Search:

Hi Jim,

The block hasn't rotted away so I think I can get her going again. It looks like Dave Hynds may have something I need. There doesn't appear to be too many options for these old bowl backs....

Hi Allen,
Thanks so much. The tip on string gage is really helpful. The wood appears to be in good shape. It seems like finding the right bridge may be the biggest issue but Jim may have a good...

Hi all,

I just picked up an old bowl back mandolin. I really don't know much about them and this one doesn't have a name. I'm guessing around 100 years old. It had the nut and mostly the wood...

I suppose this was at the heart of my initial question. I've been playing guitars for many years but have never felt the need to get a really expensive guitar in part because the guitars I own all do...

Thanks! I'm already thinking about an f-style, though I have something I really like now.

Thanks Billy,

There wasn't a big selection of medium-priced mandos where I live but I did really love the Eastman md 605, which I bought. It's been attached to my hips since I got it.

Interesting stuff, hermdawg!

I looked at matched pairs. After talking with some friends they both urged me to get good at miking instruments with a single mic, I'm not that new at studio recording but it's been a while. I went...

Hi mando geniuses,

Thanks for the feedback. After quite a few conversations, I really went down the rabbit hole on this one, I choose the sm7b with a cloudlifter. Yes, I know It's a dynamic mic...

Hi jefflester,

I will talk more about this later in this thread. It is a dynamic mic, one of the better ones with loads of street cred. Yes, lots of vocals but also instruments. The low output...

Hi Yankees1,
Great advice. I haven't found a local mandolin teacher yet but I'm working on it.

Thanks everyone.

I think I am down to three, maybe four. There's just so much to consider. Ugh, but it's a fun ugh. Yes, I will be using it with a focusrite 4i4 as the audio. If anyone has any...

Hi Mandobar,



Yes, I'm using a focusrite scarlett 4i4, which I have been using for a ton of analog to digital transfers of old music without any problems at all. However, I haven't done any...

Really so much great mandolin! Thanks for the inspiration!

Hey Mandolin geniuses,

I'm now looking to do some home recording. Any acoustic players out there have a recommendation for getting a great mandolin sound through a microphone? I have a pickup...

Hi Carl, Thanks for writing. Not sure I see the double the price comparison. I think the opposite is true. Most of Blueridge's line, as an example, is $800+ and some of their higher-end guitars are...

Thanks, shawnbrock! I'll subscribe now.

Thanks, tree. This channel looks fun!

Hi Mark,

This is an incredible bunch of resources. I look for the Listen/Learn tab.
Much appreciated!

We'll see how I feel about my recent mandolin purchase and whether the drive to need/want a more expensive mandolin plays out.

Gibson (and Fender) is one of the reasons I wrote the initial post. In the guitar world, I wouldn't consider buying a new Gibson: quality control problems, overpriced, much better value elsewhere...

Hey mandolin geniuses,

So, I finally bought my mandolin, an Eastman md605. It's a beaut!

I think it's lucky that I found mandolin cafe. What mandolin help site, youtube performs and lesson...

So, after so many of you brought up Eastman in your writings I finally found a place that sells Kentucky, Loar and Eastman. I found an md605, which I thought was fantastic. It was out of budget....

Thanks, everyone for the great insights.

Hi sunburst,

Thanks for your thoughtful answer. Personally, I have needed to take the word of people on forums with a mandolin because they just are many of them in local stores to try out,...