a little softer in tone due to the mahogany, it was quite comfortable and easy to play. They have a pretty good techa the music store it was in. Rupert, make sure that they will agree to perform a good set-up on it before shipping it to you.
Scott

**Rick Cadger** · Jan-25-2011, 4:09am

Welcome Rupert.

Just my personal opinion, but I would be inclined to go with a Kentucky mandolin if you're looking in that price range in the UK.

If you are playing Irish, folk or old timey fiddle tunes then a Kentucky KM-172 or KM-174 (same mando, different colours) is a great starter.

If you want to play bluegrass then I'd suggest considering a Kentucky KM-250 or KM-254.

If you can stretch to £367 then you could get a Kentucky KM-505 from F2 Music Store.

The KM-505 is more than just a beginner axe, it is actually a very decent mandolin. A real step up from the others.

The problem you'll have buying in the UK is that few of the dealers do a decent set-up. Where do you live? I know a few people who do mandolin set-ups, but it depends where you are.

**Rick Cadger** · Jan-25-2011, 4:13am

BTW, I think Trevor at TAMCO has mostly moved out of the budget mando market. He used to stock Kentucky and Trinity College mandos, but the closest he now lists to entry-level is the Eastman range. Trevor deals mostly in better quality instruments.

If you can save enough for an Eastman he'll definitely sort you out (and the instrument would be set up properly).

**Rupert-bluey** · Jan-25-2011, 5:32am

Ok brilliant thankyou for your help!! The advice given was perfect!! As much as I love the look of this it sounds like I can get a better mandolin for the money which I reckon I will
Do!! I just need o no which ones are better for the same money!?! Any more help in the same sort of price range mandolin would be really helpful!! Maybe even if I ordered it from the states! Not rele to bothered! As long as it comes setup
Good
Cheers

**Rupert-bluey** · Jan-25-2011, 5:43am

Hi rick! Cheers for your help! I'm from Essex, manningtree to be precise between Ipswich and Colchester!? What sort of money are we talking for the Eastman? And what are the best stores to buy from in the uk!? In your opioun? And I mainly looking to play blues! As that's what i love

thanks

**Rick Cadger** · Jan-25-2011, 6:08am

Unfortunately we have a real shortage of good mandolin stores in the UK.

The Acoustic Music Co. in Brighton is great but as I said above, Trevor doesn't really cater to the entry-level and budget markets. TAMCO lists the Eastman MD-504 at £495. That's an oval hole mandolin, and it would be good for a blues mando, IMHO. I used to own one and I like them very much. I know that's quite a bit over your budget...

The Hobgoblin stores are nice enough to deal with, and you may be able to get a decent set-up done if you nag them. Their prices are a tad high for my liking though.

The F2 music store to which I linked above carries the same lines as Hobgoblin at lower prices (and free delivery!). I've had good experiences with them. The downside with F2 is that they do not set up the instruments before sending.

There are stores in Yorkshire who sell mandolins, but two of those stores p****d me off bigtime because they claim to do full set-ups before shipping. Well, either they lied or their instrument tech is incompetent.

All in all, the only people I would (from experience) be happy to buy from again are Trevor at TAMCO, Hobgoblin and F2.

F2 may be your cheapest option if you go for a Kentucky. Actually, the money you save in the difference in price between them and Hobgoblin, and on the free shipping will go quite a way to covering the cost of a set-up.

Ask your local music stores if they kow someone who can do a decent set-up on a mandolin, of perhaps phone Trevor at TAMCO and ask if his guy could provide that service...

I'm afraid I don't actually know anyone quite in your area.

**Rupert-bluey** · Jan-25-2011, 6:21am

Ok brilliant jeers mte!! So basicly F2 would appear to be my ideal place!! Inless I come into some more money then I will deffinatly
Be going TAMCO way!! But at this time I cannot see that happening annoyingly anoth to much money on going to festivals ATM! But let's say I can stretch to the Kentucky Km-505 would that be the best bet at that price? Including playing blues ect!! Or would there be a better choice for tht price at k2? For playing bluesy stuff! Is setting up a mandolin quite a hard thing then!? Or if I was ringing a local mandolin teacher would thy be able to do it good enough!? Thankyou for answering all my questions! This is deffinatly helping!! and inshould hve a half decent mandolin in no time!!

**Rick Cadger** · Jan-25-2011, 6:34am

The KM-505 is a very decent mandolin. At the price, in the UK, I don't think there is better. It's an f-hole mandolin so would be suitable for most types of music. I have played one for quite a while and it's served me well at gigs and sessions. I play a bit of blues on mine sometimes and it does fine.

For blues you also have the option of the oval hole mandolins, such as the KM-172. That tubby tone works nicely for that kind of music as well.

If I had to choose between them I would go for the KM-505 every time for the versatility of the f-holes, but if my budget would only stretch to the KM-172/KM-174 I'd be happy enough.

If your mandolin teacher is a proper mandolin teacher (rather than a guitar teacher who also teaches a little mandolin) then he/she may be able to do a set-up. A good guitar shop technician should be able to do a basic mandolin set-up, but it takes someone with experience of the instrument to do a really good job. I'd recommend giving Trevor a call, even if you buy elsewhere. His guy might be able to offer a set-up service for an entry level mandolin. Tamco's just a drive or a train ride away, and it'd be a great excuse to go and drool over Trevor's stock. It's a lovely shop.

If you're a beginner I would not recommend trying DIY set-up. It's tricky to get all the parts set-up to work together properly for best performance, and quite easy to screw things up!

Good luck, mate.

**JeffD** · Jan-25-2011, 9:30am

Originally Posted by Rick Cadger

If you're a beginner I would not recommend trying DIY set-up. It's tricky to get all the parts set-up to work together properly for best performance, and quite easy to screw things up!
.

I havebeen playing a good amount of time, and I would not do my own set up.