First Mandolin

[Kieran]

Havent tried the K&K but I also wouldn't go with Fishman. Having said that they make some wonderful guitar pickups.The pickup about to be installed in the photo above is the best thing I've found so far for thumbwheel bridged mandolins after a long search.They are made by Kenny Johnson in the Shetland Isles http://www.pureacoustic.com/ see also www.skyinbow.com Its battery free technology so you get the benefit of the level from a preamp without needing to have a battery on board.Its soemwhat more refined than the 'MiSi' version.Its charged externally,and totaly non invasive to the acoustic sound of the mandolin.
So the optimum package would be the setup with Cumberland and Skyinbow pickup.

dobbo049 can you send me an email for a total quote,today if possible and I will answer later because I'll be away for the next week and might not have a chance to reply until I get back.Thanks

[Kieran]

Havent tried the K&K but I also wouldn't go with Fishman. Having said that they make some wonderful guitar pickups.The pickup about to be installed in the photo above is the best thing I've found so far for thumbwheel bridged mandolins after a long search.They are made by Kenny Johnson in the Shetland Isles http://www.pureacoustic.com/ see also www.skyinbow.com Its battery free technology so you get the benefit of the level from a preamp without needing to have a battery on board.Its soemwhat more refined than the 'MiSi' version.Its charged externally,and totaly non invasive to the acoustic sound of the mandolin.
So the optimum package would be the setup with Cumberland and Skyinbow pickup.

dobbo049 can you send me an email for a total quote,today if possible and I will answer later because I'll be away for the next week and might not have a chance to reply until I get back.Thanks

[dobbo049]

Thanks for the Info, still swaying towards the K&K at the moment but its not something I will be installing straight away anyway so I have a bit of time to think about it. The bridge however I think I would like to include.

Ill send you an email

Thanks

[dobbo049]

I sent an email to the address on your website.

[Kieran]

I sent an email to the address on your website.

Thanks for the email.
Here's the latest LM400.
Kieran

[Ben Milne]

So is Xbraced v no tone bars a consideration here, or is the dilemma purely cosmetic?

[dobbo049]

Everything is a consideration, but I am a little over-fussy about looks.

I've landed on The Loar LM-400 because from what I have read and seen they are one of the best quality mandolins for that price range. But looks do play a big part of it, I am predominately a guitar player and I always will be, so this may well be the only mandolin I ever get (or at least for a very long time), so I want it to be exactly what I want it to be as I will be keeping it a VERY long time.

The issue is that every picture I've come across is a little different and as far as I know I don't have anywhere local where I can go and check a few out.

The other one, for example, that I really like is the Kentucky KM505, but from what I have read on here a lot of people think The Loar slightly beats it in sound quality.

[almeriastrings]

The other one, for example, that I really like is the Kentucky KM505, but from what I have read on here a lot of people think The Loar slightly beats it in sound quality.

To MY ears, in that price range, the KM-505's I have encountered were exceptional value and really, really hard to beat. They were also very well made with good quality fit and finish. The equivalent Eastman's are also excellent. All have their "own character" and individual instruments differ too, even same models from the same batches. This is why actually playing them (preferably side by side) is so useful. I have a couple of KM-1000's here right now, and they not only look quite different, but sound it too.... no substitute for trying instruments out in person and seeing what suits your own tastes. Even if you are not buying something specific, try to play as many as you can. It will help to 'educate' your ears to the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) differences.

[dobbo049]

But that's the issue, it seems that I would have to travel quite a way to find a mandolin at all in my area. Let alone one I'm interested in. Plus as this is my first mandolin, I don't know how to plan anything on one yet haha! :P

I do really like the KM-505's but they are equally, if not more difficult to find here. I just don't have a lot of options :/

[almeriastrings]

Well... you are not going to go seriously wrong with any of these (properly set up). They all offer good value and I'm sure you will be satisfied with whatever you get.

Until MAS strikes again, that is.... bottomless and unrelenting pit that it is....

[dobbo049]

Haha!
Thanks, I just want to get the right one I want a Gibson A5L, but I cant have it, so I want to get as close to it as I can.
If I can get the Loar lm-400 in the right colour with the cumberland bridge, K&K twin pickup and cumberland pickguard Ill be laughing

This is a good example of the perfect one looks-wise.

http://www.themandolinstore.com/scri...idproduct=9113

[Ben Milne]

Do a search and read the previous discussions about the QC issues with the loar. While there are many "fanboy" style threads, most of them have an underlying tone which implies an asterisk and a for the money clarification of the statements about how great they are. Don't expect a $2000 finish from a $400 instrument.
There's a second hand '05 Danny Roberts signed A5L in the classifieds at the moment. I know you have condition issues with buying second hand but I wonder if you're going to have cosmetic issues with brand new the loar anyway.
If a decent sounding instrument was your priority, I would second people's suggestions to look at Eastman, but I suspect these don't look the way you want your mandolin to look (their bursts vary, maybe you will find one you're happy with). Likewise the Kentucky, perhaps their bursts are too green. Often there's no way to tell if the photos are true with regards to colour as it changes with lighting, flash etc.
Then there's things to consider (maybe not) like tone and feel. Playability is such a personal thing, no-one can advise you if Kentucky or the Loar play better as it will depend on what you like the feel of. Same goes with tone, we can't discuss online day in day out how each instrument grabs us, but it is all subjective as being human, our tastes and preferences differ.
No real way to know what you like until you sit down and play them.
If you can't get your hands on multiple instruments before you buy, be ready to buy more, and start trading/selling guitars to fund your addiction.

[almeriastrings]

Haha!
Thanks, I just want to get the right one I want a Gibson A5L, but I cant have it, so I want to get as close to it as I can.

Unfortunately, none of the mandolins mentioned sound particularly close to an A5L. They can be fine in their own right, and are excellent value for money - but they are not an A5L. Their necks are all very different too. They do not feel like an A5L. If you really want an A5L, then you will either not be satisfied until you have one, or, you could save a few more pennies and search out one of these:



This is a Gibson Nashville-made (2001) Flatiron Performer A. Essentially an A5G. Tone bars. Dovetail neck joint. Same neck profile as contemporaneous A5's. Very nice mandolins indeed. The earlier Montana examples were structurally different, but those 2001 models were really an A5G with a different name on them. They even have the "Gibson Master Model" label in there... you can pick them up in the US for around $1100 or thereabouts.

Obviously, these are not made any more.

If you are hoping than a much lower end mass produced instrument is going to be "as good as" (or almost) as something that is many times the price, I think you will be disappointed. You will have to raise your sights somewhat. If it was me, I'd be searching for a Nashville era Flatiron, or a Kentucky KM-900. Another great sounding mandolin is the current Gibson Jam Master range, but these are extremely hard to find right now and are well above the price range of the LM-400, KM-505, etc. That said, real quality never comes cheap.

[trevor]

"Do a search and read the previous discussions about the QC issues with the loar. While there are many "fanboy" style threads, most of them have an underlying tone which implies an asterisk.."

This is why I don't stock them.

[dobbo049]

Sorry I may have phrased that badly, what I meant was that I want something similar to the Gibson A5L, I don't want to replicate it exactly. I like how it looks, I have actually never picked one up and played it so I wouldn't know how good it sounds

Call me an idiot if you like but I don't know all the abbreviations, what is QC?

And no I wont expect a $2000 Finnish for $400 instrument, I just want to find to find the best instrument in that mid range price range. Like I said this is something I will keep for a long time, so I want it to last and be good in sound and overall quality.

The Eastman 505 is a solid third place at the moment, I do like the way they look, but I prefer the detail on the head stock of the others and a couple of other things, but if you think its the winner in sound quality its definitely a consideration.

And the Kentucky KM 505 Is a definite second (joint first), I actually really like this one, the only real issue is finding somewhere in the UK that sells it for a good deal, its actually more hard to find than the Loar. Its annoying, there seems to be very little places here that sell mandolins and they rarely have good deals on unlike the USA :/ FolkMusician for example done The Loar at a reduced price, included setup and a case. That doesn't happen here :/ For the huge different in price its almost worth biting the bullet and paying for the postage. (I haven't found any green ones?)

I guess that's my point with the pictures, I don't know whether they are all different or the mandolins are, I guess its a combination of both :/

I know what your saying about the tone and feel, I just don't think that's something I can have an opinion on yet :P I have never played a mandolin, I don't yet know anything to play on a mandolin. So by briefly picking up a couple and strumming the strings a bit I'm not going to know a difference between the two unless I compare them over a long period. In the future maybe I'll know what I want in the way of feel and tone but honestly don't think I can compare them yet, so its not a huge concern to be honest because I know I will adapt to it, then one day if I pick up another one and find it feels better, who knows, that may be my next one.

and trust me, I wont be selling guitars

[trevor]

QC is Quality Control.

[dobbo049]

Ahh thank you, I did think it was but wanted to be sure

[dobbo049]

In all honestly I'm actually leaning towards the Kentucky KM 505 now, I think it looks much nicer, its not quite the colour I was looking for but I like it none the less.
I like the little details and the name (lets face it "The Loar" is a horrendous name).
I'm starting to doubt the quality of the Loar from what people have said and from how they all seem sooooo different :/

Its just finding somewhere here that sells them for a good price? I found a couple of places around the £400 - £450 mark but that doesn't include setup or a case or anything.

Do they still benefit from a Cumberland bridge? Is that still worth getting or are they not so bad on Kentuckys?

[almeriastrings]

Check on the case, as normally, KM-505's do come with one. The bridges on those I have inspected have all been totally acceptable and did not require changing or upgrading (some adjustment required, obviously). This is not the case for certain brands mentioned.... this is a KM-505 now owned by someone I am currently teaching. The case shown was supplied with it, inclusive.












Nice materials, cleanly built, and finish is really pretty good. I am not 100% sure, but I think this one came from Hobgoblin.

[dobbo049]

I think we might have a winner
Do Hobgoblin include setups? if they do the Mandolin + Case + Setup for £450 I'd be pretty happy with that

[G7MOF]

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

Don't forget the 20%vat you'll incur and the 3.4% import duty and handling charges from the US as well. You could however import from Europe without the extra taxes!

[dobbo049]

Yeh thanks, I think almeriastrings mentioned that too :P

I "might" be ok with the Kentucky now, Ive found it from a couple of places for around £450, I just need to find out if this includes a setup and a case.

[Cheryl Watson]

From the ones I have seen, these "Loar" mandolins need a lot of work to get them playable and one I have seen had so much cotton stuffed under the tailpiece that we could barely get it out and once we did, it was like a magic trick--there was more and more and more...

The necks are like baseball bats too for larger hands. They do sound good however.

[Jimdalf]

Hi Dobbo, Hobgoblin music sell the Kentucky instruments as I am sure you must have already found out. Following Trevor's earlier concern about inconsistency, you would probably want to enquire about setup before committing to a purchase; If it will make a sale, a shop will often make it happen, partly because the instruments should be set up anyway.

[NAS]

They do not stock those.

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

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

Drat...I must have walked past that shop a dozen times in the last two years and never noticed it!!!

I have been trying to find somewhere to try a "The Loar", still I'm back in Mayo in about three weeks so can add it to my planned trip to Powells, Paul Doyle, Clareen Banjo and Custy's Music, I'm sure by the end I will have temporarily satisfied my IAS.