Suzuki mr-80

[Ryan13]

A friend of mine is giving me her parents mandolin, its a suzuki mr 80, i googled it and found very little, does anyone know anything about it?

[Jim Garber]

I assume you realize that it is a bowlback. You can see some pictures here (http://www.elderly.com/items/90U-4040.htm).

I had a similar one a few years back. I believe that it was made in the 1970s. It was all right but nothing amazing. If anything, these were a little overbuilt for a bowlback. You can certainly use medium gauge strings and it might even take the std bluegrass gauge unlike some vintage bowlbacks which should be strung with very light gauge strings.

Enjoy it! it is still a decently made mandolin and it is very nice that it came as a gift from a friend.

[Ryan13]

I assume you realize that it is a bowlback. You can see some pictures here (http://www.elderly.com/items/90U-4040.htm).

I had a similar one a few years back. I believe that it was made in the 1970s. It was all right but nothing amazing. If anything, these were a little overbuilt for a bowlback. You can certainly use medium gauge strings and it might even take the std bluegrass gauge unlike some vintage bowlbacks which should be strung with very light gauge strings.

Enjoy it! it is still a decently made mandolin and it is very nice that it came as a gift from a friend.
Yea I get it Tuesday, I can't wait. Do you know when they stopped producing them and the value?

[Jim Garber]

I would say $100-150 in decent condition. I don't know exactly when they stopped making them. In fact they may still make them but with a different design. They may just not be imported any more to the US. Check out this Japanese site (http://www.hosco.co.jp/HOSCO_ENGLISH/Pages/Suzuki.html) (scroll down). Some of these Suzukis might be nice instruments. I have not played any but it is possible.

[Ryan13]

I would say $100-150 in decent condition. I don't know exactly when they stopped making them. In fact they may still make them but with a different design. They may just not be imported any more to the US. Check out this Japanese site (http://www.hosco.co.jp/HOSCO_ENGLISH/Pages/Suzuki.html) (scroll down). Some of these Suzukis might be nice instruments. I have not played any but it is possible.
Thank you!