Anyone want to help me shop for a sub $200 mando?

[211]

New mando guy here (5 days in)
Last week someone gave me a Kona mando for free. So far I can hardly put it down but it is pretty cheap and it sounds squeaky and buzzy even though I had a guitar friend look at it and say the action and setup was “pretty good” for what it was. Rewind to last night when I went to the Guitar Center to buy a set of strings… They had a handful of mandos ($100-$400 range) in the acoustic room, each one of them was night and day difference from the Kona Im currently playing on. Needless to say I have the bug to get into something just a tiny bit better.

What I’d like is some advice on the available mandolins on the Guitar Center’s used gear website (http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/index.cfm?page=2&srch&max=200&q=mandolin&distance=100&sort=0&dir=desc). My budget is $200 max...

[Steve Zawacki]

Almost everything there is 50-100% laminate, so IMHO you are not getting any substantive improvement.

If $200 is your max, suggest a Rover RM-50 (http://sagamusic.com/products/product-details.aspx?item=RM-50). It's solid wood and prices range from $155-179 including pro set-up and shipping from a couple of the Cafe sponsor-vendors. It will be new, with a guarantee, and have been given a good QA inspection and set-up to boot. Elderly may still have a 10% off special going on.

GC may also have Rover RM-50 , but GC doesn't set it up (I believe). I had one (granddaughter has it now) and it's night-and-day when set up properly as opposed to out-of-the-box.

[pheffernan]

If $200 is your max, suggest a Rover RM-50 (http://sagamusic.com/products/product-details.aspx?item=RM-50). It's solid wood and prices range from $155-179 including pro set-up and shipping from a couple of the Cafe sponsor-vendors. It will be new, with a guarantee, and have been given a good QA inspection and set-up to boot.

The Columbus, Ohio Guitar Center has one used for $79.99: http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Used-USED-ROVER-RM50-MANDOLIN---SOLID-SPRUCE-TOP---SOLID-MAPLE-BACK-amp--SIDES-NC-109974193-i3696043.gc.

[211]

The Columbus, Ohio Guitar Center has one used for $79.99: http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Used-USED-ROVER-RM50-MANDOLIN---SOLID-SPRUCE-TOP---SOLID-MAPLE-BACK-amp--SIDES-NC-109974193-i3696043.gc.

Hmm...
I'll look into that. Although there's a pawn shop in town that has a brand new one for $119; if the RM-50's are in fact a decent option. I'd still need to have it setup though.

[Caleb]

I know a guy who bought one of those cheap Rovers from a Cafe sponsor. The thing started separating within weeks. When he called the shop to talk over his troubles, the guy cut him off mid sentence and told him that's not a warrantee issue. An instrument separating not a warrantee issue? Wonder what is? He got screwed and ended up with a busted mandolin and all his mando-money gone. He obviously didn't have a lot to toss around which made the story even sadder. Just be careful. Cafe sponsor doesn't automatically equal good shop/service.

[pheffernan]

if the RM-50's are in fact a decent option. I'd still need to have it setup though.

Depending on the previous owner, it might have been set up already. At $80, you can certainly afford the setup if it hasn't.

[DataNick]

I'd save up another $50 and get this: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/names/kentucky-km-150-mandolin--KM150S.htm


If $50 is gonna kill ya, PM me & I'll help you out. No reason if you're that close to settle for less than optimal...

[pheffernan]

It'd probably only be $35, with Elderly's current 10% off promotion!

[Steve Zawacki]

Never had any problems with the Rover 50 I got from a Cafe sponsor - was well set up and surprisingly good. I'd be gunshy of a used one at an in-and-out store, regardless of price. When the choice is between brand new / set up versus a used of unknown age and whatever treatment, the $60 price difference is minimal.

I agree on the Kentucky 150, especially if the 10% discount at Elderly applies. That brings the price to the OP's max plus two pizzas. If the $200 is the full max, the Rover 50, gig bag, digital tuner, and extra strings may all be had with hamburger money left.

[211]

So the difference between a brand new RM-50 setup, and lets say that Kentucky from Elderly, would be THAT BIG of a difference to justify the $100 jump in price?
The Kentucky I played at the Guitar Center was nice, nodoubtaboutit but it was a KM-250 for $400. Waaaay out of my range right now.

[DataNick]

I've owned both a Rover and Kentucky km150...get the Kentucky!

[pheffernan]

So the difference between a brand new RM-50 setup, and lets say that Kentucky from Elderly, would be THAT BIG of a difference to justify the $100 jump in price?


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1tFwAYVj5Y

[Steve Zawacki]

So the difference between a brand new RM-50 setup, and lets say that Kentucky from Elderly, would be THAT BIG of a difference to justify the $100 jump in price?
The Kentucky I played at the Guitar Center was nice, nodoubtaboutit but it was a KM-250 for $400. Waaaay out of my range right now.

The video demo that pheffernan gave has gone viral among folk on this board. Those who have the Kentucky back it up.

211 - You set the guidelines as a max of $200 for a replacement mandolin. The Elderly with discount price for the Rover 50 (155-15=140) and the Kentucky 150 (250-25=225) comes out to a difference of $85 and $25 over your max.

Is the Kentucky 150 worth $85 more than the Rover 50? Yes, and then some. A few folk would say the Kentucky 150 is worth two or three times the value of the Rover, and as a former Rover owner I'd agree with them. That's how much the Kentucky 150 has impressed folk.

So, if the $200 max is sacrosanct, then the Rover is a reasonable and prudent option. However, if the budget can be stretched by $25, the quality of instrument you can get and your overall satisfaction will jump big-time with the Kentucky.

[Petrus]

I like my Gretsch New Yorker 9310 solid all-mahogany. Retails around $240, got my nearly new for $170.

117558

[Capt. E]

I have seen a couple of Kentucky KM-200's sell either side of $200. Discontinued model, mahogany back & sides and really quite nice. Some earlier ones were made in Japan (later Korea). Here's an example that recently sold on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251486220193?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2661

[211]

Assuming my pricepoint just went up, there's a KM-250 used at Guitar Center for $275.
Is that a pretty decent deal?

[pheffernan]

Assuming my pricepoint just went up, there's a KM-250 used at Guitar Center for $275.
Is that a pretty decent deal?

You can get that instrument new (on waiting order) from Elderly for $374 right now. $275 is about 70% off retail (~$450-470) at most shops. But you have to watch out for when and where it was made, which will affect the quality of the materials and the instrument. For instance, some people love the Kentucky's from Japan in the 80's, while others find the current mandolins from China to be their best yet.

[Steve Zawacki]

Assuming my pricepoint just went up, there's a KM-250 used at Guitar Center for $275.
Is that a pretty decent deal?

The price seems good. The rest depends on the instrument. Looking good and sounding good don't always go hand-in-glove on any instrument category. You could be looking at another $50-100 in set-up costs, or it could be great as-is. That's the unknown. So, the question is whether the budget has gone from $200 for a new mandolin to a possible $325-350 for a used one from GC?

[kkmm]

It could be that the used KM-250 has been setup before, so if you try it (or bring a friend who play mandolin to check it out) and feel it's easy to your fingers, you could save the setup cost.
I bought an used mandolin (Ibanez, solid top) and it has been setup to my taste, I only need to replace the old strings. And this saves me 100$ (240 new, I paid 137$).