Kinda sorta got in narrowed down

[Repent34]

I am in a position where I'm looking to buy a mando for around $1500-$2000. My problem is there are no shops within even driving distance that I have found to be able to get some hands on with various makes and models. It seems I have to make a purchase by sight. I have my eyeballs on either a Weber Gallatin or a Breedlove Quartz or Cascade. I like the blond look, F style, radius, and matte finish.

Still trying to find a good all around mando for the various music styles I "may" find myself interested in. I'm finding myself intrigued by bluegrass, Celtic, folk stuff and have always listened to country and rock. About the only thing I cannot stomach is rap. Sorry folks, if the song is sung in english and I can't understand the lyrics....well, you know.

Anyways, I know that maple tends to give a brighter sound, and mahogony, somewhat deeper, or woody, whatever that is. Oval holes good for Celtic, F holes good for bluegrass/projection, etc

I'd be interested to hear from the folks with hands on experience with the mandos mentioned above. Course, if you're interested, jump in anyway.

I expect to keep this mando for awhile, MAS notwithstanding.

thanks all;
chris

[kyblue]

My first 'real' mandolin was a Gallatin. It wasn't long before I realized it didn't hold up well in a jam. If I had it to do over again, and wanted to buy off the shelf, I'd have started with a Gibson A9 or the equivalent Collings. Watch the price you pay though, from personal experience I can tell you resale is way off retail. I personally prefer the small builders, and you get a lot more in an A than an F for equivalent money.

Paula

[chuck.naill]

Chris, Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville has two 800 series two point Eastman's in the $800 range. One is blonde and the other is a beautiful sunburst. Click on the web site and check mandolin inventory if interested.

Chuck

[Repent34]

My first 'real' mandolin was a Gallatin. It wasn't long before I realized it didn't hold up well in a jam. If I had it to do over again, and wanted to buy off the shelf, I'd have started with a Gibson A9 or the equivalent Collings. Watch the price you pay though, from personal experience I can tell you resale is way off retail. I personally prefer the small builders, and you get a lot more in an A than an F for equivalent money.

Paula
Paula;

I believe it when you say that I can get more bang for my buck on an "A" style over a "F" style. Arrrg, I just really like the looks of the "F" style.

I have heard, well actually read, alot about the Gibson A9's and the Collings MT. I'm looking for that perfect instrument that will fit all my requirements but I don't know if it exists or not.

Always seems like the resale value is never there compared to retail, you're right.

What about the Gallitan didn't hold up? Projection?

[Repent34]

Chris, Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville has two 800 series two point Eastman's in the $800 range. One is blonde and the other is a beautiful sunburst. Click on the web site and check mandolin inventory if interested.

Chuck
Chuck;

I'll Google that site and check them out. I just really hate that I cannot lay hands on. Nothing beats that. Course I'd have to have someone play it for me that can make it sing. I kinda make it choke, sputter, and generally beg for mercy when I play it. Did I say play it? Maybe one day.

chris

[Loren Bailey]

Chris,

I bugged the heck out of Gruhns when I was on the hunt for a teens Gibson. They gladly answered ALL my questions and A/B'd quite a few for me over the phone. Great people at Gruhn's.

FWIW I recently acquired an awesome sounding A9, when I play it and hear the quality of sound and tonal richness my lack of scroll and points is not noticed at all!

Loren

[steve V. johnson]

This is counter to the 'conventional wisdom,' but I'm going to go ahead and sling it, in hopes that it may provide useful, maybe bring a paradigm shift that you might employ and even enjoy.

I, too, live where I can't sample a lot of instruments that I'd like to, so my criteria about design and performance are formed in other ways. I read here, I converse with folks via email, I meet with other players as often as I can, etc.

So... You have some good critera in place, or at least some perception of the commonly repeated 'standards' about woods, etc. If you rise above the myth that certain instruments might not do This or That sort of music as well as This or That design (people who play every kind of music actually play every kind of instrument), as it seems that you might, you can assemble your information and intuition and have some conversations with some luthiers who build at that price point.
I've found few better sources of information than luthiers, even tho I go into the conversations with a presumption that these people are not truly 'generalists,' but specialists, each building in their own way based on criteria that work for them. It's not hard to discern the specialities of luthiers, so with that in mind, the info you get from them is pretty easily compared with you already know and and what you desire in your instrument.

To start, Laura Ratcliff in KY and Chris Baird (Arches) in Utah come to mind, Brian Dean in Montreal, Phil Crump in Calif. There are certainly more luthiers who can deliver you a fine instrument within your budget, and along the way you get to learn a lot about yourself and what you want from your instrument(s) and your music.

The Conventional Wisdom is not to buy without playing it first.

The only real reason I can think of not to do this is that it defers gratification for a while, the time it takes to confer and then build the thing. (There may very well be other reasons.)

I've done this several times since 1978 and have had a great time with each instrument. Most recently I found that I couldn't play enough bouzoukis to really assemble a criteria that I thought was comprehensive. I began to talk with several luthiers, selected Phil Crump and now have a wonderfully fascinating and satisfying instrument from him.

By extension you could follow your known criteria and intuiton and buy something 'off the rack' or by mail-order or online (from a good dealer, it's not hard to find out who those are, here) and wing it. If you have the facility to make incremental modifications (e.g., set-up changes, bridge, nut, truss rod, frets, tailpiece), you can take a bit more of a chance. I'm fortunate to have, over a long time, learned some of these skills and otherwise, to have at hand great advice and instrument techs, so over time I've taken some long chances, but it's not the long chance that I'm recommending, really.

So, for what it's worth, consider taking a jump. I don't care if you do or don't, but just thought I toss this out anyway... <GG>

All the best,

stv

[otterly2k]

FWIW- if you prefer a radiused fretboard, I believe that the Gallatins typically come with flat...radius is a custom option. Breedlove necks are radiused standard, are a little wider than typical, and have the thicker fretwires. This gives them a distinctive feel. Personally, I like it a lot, and better than the necks of the Webers I've played.

In that price range, you have a good many choices, though. Paula's right that you'll get more for your money if you consider A's vs. F's ... and it's also true that you'll get more if you can find a used version of what you decide on than new.

Given that you are shopping "sound unheard", it'd be a good idea to make sure whoever you buy from has a trial period.

good luck!

[otterly2k]

ps-- Stv has some good points... I'd add that you can often find instruments by many excellent small-scale builders in the Classifieds, pre-owned and at very good prices.

The only thing I'd question about Stv's suggestion is that I think that you're more likely to get the most out of a custom build process when you know something about what you want to play, and have tried out enough instruments to go into the build with somewhat refined ideas about what you're seeking. From your own description of yourself as a player, I'm not sure you are "there" yet... but that's something only you can decide.

On the other hand... it's a fun learning curve to be on and worth the wait.

[Alex Fields]

I didn't read all the replies so I'm probably repeating someone else, but I would advise not to buy new. You can get a much better deal buying used. And don't stress too much over the F vs. A thing...yeah, generally you can get a better A for the same price, but you can get a good F style in your price range too, especially mandolins from lesser known builders which are just cheaper because they don't have reputation and not because you're losing quality.

Collings MTs are great instruments and are in your price range: the ones I've played had a sound mostly suited for bluegrass, though. A used Weber would get you a nice instrument, but you could probably do better for sound (not likely for aesthetics though) in the same price range. Obviously you should play any instruments you can, but I know that isn't always practical. Watch the classifieds for used instruments in your range. I myself have a Silverangel F5 that I need to sell...nice instrument, good tone and good looking, and good for just about any style (I play as much Bach as I do bluegrass). Eh, not trying to turn this into an ad, just saying that alot of people who have good instruments need money so it's not that hard to get a good deal if you're careful and patient.

[Repent34]

I didn't read all the replies so I'm probably repeating someone else, but I would advise not to buy new. You can get a much better deal buying used. And don't stress too much over the F vs. A thing...yeah, generally you can get a better A for the same price, but you can get a good F style in your price range too, especially mandolins from lesser known builders which are just cheaper because they don't have reputation and not because you're losing quality.

Collings MTs are great instruments and are in your price range: the ones I've played had a sound mostly suited for bluegrass, though. A used Weber would get you a nice instrument, but you could probably do better for sound (not likely for aesthetics though) in the same price range. Obviously you should play any instruments you can, but I know that isn't always practical. Watch the classifieds for used instruments in your range. I myself have a Silverangel F5 that I need to sell...nice instrument, good tone and good looking, and good for just about any style (I play as much Bach as I do bluegrass). Eh, not trying to turn this into an ad, just saying that alot of people who have good instruments need money so it's not that hard to get a good deal if you're careful and patient.
Alex;

I have read and appreciated many of your posts. I think at this point I would definately benefit from a more versatile instrument. I am studying different genres of music and like alot of what I hear, for one reason/mood or another.

I'm leaning hard along the lines of an "F" frame blond, wide neck, large frets. That seems to be my desired preference. I have heard that SilverAngels were nice mandos. Any idea what you will be asking for your's?

[Repent34]

Otterly;

in the ad I saw for the Gallatin on their site it said that their frets are .080 and the Breedloves from their site are .078. I thought the Gallatin also has a 22" radius? Am I seeing/understanding something wrong? Isn't .080 wider than .078?

I knew I should have stayed awake in class....

[steve V. johnson]

Hi,

"I'm leaning hard along the lines of an "F" frame blond, wide neck, large frets. That seems to be my desired preference. I have heard that SilverAngels were nice mandos."

I did some asking about a while back, and some makers (mostly the biggest) won't go over 1 3/16". Collings wouldn't make me a 1.25, but Weber, Breedlove would. So would Laura Ratcliff, =but= the emails were signed by Ken, so I guess he'd make a 1.25 nut for a Silver Angel as well. I am pretty knocked out with Laura's work, as I'm more of an A fan than an F fan (but that's just me... <GGG>).

A 22" radius is pretty tiny, isn't it... Is that right?

Start here to find Weber standard specs, but they will do about anything you ask (except maybe paint your house or wash the car ... <GG>). Off to the right are buttons for prices, models, etc.

http://www.soundtoearth.com/instruments.htm

Best,

stv

[Repent34]

trigger pulled!!

I pulled the trigger on the Weber Gallatin quilted maple mando in the classifieds. Thanks Mike!!

chris

[Eric F.]

Chris, congrats. That is one crazy-gorgeous back. I hope you enjoy it.

[otterly2k]

Chris... that was a beaut...let us know when it arrives and what it's like.
congrats!

[Repent34]

yep, she sure is purty. I'll have to name her now.

[F5G WIZ]

If you are looking for an F style blonde there is a small builder in Damascus VA. named Bill Neely that builds very nice instuments and his F styles vary in price from 1500.00 to 1800.00. He is retired doesn't have a web page or even email but he loves to build and isn't concerned with making a killing on his mandos. I have owned two now and both were real nice, good sounding mandos. I will post a pic of his F5s, if your interested I will give you his phone number. He usually has them in stock so there wouldn't be much of a wait.