First Mandolin

[dobbo049]

Hey everyone!
I'm a mandolin virgin and I'm looking for a good first mandolin

I like the A-style and I love the Gibson A5 but, for me, that's too much money to spend for a first mandolin. So I've been looking for something similar which has lead me to the mandolins made by "The Loar" and kinda fallen for them.

The real ones that caught my eye is the . .

LM-300 . .


and the LM-400 . .


I cant decide between the two. Of what I have read "think" the extra quality of the LM-400 is worth it enough for the extra cost but I really don't like how dark it looks, I like the colours of the LM-300 much much more. But I was thinking "maybe its just the lighting?". I've been looking around too but I cant find a lot of other images so I was hoping that if anyone on here owned one or the other they might be able to put up a couple of pictures? Along with any other personal opinions?

The bottom line for me is I prefer the quality of the LM-400, but if it really is that dark, I'm getting the LM-300

Thanks
Stuart

[Ed Goist]

The image of the LM-400 on The Loar website looks much lighter.

[dobbo049]

Yeah I've seen that one, and that's party why I'm hopeful that its not actually that dark

[Capt. E]

Color can vary a lot even within models etc., so don't worry too much about that. You should be able to pick from more than one instrument. The Loar mandolins are well thought of and should fit you perfectly as a first mandolin. Just make sure you get one that has been fully set-up. Most dealers will do that for you as part of the purchase.
Kentucky mandolins are also a good brand to look at that are modestly priced next to Gibson, Collings, Weber, etc.

[dobbo049]

Ahh thanks Capt. E, I guess I will just have to have a look around and make it clear when I order it. I was thinking of ordering from FolkMusician, I understand they do a full set up as standard.

I did also look at the kentucky ones but for me personally I think I like the Loar ones a little bit more

[Pete Summers]

Ahh thanks Capt. E, I guess I will just have to have a look around and make it clear when I order it. I was thinking of ordering from FolkMusician, I understand they do a full set up as standard.

I did also look at the kentucky ones but for me personally I think I like the Loar ones a little bit more

I'd bet that Robert at FolkMusician could select an LM 400 with a lighter finish if you ask him. I'd give him a call.

Personally, though, I like the darker finish. To each his own.

[dobbo049]

Yeh that would be great, I just need to see some good photos of the lighter ones I guess, I'm from the UK and there's aren't any mandolin stores in my area as far as I know, so I want to make sure its the right one before its sent over as it would be a pain to send it back

Everyone likes different things, if they didn't everyone would have the same one :D

I personally just like them a bit lighter, I'm thinking of getting a black pick guard fitted from Cumberland Acoustics too which will darken the overall look a bit anyway.

[G7MOF]

Just Google TAMCO in Brighton, see what they can offer!

[dobbo049]

Hey, looks like a great shop, its still almost 3 hours away from me though and they don't seem to have much information on their website about whether or not they stock the Loar's and their prices.

[almeriastrings]

They do not stock those.

They do have a very nice Eastman 505 currently listed, though, at £499....give Trevor a call, I am sure he would be happy to describe it in detail.

Moloney Music in Ireland stock 'The Loar' range, €395 for an LM400 (setup is extra).

http://www.moloneymusic.com/product-...sid=38&sssid=0

Another mandolin to seriously consider in that kind of price range is the Kentucky KM-505.

I would advise against importing yourself from the US. You will have no warranty, and as well as shipping costs, will be hit with other import fees (customs clearance and duty) plus 20% VAT on top of all that. If anything is wrong, it will cost a significant sum to return it. I would buy from an EU retailer. Much safer and more cost effective.

[Jimdalf]

Hi Stuart, If you mention where in the UK you are perhaps some of us will know somewhere you can go and see a selection of mandolins and have them played too you if you aren't familiar enough with the instrument.

[dobbo049]

Thanks for the reply, I would obviously buy from the UK if I could, but there doesn't seem to be any big places offering good deals :/

There isn't actually a big difference in the costs, that one from moloneymusic works out at £318 (plus set up costs, and the cost of a hard case which would probably be around another £100). The one from FolkMusician works out at £350 (which includes setup and a hard case) so already the US one is £50-£70 cheaper which allows the extra money to go to the extra shipping costs. But I understand what you are saying

Also that picture from moloneymusic is a prime example of a colour that I don't like :P



I know I'm a fussy bugger, but I really don't like it. I'm sure as people have said, the colours vary, but that's why I need to see some pictures and things from people who own or sell them. I want to know what I'm getting. I've seen several pictures and the colour vary's A LOT and one end of the scale I love, the other I don't like at all

But yeh If I can find a good deal here in the UK I would obviously get it from here. But from what I've seen so far there isn't a huge difference in cost.

And thanks for point me towards the Kentucky!! I actually really like that one!! If I cant get the colour how I want it for The Loar then that could be a winner . . I'm guessing the 505 is Kentucky's equivalent of the LM400 anyone rated them together? I'm gonna have to do some searches.

Thanks

[dobbo049]

Hi Stuart, If you mention where in the UK you are perhaps some of us will know somewhere you can go and see a selection of mandolins and have them played too you if you aren't familiar enough with the instrument.

Hey Jimdalf,
I live in Suffolk in East Anglia

[Fstpicker]

Here was my LM-400VS that I used to own. It was a GREAT sounding instrument by the way, and I highly recommend it.

Here is what mine looked like:



Jeff

[almeriastrings]

There isn't actually a big difference in the costs, that one from moloneymusic works out at £318 (plus set up costs, and the cost of a hard case which would probably be around another £100). The one from FolkMusician works out at £350 (which includes setup and a hard case) so already the US one is £50-£70 cheaper which allows the extra money to go to the extra shipping costs. But I understand what you are saying

Well... first, a decent hard case for an A-model should not set you back £100. £50-60 is more like it, and indeed, some instruments are normally supplied with a case (someone I know recently purchased a very nice KM505 that came with one). You do not seem to have included import duty, clearance fees, and VAT in your calculations? This needs to be done when comparing US prices.

If you take a US base price of £350: + shipping (say £50) = £400

You need to then add Customs clearing fees of about £20.

Then (depending on exact nature of instrument, new/used/origins) about 3% import duty.

Finally, the 'big one' of 20% VAT on the previous total, about £88 in this example.

So. Your £350 instrument now costs you around £530.

As a rough guide, add around 27% to any US price to get a general idea of what the actual cost to you really is on delivery.

US prices can look attractive initially, but once you factor in the associated import costs, and take into account the real problem of what happens if you need to return the item for any reason, it is not quite as simple as it looks.

Incidentally, have you checked www.hobgoblin.co.uk ? They have several stores where you can try out quite a decent range of mandolins in your price range?

I almost hesitate to mention them because they are a classic 'box shifter' who does absolutely no setup... but www.thomann.de are another possible source. They have 'The Loar' LM-300VS for a UK delivered price of only £259......with a three year warranty.

If you do not mind getting a local luthier to set it up for you after purchase, their base prices are very good. ALL their instruments will need post-sale setup, however.

[trevor]

I don't stock 'The Loar' that's why there is no information on my website. Eastman 505 £499, set up with UK warranty and free shipping.

[almeriastrings]

I can only stress that setup is critical on mandolins. It is on guitars too, of course, but generally, mandolins need quite a lot more of it..... if you buy only on the basis of lowest price, you could end up with a totally unplayable instrument arriving. I thinking of the 'box shifters' in particular here. Mandolins are not refrigerators or washing machines.........

This might give you a better idea of what a typical 'The Loar' 'burst is like. This is an LM-300 VS that was purchased from Germany. It was absolutely unplayable as delivered and required a substantial amount of work: frets, nut, bridge and a few other things.







I would say that if you are really critical about finish, and details of colouration, you really are going to have to take a trip or two and check some makes/models in person. Photos can only tell you so much. A bit of time spent with some 'serious' mandolins (as at Trevor's) would really make sense for you. You will learn a lot.

[dobbo049]

Thanks for the responses guys

I know a good case would be £50-£60, that £100 was a rough guess for a case AND setup. But I didn't realise about the rest of the costs. I've ordered several things from the USA before and postage has never really been that much, I guess as this will be quite a size and weight it will cost more. I didn't realise it would cost anywhere near as much as that :/

I need to find somewhere here in the UK that will do all of that at a similar price. I cant find any websites for places that do it all. :/

I have looked at hobgoblin but as they didn't seem to stock The Loar's I quickly moved on, although it seems like there is a store In Milton Keynes (which is only about an hour and a half away) I could give them a buzz and see if they stock any and what they price at. And yes I've seen thomann before but I know they only really move them so I've never been too exited about using them, plus they don't have the lm400.

I don't buy on basis of the cheapest, but I want to get a GOOD deal, as I understand it FolkMusician are a very good store and they do the mandolin, PLUS setup, PLUS a hard case for £350. That to me is a good deal But I didn't realise how much postage was going to cost. I was "hoping" to get all of that (including postage) for no more than about £450. and again don't worry I wont use thomann again, FolkMusician caught my eye because they looked like professionals that knew what they where doing.

The one in those pictures, to me, is about perfect but I want that on the LM-400. Are they generally darker? or are they actually the same but the majority of pictures of them seem slightly darker?

I'm more than happy to travel a bit but as I said I know know of any BIG mandolin stores in our area that will stock them, and if there are, they don't have a website because I cant find them :/ Guess ill just keep looking.

Thanks again

[Johnny60]

I have an Eastman 505 (like the one that Trevor's selling at TAMCO) and it's a cracking instrument at that price range. £499 for a hand-made, hand-carved instrument, with an ebony fretboard and bridge, cast one-piece tailpiece, full set up AND a case is an absolute bargain!

Don't know of any Loar dealers in England.

[trevor]

Hobgoblin set-ups depended on who they have in a particular store. In my experience variable, on one occasion shockingly bad.

[dobbo049]

Whoops I forgot to include that in my reply.

Thanks for the offer for the eastman trevor I will definitely keep it in mind, they seem to have that colour burst that I'm looking for, and look quite similar to the Loar's, but I prefer the headstock on the Loar and I've kinda got my heart set on it at the moment. But I will definitely keep it in mind as these loars are looking ever increasingly more difficult to find in this country, thanks

and thanks about the Hobgoblin info, I will keep that in mind as well.

[Kieran]

Hello All!
Just to give an update and some clarification.

The latest LM-400's to arrive here a couple of weeks ago have the lighter toned finish.I'm going to try upload a photo of one on this post.As of now,both finishes are in stock.In terms of the set up: If the full set up option is not chosen they still receive a free 'basic' set up which means lowering the bridge thumbwheels from the ridiculous factory height,checking the position of the bridge for intonation and inspecting the instrument to make sure there are no issues.With this limited amount of attention,they normaly have playability which is passable.Nothing will get sent out that's unplayable.

Kieran Moloney
www.moloneymusic.com

[dobbo049]

Hey Kieran,
Thanks for the post, that's exactly what I was hoping to see!
and that colour is perfect! :D

I would be wanting the full setup, but I wont order it with the Cumberland Bridge because I am planning to have a Fishman pickup installed before long.

So the full price including setup, a hardcase, and postage would be about . . €480?

Thanks!

[dobbo049]

Unless . . I get the Cumberland Bridge with a K&K Twin pickup . . . the K&K seems to be quite popular and what what I have read the bridge on the Fishman is quite bad.

[trevor]

I prefer K&K, I stopped stocking Fishmans a while ago.