best mandolin for blues/swing/old time stringband music?

[flotownslim]

I need suggestions on what style and brand to look for when I upgrade. Recently playing an Eastman 514 (F4 copy). About $1500-2200 to spend.

[blueron]

The higher your budget, the more you pay for the tonally redundant, purely decorative F-scroll, meaning that if bang for your buck is a priority, an A4 makes the most sense. Your budget should allow you to find a very fine A4.

If you were somehow able to scrape up another three hundred bucks, you'd be in quality custom build territory. Mike Black's A4 mandolins begin at about $2500 and are a joy to behold. I haven't played one, but everything I read and see about them makes them very very tempting.

ron

[Mike Snyder]

My feeling is that an arched-top f hole mandolin is the most versatile style. Volume, projection, finesse. Play 'em hard, play 'em soft. We've all got horses in the brand race. I'll just say that I like the sound of a Gibson, so that's what I play. I've got very dear friends that like the sound of Collings or Weber or Epiphone and that's what they play. Better or worse, I ain't sayin'. Just different. At $2200 you can have a VERY nice A style mandolin. I'm partial to the points and swirly parts, but I played for over 30 years before I owned a Gibson F5 and it's paid for. With a little luck, I'll not need another.
Just thinking; There are plenty of oval-hole mandolins with volume aplenty. What are you looking for in suggestions? Your choice is based on your preferences. Get out and play as many mandolins as you can find. Come to Winfield and play mine. We could probably find 30 or 40 others, too, if we tried.
Mike Black would be one of the first I'd point you to at the big party. His are very authentic to vintage Gibsons, VERY cleanly built and sound heavenly.

[JeffD]

Any good mandolin will be able to do it all. Real well. The f holes give you more focus and percussiveness, most prized in bluegrass. For blues, old time, swing my tastes run to an oval hole, for the more silkey smooth legato sound, and that high lonesome creamy double stop tremolo that comes from everywhere at once. There are exceptions, of course, and tastes vary. With your price range it would be hard to go wrong.

[NG53]

Go for a Silver Angel A-5 mandolin from Ken Ratcliff. It is at the top of the price range. It has a glorious range of tone - well suited to a range of musical genres. CHeck the Song a Week Social and you will find renditions by Old Sausage.

Or as suggested above Mike Black's A-4 or A2Z mandolins are a sight to behold and to play - a bit above your price range though.

[flotownslim]

This input is great! I like more info do I know which direction to head. Looks like Mr. Black is at the top of the list right now. Keep the suggestions (opinions) coming

[blueron]

Another option for you to consider is the National RM-1 resonator. Unlike some resonator guitars with their distinctive metallic ring, the RM-1 has a very natural - but loud - sound, and is the favourite performance tool among top blues mandolin players like Rich Del Grosso, Bert Deivert and Steve James. It is also used by professionals and semi-professionals in the traditional/folk music field. It has a wide nut which makes it soooo easy to play, and is beautifully built. They retail for a little under $2000 (list price is a bit higher than that), and for around the top of your budget range you could get one with the excellent built in pick-up top plate.

ron

[pjlama]

Old Wave (Bill Bussman) makes about the best oval A and his pricing fits your budget. I'd stay oval for what you're playing.

[bmac]

I tend to buy lower end or well worn used mandos so I won't suggest a mando in your price range... However for authentic string band I would not rule out a less expensive mando. Do you really want or need a strap hanger?? if not then I would forget it. and go for an A style. More value for your money.

Depending on what you want tone wise, if you are interested in authentic sound then I would not rule out an old steel bodied National. They look and sound so cool!!! But I think if i could only have one mando it would be a wood bodied instrument.

Keep us informed on what you get and how you like it.

You are in an enviable position, being able to buy quality, which you should be able to get at that price range.

[JeffD]

Another option for you to consider is the National RM-1 resonator.

I should have thought of that. Because they are great. Really great. And ron has described it perfectly, except he left out one important detail. The RM-1 looks so cool. It is visually stunning, with a look that fits into the genre.

[liestman]

For sure, at least check out a National RM-1. Old Waves are also great but the two are very different.

[mandroid]

you will certainly, be heard on a banjo mandolin, as well ..

[blueron]

yet another option, but in the second hand market (because new it is outside your budget), a carbon fibre Mix A4 like mine (see my avatar) is perfect for the kind of music you want to play. Used ones occasionally pop up in the Classifieds at around $2500. An A5 (f-hole) sold there recently for, I think, about $2600.

ron

[flotownslim]

The RM-1 also caught my eye. Ito through this in the mix I also play with a singer song writer/americana duo sometimes trio and some of the music is hmm..... soft and sweet so will the RM-1 handle that?

[blueron]

The RM-1 also caught my eye. Ito through this in the mix I also play with a singer song writer/americana duo sometimes trio and some of the music is hmm..... soft and sweet so will the RM-1 handle that?

Guys who use the RM-1 for performances and recording - like Cafe member Dagger Gordon - will answer that for you, but I have seen them say in the past that the National is perfectly capable of playing quietly and sweetly, but always has the option of being played loud when you want it to. I have a little experience of playing my friend's, and it is a beautifully made instrument, not a rough thing that will spoil any tender moment.

ron

[bmac]

The National RM 1 is a remarkably sweet sounding resonater... that is what sets them off from that traditionally designed all metal resonater mandos... Kind of a cross between a really nice wood bodied mando and a resonater... But as suggested, with capabilities of volume you just can't approach with a standard wooden mando. It is a terrific choice but was developed long after the metal resonater, which would be closer to your musical interests authenticity-wise. Whatever you choose the National brand is the "name of the game" in resonater instruments.

Blueron suggests a banjo-mandolin.... That is not a bad idea because it fits almost exactly into your interests (time wise and instrument wise) and is an unusual choice of instrument. I would suggest googling "Ragtime Skeddadlers" to hear some great early 20th C. banjo-mandolin music. This is not a common instrument and should be worth lots of comments from folks. Good ones often sell for roughly $300 or less on ebay or $500 new, I think.

In fact a resonater mando and a banjo-mandolin would be a terrific combination along with your present instrument. They are all tuned the same so there is no problem learning to play.

[blueron]

Blueron suggests a banjo-mandolin....

That was Mandroid, actually - but I'd love a good banjo mandolin for my own entertainment

[bmac]

The Mix is a highly regarded instrument but it is new and made with modern materials not available during the era of your interests, music-wise. Depends on the level of authenticity you are going for.

[flotownslim]

Not as much authentic as a good all around mando to use in variety of settings. I'm still corius about RM-1. If anybody has experience use one I would love to hear from you.

[billhay4]

Used oval hole A. Go for the sound you want, so try a bunch out. There are literally thousands of these out there in your price range.
Bill

[Bill Baldridge]

I go for expensive strap holders and f holes, but for what you are asking, I agree with billhay4. There is no need to buy one that you don't fall in love with. Of course that assumes that you are going to play them before you buy.

[Charlieshafer]

+1 on used oval hole A's. They sound great, are very versatile, and you get more for your bucks used. Look at Andy Statman's old Gibson. That thing (actually, it was Andy doing the work) sounded great, and was beat to a blue-bloody pulp. Kind of a lesson in that it's less the mandolin and more the player, but overall, used oval get my vote.

[flotownslim]

What about a flattop vs archtop oval? And back and side material?

[Richard Moore]

I use a National RM-1 for Irish/Scottish (I can't bring myself to say "Celtic"), blues and old-time sessions and gigs plus a little swing as well and it works well for all of them. I use flatwound strings which give a mellow and sweet tone but the power is there if I need it. For relaxing at home I play my oval hole Nava 2-pointer.

[blueron]

I use a National RM-1 for Irish/Scottish

My mistake, Richard - confused you with Dagger earlier. Apogolies.

ron