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As others have said, keep your eyes open. Good deals turn up. Here and on Reverb (and it seems GBase although I don't often search it.)

And yes, best bang for the buck will be an A model. Used. I...

The Airloom is lighter, and does fit a mandolin with ToneGard. I have not used a Hiscox, but have seen them in person. Larger, heavier and presumably more protection against impacts. The Hiscox is...

Can't help on the instrument, but the Bridger mountain range is in Montana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridger_Range

Don't think you'll find an F style with a wide neck at the price point you'd want. You should be able to find an A style. Maybe a 1930's Gibson A-50. One of the maple back and side models. Or even a...

Have also worked on the holes on my Strad-O-Lin. Made a good difference. At first thought it was the tuners, but when I removed them, saw they were original Waverly. So figured it was probably the...

Very cool. Saw that and thought someone is going to get a great deal.

Very nice. A great looking instrument. Have only played one Morris and I was very impressed with the quality and sound. Definitely an instrument you will enjoy.

I have an Airloom and the F5-S did not slide or bounce around inside. FWIW, my Brentrup also does not slide or bounce around in that Airloom when I've used it.

Like Keith above, Tone-Gards were on...

One thing I've noticed - the CB Stiff is thicker than an equivalent Fender Heavy triangle. And the edge is definitely different.

Don't have a Fender Extra Heavy to compare with the Extra Stiff,...

Just received my first Sully - vintage - for the Brentrup. It's very nice. Fast service, fits perfectly and really visually compliments the instrument.

Also have Lakota on other instruments and...

Really like Tortex on my flat top mandolins. Add a good snap for the tone I'm trying to get from them.

Had a long time love/hate relationship with Wegen picks. Until getting my Brentrup. The TF100...

Yup. And that's where Doc was playing a lot of fiddle tunes, for one reason or another. It's explained in the biography entitled Blind But Now I See.

Also interesting that I usually don't hear...

Agree with both the keeping finish good and the ToneGard not working on some instruments. On my Strad-O-Lin, nothing. Yes, though on my Brentrup and Gibson A Jr.

Know I mentioned this in other...

Very nice. A friend's Big Mon is what first got me interested in Northfield. Really nice instruments. And love the sunburst on that one.

Another vote for Lakota Leathers. Although the Northfield...

Well, probably close to a half inch deeper (taller) than normal. The Brentrup will not fit in a Travelite, fits fine in an Airloom, and barely fits in an Airloom Deluxe. In the last, the bridge does...

Standard Hoffee latches lock. All three of them.

My biggest question on the Tura case is whether it is arched enough for a taller than average bridge? It's one reason I went with the Hoffee over...

I think someone here in Minnesota had a conversion like that. Can't say for certain, though, because that was during the time I was only playing guitar and didn't study mandolins enough.

As to the...

Double fingers crossed he gets them back soon and with no damage.

Would hate to be flying now. Especially with instruments. Even a carry on mandolin case doesn't seem safe enough anymore. (And...

Agree that an A-5 style would be a good choice. Especially in that price range. A Kentucky KM-900 or KM-950 would probably be a fine choice if you can find one used. (There is one Craigslist in...

Have played "good" mandolins (and guitars) from about -10F to around +95F. Main things is try to avoid rapid changes of temperature (harder to do in the cold).

As I have a tendency to sweat a...

Have become used to having the tuner on the instrument so it's easier to adjust tuning during a set. Today we are playing outside and will probably retune twice during our set. In this band, the...

It looks like the Elderly Instruments 50th Anniversary Northfield F5 is made in Michigan -...

Nope. My oldest one does have some wear after all the years playing it, but one has to look hard at it to see it. Got that way from playing guitar about 10 hours a week for I would guess about 8...

Update from post #63 -

In the past 2 years have basically turned over everything except the A Jr. and Eastman octave. Last year found a used Peter Coombe flattop that made me rethink a lot about...

While I personally love Stradolin's and have a great one, not sure it's what I would suggest for a first instrument.

My suggestion would be a properly set up Kentucky KM-150. While I like Eastman,...