Bean Blossom Mandolin?

[tombnorton]

hi, im new to the forum and the mandolin. i have been playing guitar for a number of years, and mandolin for only a few months. i purchased a cheapo johnson mandolin that is getting send back because of a bow in hte neck which makes it unplayable. im exchanging for a new one, and im going to upgrade a little bit. i do want an f-style (i know most will say that an a-style that costs as much as an f style will be much better than the f-style). i was considering a morgan monroe bean blossom. the BM-100-TB is hte one i am looking at, its about $320 where i can get it. i would like some information on it- is the finish/binding nice around the scroll? how is the setup? is it worth the money? any advice would be appreciated. also, how much better is the BM-200-TB? i know its a hundred dollars and some change extra, is it worht it to make that step up? any other advice would be accepted as well. thanks!, tom norton

[Lane Pryce]

Hey Tom welcome to the Mandolin Cafe!!I would recommmend spending $$ for a set-up when you receive you new mandolin. All mandolins play and sound much better when everything is the way it should be.A proper fitting bridge,nut slots the correct width and angle in relation to the peghead,action adjusted to your like'n and correct intonation.Money well spent in my opinion.It will make your mandolin experience much more enjoyable.Do you guys play grass in Mass? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Lp

[Rob Powell]

I'm probably the wrong guy to ask but I say go for as much as you can possibly afford without getting yourself in trouble with your wife, creditors and the law...

My first mando and only one so far, although I lust for more, was a Breedlove Quartz KF. Cost a little over a grand but I traded some stuff I wasn't playing and was only out-of-pocket about 600. Which number, btw, was just shy of trouble with the above...

[tombnorton]

well, im only 18, so i dont have a wife or kids or anything with the government that might prevent me from spending a few extra bucks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif but thats hte other problem- i dont have that many extra bucks! good advice though!

[flairbzzt]

If you like the Bean Blossoms, go with the b200 series as opposed to the b100 series. Check out Banjobarn.com for their selection ogf BB's and MM's and as always, check for something better field tested (used) in the classifieds. .

[grandmainger]

I have a Blonde BB, see the this thread here on the cafe (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=18009) to see all the photos I posted and a little info about the mando.

I can never remember which model number it is I have, but it's the all solid wood one from this year... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I think it's pretty OK considering it's made in a factory, and costs like $400 or less now. A year ago, the buzz was all around the MKs, then it shifted to MidMos, now it's Eastman. I think that the quality of what you get is fairly consistent (not consistently high mind you ;) !) at this end of the market, especially if you get a proper setup done...

Would I buy the same mando again? Pobably not... I'd probably go for one of Fatt-Dad's (http://home.comcast.net/~fatt-dad/mando4sale.html) second hand ones, or I'd watch the classifieds...

Good luck anyway!, And Welcome to the Cafe!

Germain

[grant_eversoll]

I own the MM-s which is the morgan monroe version on the beanbloosom (by the way I live two miles from beanblossom indiana, the place the mando gets its name from and home of the Bill Monroe Bluegrass jamboree) I love my MM-s I would go for it

[Lane Pryce]

Tom you would do well checking to see what Fat-daddy has to offer.You would be getting a mandolin already set up and more than likely alittle better quality plus its already got some mileage on it----which is a plus!!! Lp