Great Vintage Mandolins Under $1,000

[Perry]

Great article.

NFI but check out what this fellow does with vintage parlor guitars.

http://www.vintageparlorguitars.com/

He fixes them up and gets them ready as players even if it means replacing an original part or three.

Someone running a mandolin version would be cool.

[PaulO]

Scott, Thank you, Thank you, for such a great article that puts some balance into the search for that great instrument.

What makes this so wonderful is how you have collected such a group of "experts" who are willing to chime in and give us their opinions on under radar finds.

[bones12]

I love opinions from people who know their stuff. This is a fine summation of what we all hear in the trenches; it is nice to see a consensus regarding the beautiful workhorses of the past 90 years. On the Cafe we are so very lucky -- thanks to all, Doug in Vermont

[journeybear]

Great article - lots of very useful suggestions and information, the closing contribution from Roger Siminoff in particular. This should be posted in a FAQ or sticky or something where everyone thinking of buying an old instrument can easily refer to it. I was fortunate to find a teens Gibson plain A (not A Jr) on ebay for about $900 with just a couple minor imperfections four years ago - fortunate not only because it's a good instrument but also because I took a leap of faith and didn't get burned. I have since learned how lucky I was. Having a check list like this in hand when someone goes to look at a potential purchase would be an invaluable resource. Now if only someone would produce something similar for cars ...

[bmac]

I found the article an excellent and informative read. I doubt that an article dealing with used instruments over $1000 would have quite the appeal.... Those with that kind of money to spend already have some knowledge and experience with mandolins and hopefully can make informed decisions from their knowledge base. The beginner, with three to five hundred dollars to spend can often get a very decent instrument. I wish I had seen an article like this before I made my first purchase. I purchased one new but i now think (know) I could have done better with a decent used mandolin.

[JeffD]

A classic piece. It will be linked often.

It is of the same caliber of usefullness as that other often linked article on Jazz Mando about the effects of pick shape and hardness on tone.

And of course Mike Marshall's video on how to hold the darned thing.

I espeically like the format of the article. Its really magazine style. I felt like I was reading an old copy of Mandolin World News, back when a magazine was the only way to create a community feeling. Now the internet has kind of changed all that, and the cafe here has always felt like more of ummmm.... a cafe, than a magazine. But that article goes in the magazine camp, along with the other interviews, and Bill Graham's excellent columns.

I never thought of myself as particularly old fashioned, but I do really like a magazine format. And actually, it adds to the whole cafe experience. Its the stack of magazines over there by the window that you pick up and read over coffee.

Good job. Great topic.

[treadnot]

I have an Elias Howe flatback mandolin. Made in Boston. excellent condition. I think it sounds great, but I don't see any reference to them on this thread. too few of them to comment on?

[grassrootphilosopher]

Even though I have no experience with Howe instruments, I think that Grandpa Banana does (http://www.vintageinstruments.com/). And if they are as good as Strad-O-Lins they deserve a dedicated following (http://www.vintageinstruments.com/mu...me6photos.html).

Anyone that looks for something new better look out for something old.