Anyone know Hora octave mandolins?

**greg_tsam** · Jun-04-2012, 6:10pm

http://www.hora.ro/octave_mandolin.html

Saw them selling on craigslist, factory direct. I was looking at a Trinity College OM and came across this. Never owned an OM.

**greg_tsam** · Jun-04-2012, 6:14pm

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...iminary-review
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...ola-Mandocello
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...-quot-mandolin

Anything other than this, I mean.

**Mo Soar** · Jun-04-2012, 7:09pm

The only thing I know is that they are 23" scale (ie: long or regular scale).

There is one on The Ebay for $195 plus $60 shipping plus a gig bag or case

**Martin Jonas** · Jun-04-2012, 7:17pm

You get a few more hits if you search for "Troubadour", which is one of several brand names under which they are sold in the UK.

I do like my Troubadour (i.e. Hora) bouzouki, which is identical to the OM except for a longer scale length -- I got it very cheap (GBP 65) and while it's a rather basic instrument, it plays well and does a job. Here are some Youtube clips of my Hora, with the zouk solo and overdubbed with mandolin:

Martin

**otterly2k** · Jun-05-2012, 2:07pm

These are discussed from time to time down in the CBOM section of this forum. And if you ask there, you might get more replies from people who have played them.

If I recall correctly, the general themes of these discussions are that they are an inexpensive way to try your hand at playing OM- that you get what you pay for, but they can be passable with a good set up. If you're someone who likes to do adjustments and even fretwork on your own instrument, you might enjoy a Hora-- but if not, the cost of said work might eliminate the advantage of the low price. Trinity College OM's have a far better reputation for being a reliable entry level OM.

**greg_tsam** · Jun-05-2012, 2:45pm

That's what I've gathered. Basic entry level, needs some set-up but I've wondered if it would fall apart the first time I laid into it or got a drop of water on it. I can do truss rod/bridge adjustments and have a fret file if that's what's necessary. I noticed a TC OM for $450-ish on the classifieds right after posting this thread. Since I'm toying with the idea of getting an OM right now but know I will eventually I'm also toying with the idea of what level to jump in at.

Guess I'll wait a week or a month to see if I get this new job that popped up and how long it stays around. If it becomes long term I'll have more cash and start with a TC instead. If not I'll get in cheap and plan on some DIY set-up. Thanks, all.

**Martin Jonas** · Jun-05-2012, 6:39pm

In addition to my earlier posting, I should also say that they make financial sense bought in the UK, where they generally sell just above GBP100. A Trinity College or similar is a much better instrument but is over GBP300 here, i.e. about three times as much. At that price differential, the Hora is a good deal if you can cope with the setup changes yourself. In the US, where there is (as far as I know) no Hora distributor, you'd pay closer to $300 and can get a TC for less than half that again and in that context, the Hora makes much less sense.

However, Greg, you really don't need to be afraid that the Hora will fall apart when played -- the construction isn't fancy, but it is really well made from decent woods. It's a good deal lighter than a TC, but there is nothing fragile about the way it's been put together.

Martin

**greg_tsam** · Jun-05-2012, 9:58pm

They have one on e*** for $195 plus $60 shipping factory direct and a TC here is $480 best I can find on the internet so they're still about $200 dollars apart.

**John Flynn** · Jun-06-2012, 3:23am

I had a Hora-made Troubador OM that I bought used. The previous owner had a Red Henry maple bridge professionally installed. My observations were as follows.

Pros: It was a good looking instrument, with good fit and finish. It was very light weight and fairly loud.

Cons: 1) The tuners were awful, nearly unusable. I got new tuners for it (German Rubners), but although the the Rubners were standard-spaced, the holes in the instrument were not. I had to have a luthier install the tuners after "fudging" the holes. If I had it to do over I would have gotten separate sealed tuners. 2) The top had sunk significantly. It may have not been humidified well by the previous owner, but it was only a two year old instrument that had "lived" in the South, so it should not have been as bad as it was. A straight-edge laid across the the top in front of the bridge, under string tension, showed about a 3/16" depression. A luthier told me it would not really be worth doing the work to fix it. 3) I found it to be a very tinny sounding instrument. If I kept it, I would have put some really dark sounding strings on it, like Labellas, and I would have gone back to a rosewood or ebony bridge. 4) The neck was massive, very round and fat, felt like I was holding a baseball bat. It was able to get used to it, but it was never super-playable.

My personal decision is that I would not buy another Hora if I were in the market for an inexpensive OM. I would look for a used Trinity College, or even a used Johnson or Fender if the deal was right. There is also the option to build one from a kit. I could have built a kit for about the same level of effort and expense that I would have incurred to buy and fully fix up the instrument described above.

**greg_tsam** · Jun-06-2012, 5:29am

Thanks. I'm gonna keep my distance from the Hora and just wait till I have more cash and get a better instrument.

**otterly2k** · Jun-06-2012, 11:25am

Originally Posted by greg_tsam

Thanks. I'm gonna keep my distance from the Hora and just wait till I have more cash and get a better instrument.

You might consider posting what you're looking for in the Classifieds. A few months back, I helped a friend of mine look for an entry level OM, and when I posted in the Classifieds, I received several responses from people with OM's they'd bought to try but hadn't stuck with... some were TC's and less expensive b/c they were used. Make sure you ask good q's re: condition, and consider the added value of whatever case is offered and whether there is a pickup.

We were able to find one for about $350+shipping, if I recall correctly. Included a hard case.

Good luck.

**1-2-many** · Jun-06-2012, 12:06pm

I have a Celtic Star branded bouzouki made in Romania that I believe also came from Hora. I picked it up used locally and have been gigging with it (2-6 x a month) for over 2 years. Mine was set up well and they come with built in pickups/EQ which I consider very good. I paid about $250 w/ case. My bandmate was impressed enough to also purchase one. For the money spent it has been a great deal. I recently picked up a used Petersen level 2 which of course is on a different level, but I have yet to gig w/ it.

**singintime** · Mar-19-2013, 8:59am

I just bought a Hora octave mandolin and I'm very satisfied with it. It sounds good, it keeps reasonably in tune and it's easy to play. The installed pickup is also very pleasant to my ears, and I think the carved sound hole is very good looking. Of course you don't have to expect it to be the best instrument ever, but I would totally recommend it as it is insanely inexpensive yet good enough to carry on a gig or not to discourage inexperienced players. The very same model is also regularly used by Modena City Ramblers, a very well known italian folk band, both for live gigs and recordings so it can't be that bad. I know that Trinity College has a better reputation speaking of entry level OMs, but where I live (Italy) they cost more than twice the price I paid for my Hora.