Advice for someone looking to upgrade

**thekammissioner** · Aug-06-2012, 6:49pm

I'm looking to upgrade from my first mando which I've had for about two years now; it's a $100 New York Pro I purchased at my local violin/guitar shop. I'm around the $400-$700 range, and I've been interested in the Morgan Monroe MMS-8 but was discouraged upon learning they are made in Asia. I'm looking to get a solid wood mando with a radiused fretboard (I am aware the MMS-8 isn't radiused) and hopefully one built in the USA. First of all is this even a possibility in my price range? And what would be the best quality mando for my price range? Thanks!

**Big Ed** · Aug-06-2012, 9:28pm

You will probably find the Asia mandolin will be most bang for the buck. A used Kentucky 1000 etc. may fit your budget.
Post on this site WTB in classifieds. Good luck,

Ed

**multidon** · Aug-06-2012, 9:28pm

What kind of music do you like to play? For those who want a well made solid wood mandolin that is made in the USA I always suggest Big Muddy. But they are flattops and don't have the sound quality bluegrass musicians are looking for. But classical, Celtic, folk and old time they do well. At about 600 bucks! Made in Asia (these days usually China of course) doesn't have the stigma it used to. Some here on the Cafe like their Morgan Monroes. But in your price range I would look at the Eastman line. I believe they have radiused fretboards. And they are made in China but it is a European style workshop. The workers are trained and skilled. The instruments are hand carved literally, the only power tool they use is a band saw for rough cuts. Very nice instruments indeed starting at around 400. Some online dealers that carry them: Folkmusician.com, Elderly, The Mandolin Store, Gianna's Violins. Many on this Cafe' are also fans of the Kentucky line of Chinese-made instruments imported by SAGA. Good luck!

**allenhopkins** · Aug-06-2012, 9:33pm

We like Eastman, Kentucky, and Loar mandolins in that price range; that's largely the Cafe consensus. Oh, and the Rover RM-75. All Asian-made.

Shawnee Creek mandolins are hand-made in the US, and are within spittin' distance of your price range. And, of course, you can look for a used instrument.

Asian manufacturers have pretty much taken up the whole under-$1K spectrum, with a few exceptions we've mentioned.

**JEStanek** · Aug-06-2012, 9:39pm

You can sometimes find a used Breedlove OF for 700-800. They have a substantial neck and a comfortable radius. They meet your USA criteria. I prefer my Eastman mandolins with a more pronounced V and narrower neck. You can also find some vintage Martin cant tops in the 700 range. I think all three of those are good quality. The sound is up to you to decide. (You can get the Breedlove OF or OO f or oval hole), Eastman with F or oval hole, the Martins I'm talking about are all oval holed.

Jamie

**thekammissioner** · Aug-06-2012, 9:46pm

Thanks for the quick replies! I was starting to think those were the kinds of answers I would get. I like to play bluegrass, and I'm thinking about maybe some gypsy jazz. But I definitely want an F-style because, as Pete Langdell would say, I'm "incapable of escaping the lure (or the Loar...) of the indisputably traditional, now world-standard F5 body style"- I love that traditional bluegrass look.

**JeffD** · Aug-07-2012, 1:46am

Originally Posted by thekammissioner

But I definitely want an F-style because, as Pete Langdell would say, I'm "incapable of escaping the lure (or the Loar...) of the indisputably traditional, now world-standard F5 body style"- I love that traditional bluegrass look.

While I totally get it. (believe me), in your price range that incapability is costing you a lot of mandolin.

**thekammissioner** · Aug-07-2012, 9:37am

Based on all of your advice I think my search has been narrowed down to these bad boys... I haven't had much luck trying to find a used one.

http://ronspickinparlor.com/eastman_315.html

http://www.elderly.com/new_instrumen...ms/LM520VS.htm

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-...ndard-mandolin

http://shawneecreekwoodworks.sharepo...s/ForSale.aspx

Which of those would you suggest for somebody like me mainly playing bluegrass and possibly exploring some gypsy jazz. From what I was able to gather, the Shawnee Creek is the only one with a radiused fretboard.

**Capt. E** · Aug-07-2012, 9:37am

Doug Edwards with Hill Country String Works has been building some nice A styles lately with radiused fretboards etc that are near your price range. I had a chance to try a couple of them 2 weeks ago and liked them. He has one that has been reduced to $699

www.hillcountrystringworks.com

**allenhopkins** · Aug-07-2012, 10:58am

Well, your Shawnee Creek link is to a mandola, not a mandolin -- is that your choice? Mandolas aren't often used in bluegrass, though Ronnie McCoury and others have used them on specific tunes.

The Eastman has a radius fingerboard; not sure about the Loar and the Kentucky. If you buy the Kentucky from Musician's Fiend (it's an intentional misspelling, folks), be aware that they do no shop set-up, so you'd probably need to add a few buxx to the purchase price to get the instrument set up by a local tech.

The Kentucky doesn't spec a "carved top," though it's all solid woods, so I'm inferring the top is heat-pressed. The other three have carved tops, which is generally considered better. Not a guarantee of better sound, but the potential is there.

I have this sneaky preference for throwing business to the small, domestic builder who makes 'em one at a time, so I'd have some interest in the Shawnee Creek. (I'm assuming you'd be interested in one of their mandolins, not a mandola.) On the other hand, I've never played one, and there aren't many around to be evaluated. I'm a big Eastman fan, own several of their mandolin family instruments. Loar and Kentucky have established solid reputations. So no firm recommendation here.

**thekammissioner** · Aug-07-2012, 11:01am

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

Well, your Shawnee Creek link is to a mandola, not a mandolin -- is that your choice? Mandolas aren't often used in bluegrass, though Ronnie McCoury and others have used them on specific tunes.

The mandolin is at the bottom of the page; you just gotta scroll down. I definitely agree with you on supporting small businesses though

**allenhopkins** · Aug-07-2012, 11:06am

Originally Posted by thekammissioner

The mandolin is at the bottom of the page; you just gotta scroll down...

Thanx! That's a great-looking two-point, and it inclines me a bit more toward the Shawnee Creek -- with the caution that I've never even seen one "in person" and so it's a bit of a "pig in a poke."

**thekammissioner** · Aug-07-2012, 11:09am

But I've just been informed that the Shawnee Creek was sold and shipped yesterday. The search continues...

**hvalrgir** · Aug-07-2012, 1:33pm

That's a shame, that was a really pretty instrument. I got to say the two-point is my favorite style.

**Chris Reber** · Aug-07-2012, 2:56pm

Another brand you might consider is JBovier. I've had my JBovier F5 Studio for about a year now and have really liked it a lot. Got it from Kyle Dunn at the Mando Shop (www.themandoshop.com) for $650. Compared to other instruments I've heard in that price range, it really is pretty solid.

I emailed Jeff Cowherd (who designs the Bovier instruments) about his brand looking for some more info before I bought it. He states that the instrument was designed for tone without "cosmetic frills". That's honestly what sold me on it: that I'd be paying for tone not fancy aesthetics.

Sorry no audio clips handy, but I'd be happy to record a quick one if you'd like to hear it!

**hank** · Aug-07-2012, 5:07pm

Hang on you've waited this long slow down and think things thru. #1To get a good F5 style instrument cheap you should think used.
#2 if you have a bit of patience eventually exactly what your looking for will show up used in the classifieds here. #3 most of the folks here that make suggestions on low priced F5's suggest higher models of lower priced brands like a 1000 Kentucky or an 600 or 700 The Loar, etc.,etc.,etc.. Put some of this gotta have it energy into checking out past post on what lower priced F5's forum members are pumped about and telling anyone who will listen how great they are. While your studing up and becoming more sure of exactly what is best for you keep laying aside your savings. When the right instrument comes up at the right price if you still don't have enough make a small loan and go for it. If you buy something new in your present price range odds are it will be a lot like what your playing now but then you will have two very hard to sell instruments to get back where you are now.

**John Kinn** · Aug-07-2012, 5:27pm

Originally Posted by JeffD

While I totally get it. (believe me), in your price range that incapability is costing you a lot of mandolin.

What he said. (The old "bang for the buck" principle).

**roberto216** · Aug-07-2012, 6:53pm

Eastman makes some fine mandolins so you would probably be happy with the MD315. They do have radiused fretboards. I haven't had my hands on your other options.

TheMandolinStore.com and Folkmusician.com are a couple recommended sellers. They both include a good setup.

**Sid Simpson** · Aug-07-2012, 9:09pm

Originally Posted by thekammissioner

But I've just been informed that the Shawnee Creek was sold and shipped yesterday. The search continues...

It's on its way to me, ETA Friday. I talked with Mike bit about it before he shipped it. I like his attitude and approach, and what little I heard sounded good. The few people who have posted about them like them.I will probably post some thoughts in the Shawnee Creek group in a few days.

**Sid Simpson** · Aug-07-2012, 9:15pm

The A5 from Hill Country looks awfully tempting. Doug Edwards posts frequently on the builders' forum (mandolins in progress) and Ted Eschliman at Jazzmando speaks very well of his work. http://jazzmando.com/new/archives/001834.shtml

I have one of his McClung armrests, and it is a thing of functional beauty.

**f5loar** · Aug-07-2012, 9:17pm

As others have said the imports dominate the under $1000 and to be honest they are the best bang for you buck expecially in the F models. I would hold off a bit more for the $1000 range and go for something like the KM1000, The Loar 600 or 700 or the Eastman 615 or 815. These mandolins are good enough for the pros to pick and some do. No need to upgrade for sometime if you get one of those. Buying used is not problem either and buying from the cafe ads is a safe bet.

**Capt. E** · Aug-08-2012, 9:05am

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

I have this sneaky preference for throwing business to the small, domestic builder who makes 'em one at a time, so I'd have some interest in the Shawnee Creek. (I'm assuming you'd be interested in one of their mandolins, not a mandola.) On the other hand, I've never played one, and there aren't many around to be evaluated. I'm a big Eastman fan, own several of their mandolin family instruments. Loar and Kentucky have established solid reputations. So no firm recommendation here.

Again, give Doug Edwards a call. Nice mandolins at a nice price...made in the Texas Hill Country. His web page is a bit garbled...but the pictures are there.
http://www.hillcountrystringworks.com/instruments.html

**dcoventry** · Aug-08-2012, 9:45am

Originally Posted by thekammissioner

But I definitely want an F-style because, as Pete Langdell would say, I'm "incapable of escaping the lure (or the Loar...) of the indisputably traditional, now world-standard F5 body style"- I love that traditional bluegrass look.

That's Pete's quote on the G5, which is not truly traditional. In fact, it's a bit of a nose tweak calling it G5, which is ahead of F5!

**Capt. E** · Aug-09-2012, 9:21am

Originally Posted by f5loar

As others have said the imports dominate the under $1000 and to be honest they are the best bang for you buck expecially in the F models. I would hold off a bit more for the $1000 range and go for something like the KM1000, The Loar 600 or 700 or the Eastman 615 or 815. These mandolins are good enough for the pros to pick and some do. No need to upgrade for sometime if you get one of those. Buying used is not problem either and buying from the cafe ads is a safe bet.

As usual, I agree with F5's advice. In your price range, you are pretty much limited to chinese made instruments. If you had up to $2000 your choices enlarge greatly. When you get up to that price level, there are several american builders to choose from. It will be very difficult to find an american made F style for less.

**thekammissioner** · Aug-09-2012, 9:39am

Thanks for all the help; I've decided to wait and see how much money I can make and set aside while I'm at school next year; hopefully I can break 1k. In the meantime I've checked every classified ad on this website and bookmarked the promising ones. They will probably all be gone by the time I have the right budget, but one can hope (plus I need something to do while I sit here at work).