Yep, this is another thread where a beginner is looking for advice to get another mandolin.
I've been playing about 4 months on a yard sale "Surf City" model mandolin. If you search the archives here you can find a thread from about 4 years ago where someone was asking about these. They sold on the internet for about $200 at the time, but I got mine for $40. Actually has a solid top. Even after a professional setup, it is not that good of a player, so...
I'd like to upgrade and have sort of narrowed it down to a Loar VM-520 or a used Kentucky KM-675. I can get them both for about the same price. I'm not 100% set on an F, but these seem about what I am looking for in the ~$500 range.
The Kentucky is a more expensive instrument than the Loar, so would I get more mandolin with the used the Kentucky, or would the new Loar (with the dealer setup) be a better buy? I'm not concerned about looks, just good tone and playability, a mandolin with enough volume for bluegrass.
Any comments or suggestions are welcome: Get a new Loar, the used Kentucky, or something else?
Bookmarks