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thanton
May-12-2013, 3:38pm
Can people give me their thoughts on this mandolin please?
http://www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/01063268/details.html
I can barely find any information on it anywhere online!
Also if anyone could suggest an alternative for <£300 ish, it would be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

G7MOF
May-12-2013, 3:45pm
If it's an F style you really want then the B and M is an Ok buy. You could do a lot better buying an A style or even better buying a used F or A style.

almeriastrings
May-12-2013, 4:08pm
B&M import from various 'generic' factories in China. They are OK for the money. This appears to be a pressed top/back (not carved) mandolin. At that price point, options are limited. You might just be able to find a used Kentucky KM-505, which would be very much better instrument in every respect.

houseworker
May-12-2013, 4:17pm
For £50 less, you could have a Kentucky KM-172 (http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/products/GR3135H/Kentucky-KM172-Honey-Amber/), or a KM-160 (http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/products/GR3134/Kentucky-KM160-Trad-Sunburst/) from Hobgoblin. They're not F style, but either would prove a considerably better instrument, and retain more value when you come to sell, since Kentucky are a well regarded make.

thanton
May-12-2013, 4:24pm
Thank you all very much.
I will definitely look into the Kentuckys you have suggested.
What about this secondhand from Hobgoblin? http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/products/31C4775/Gremlin-Fstyle-Mandolin-withcase/

houseworker
May-12-2013, 4:39pm
Thank you all very much.
I will definitely look into the Kentuckys you have suggested.
What about this secondhand from Hobgoblin? http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/products/31C4775/Gremlin-Fstyle-Mandolin-withcase/

It's cheap because it's not that great, and is best avoided. The KM-160 may not be F style, but it would be my choice for playability and sound.

If you're wanting a mandolin for the looks, then it may be that only an F will do. But £300 simply isn't a realistic price point for a decent starter F style mandolin, unless you get very lucky with a used instrument. Kentucky are the only quality brand with any significant presence in the UK at such low prices.

almeriastrings
May-12-2013, 10:32pm
We keep recommending Kentucky (and Eastman) because, in their price range they are well made, offer good value, and are playable, good sounding instruments. They are also very reliable in terms of quality control. You will also see "The Loar" brand recommended. These too can be decent mandolins, but... the QC is all over the place, and they can need a lot of work to get them into shape. People who know how to work on mandolins are thin on the ground. It is a very special skill, different from 'regular' guitar setup. So, you can end up buying something that can cost you more than the instrument if you are not careful. That is why cheap, low end mandolins just don't make sense. Better to get something you can use for a while, and something that encourages you to learn and play rather than something that turns out to be aversion therapy.

Johnny60
May-13-2013, 6:44am
[QUOTE=almeriastrings;1164429]We keep recommending Kentucky (and Eastman) because, in their price range they are well made, offer good value, and are playable, good sounding instruments."

I recently sold my Kentucky 162 to my sister-in-law. Just visited them this weekend and spent some time with the old 162 - you could do a whole lot worse than to get one of these!

I've played various Ashbury, Gremlin, Barnes and Mullins mandos over the past year or so, and none of them come close to the sound, quality and playability of a Kentucky. Eastmans are also great (I have a 505). Of course, a good set-up is VITAL.

As Almeria Strings has pointed out, there's a reason why people keep recommending Kentucky and Eastman as starter (and well beyond) instruments.

Hope this helps,

John

G7MOF
May-13-2013, 2:01pm
Avoid the curves if money is a problem, an A style will sound just as good and you'll get more mandolin for your money!

Ray(T)
May-13-2013, 5:22pm
I spent £300 on an "F" - scroll and all, great action, played like a dream - unfortunately, that was back in 1976!

If your budget is limited, avoid scrolls. All they do is add to the price and not the sound so, effectively you're paying for an expensive way to attach a strap.

As to the 1976 mandolin, I still have it. Compared to what you can get nowadays for not a lot more, it's sound is thin and quiet.

Make sure you get something that's properly set up as you won't be wanting to spend a further third of your budget making it playable.