View Full Version : Martin Mandolins
Has anyone played Martin's carved top, two-point mandolins ? I was just wondering how they sound compared to the F5's of today. Are they worth having in your arsenal of mandolins?
Steve
nmiller
Feb-15-2016, 9:16am
I used to have a nearly mint 1941 Martin 2-20, and I've played a couple of post-War 2-15s as well. They don't sound anything like F-5s; the volume can be comparable, but the Martins have a brighter, more cutting tone with milder bass. They're excellently-built instruments, with great upper-fret access and overall playability, and definitely worth having if you want a range of sounds at your disposal.
I guess the big question is how hard are they to find these days, and what would you have to pay for one?
Steve
nmiller
Feb-15-2016, 9:25am
The 2-15 is not hard to find because they kept making them through the '60s. The 15, 20, 30, 2-15 and 2-30 are considerably rarer because none were built after the War. The 2-15 averages in the $1200 area, the 2-20 around $2000, and I haven't seen many 2-30s actually sell but asking prices have been in the $3000 area.