Mandolin up to $300

[UkuleleAl]

Hi guys
Anyone have any recommendations for a mandolin up to $300?
I have to save up so no $900 recommendations please :)
Can be F-style or A-style Whichever is better value for the price.
I have a vantage A-style now which is giving me NFNMS
(Need for new mando syndrome)

Regards Alex

[almeriastrings]

The sage advice oft cited here (with very good reason) is to go for an A-model. You are not going to get a truly decent F model for $300. Not even close. Also, to maximize your "bang for buck" go used. Check the classifieds here. If I was you, I would be looking hard for a Kentucky KM-505, used. They are a very, very nice, all-solid, well designed, well-finished and nicely made mandolin which you can sometimes find used around that price point. Keep saving. Keep looking.

[Tim2723]

There's not that much to add. $300 buys a very fine ukulele. Not so many choices in the mandolin world though.

But welcome to the forum!

[rgray]

IF your budget was only meant to cover the mandolin with future need of a good setup and case, you might want to consider this Loar LM300 (http://www.themandolinstore.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=9269)at The Mandolin Store. For $379 you get it all plus free shipping. Otherwise, something used where you might have to pay for a setup or a new Kentucky 150 at TMS or Folkmusician.com.

Edit - Just noticed you were in Australia, so scratch the free shipping.

[UkuleleAl]

Thanks Guys
I was thinking of extending my price range to a Loar LM 220 VS.
But I'll look at the KM-505
Regards Alex

[UkuleleAl]

Oh and by the way, it needs to be posted to australia.

[UkuleleAl]

Is Loar a pay-for-name brand?
The do look good but i'm not sure.

[rgray]

Search the Cafe and you will find that "The Loar" mandolins get very high marks. The name is cheesy but good mandolins.

[Ben Milne]

Being carved archtop instruments, mandolins are a lot more involved than ukes to produce. For this reason, while you can get a pretty decent uke for $300, you'd struggle to get anything worthy of being called a mandolin for the same money so you're going to struggle to find something that is a decent upgrade from what you have in that price range.
Freight is usually about $100 from the states. I have paid as much as $130 and as little as $70 in the past. This will chew up a significant part of your budget.
Where in OZ are you? What kind of music are you intending to play?
Maybe a mahogany Tanglewood (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tanglewood-Cove-Creek-teardrop-mandolin-Solid-mahogany-New-/110862522513?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item19cfebd891#ht_3325wt_1082) or this oval hole from Victor Speranski (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Luthier-made-Brazilian-Mandolin-ALL-SOLID-Woods-Double-Sides-/160784858971?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item256f863f5b#ht_1990wt_922)

I know it's hard to find mandolins on shelf at the best of times, but I would say visit as many music shops, pawn shops, secondhand shops etc and play everything you can find within your budget.

[UkuleleAl]

I am in NSW (mid north coast)
Thanks

[UkuleleAl]

Where is the LM 220 VS made?
If it is america (which i doubt) i will go with it

[JeffD]

Is Loar a pay-for-name brand?
The do look good but i'm not sure.

Lots of folks love them. There are numerous threads.

[JeffD]

Where is the LM 220 VS made?
If it is america (which i doubt) i will go with it

There is not much chance of getting an American made mandolin for $300.00 Just the way it is.

[Pete Summers]

The Loar, like most lower end mandos nowadays, is made in China. You might also consider the Rover RM 50 all solid wood for around $160USD, plus shipping. They are reasonably good for the price.

I might add, if you are looking for American made mandos for around $300, check Ebay for used Regals, Stradolins and Harmony models. Like buying a pig in a polk, it's a risk buying from Ebay based only on photos and seller descriptions, but sometimes you can score a terrific old instrument for a fair price. I have a Regal reverse scroll that cost me around 109 bucks which I dearly love.

Other than the Rover, some Loars and some Kentuckys, about any new mandolin is gonna be over $300, especially if shipped to Australia.

[UkuleleAl]

Is the Morgan Monroe MM-150 any good?

[UkuleleAl]

I have heard a lot of bad reviews from morgan monroes

[UkuleleAl]

The savannah sa 120 looks quite nice in natural finish but does anyone know about these?

[Payit Forward]

Best mandolin for $300 is going to be a used Kentucky 250/254/505/550 models, The Loar LM-220, Eastman 304/305 models, any Big Muddy/Mid-Missouri. In my experience, no other brand in the price range will match these models.

[Michael Richmond]

I am in NSW (mid north coast)
Thanks

Given the cost of shipping to Oz, you might be better off considering one of the Kentucky's from the Gladesville Guitar Factory in Sydney who seem to have a reasonable range of mandolins on their website (NFI).

[almeriastrings]

I agree. Give them a call as they only state "list" prices, not actual selling prices and they have a couple of Kentucky's and Eastman's that might just be do-able for you. By the time you have paid shipping to Oz, plus any taxes, there would not be much let out of $300 for the mandolin! As those brands are sold there, used ones must also come up from time to time. A quick search on Ebay Australia reveals most on sale right now are 'no-name' type things, but there is a nice looking Eastman MD-605, though a bit out of your price range. Even so, shows they do come up now and again. I'd keep a close watch. You are not going to get a US made mandolin for anything like $300.... more like $1500 and up... a long way up. With that budget I would certainly not waste it on high shipping costs. Buy locally and buy used if possible (or haggle hard on a new one).

[UkuleleAl]

Why I was looking internationally was because the prices were too high in australia + postage(not really much)

[UkuleleAl]

I think the loar LM 220 VS is my best bet(even though it will take a little longer to save up for)
Is this a good desicion?

[Ben Milne]

Depending on how much you pay and where you get it from it could be. I definitely think Its a good idea saving more so it's worth the upgrade from what you already have.

[Goodin]

Try to find a used Mid Missouri/Big Muddy mandolin. They come up for sale on the classifieds from time to time for $250-450 range. Hand made in the US with all solid woods and set up well. You will most likely be frustrated with the Asian made mandolins, but with a good set up they can sound decent (not as good as Mid Mo. though).

[UkuleleAl]

I am also really considering the morgan monroe mm-150.
Is this an ok mando?

[UkuleleAl]

I can't find much on it

[UkuleleAl]

I think i'd best increase my budget officially to $400

[UkuleleAl]

Including postage

[bmac]

Big Muddy (Mid-Missouri) are wonderful instruments if you will accept a flat top oval hole. They are very nice sounding American made instruments... They often are sold for around $300-$400 used. Often these are "first mandolins" and the owner either moves on to a more expensive instrument or loses interest in mandolin so there are often two or three being sold at arouond that figure. I am partial because my first was a Mid-Missouri and I loved it until a broken steam pipe while in storage did a job on it.

[bmac]

For an excellent used instrument on eBay I would suggest looking for a Stradolin in decent shape... they are fine sounding instruments made with steam pressed top and back so they are arched (but not carved). You can normally get a decent one for between $150 and $300, but you should be willing to do some work on one to keep your costs down. I own two and they are by far the best sounding of my collection of lower end mandolins. On any used instrument you should probably anticipate doing any repair or adjusting yourself.