Have $1500 to spend on a Used Mandolin...

[Mike Snyder]

Gibson owner here. Play one or two before you plunk your money down on a mandolin. Folks have many different reasons for bashing. Mine is a lifetime companion and has the classic Gibson sound. Watch the classifieds and good luck.

[colorado_al]

I'd check out this Redline
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/109449#109449
Seller is asking $1500. New, those sell for $2200 http://cumberlandacoustic.com/product/redline-a-5-10/
I've played a few of Steve Smith's carved A5 and all have been excellent! This one looks really nice with the sunburst finish.

[Chuck Leyda]

This looks like an amazing deal. NFI but I have a similar Girouard mandolin and love it.

https://reverb.com/item/4537960-giro...Xv8P8HAQ&pla=1

[Charles E.]

+1 on the Girouard. Max and Laurie make a fine mandolin. That is an excellent price.

[ChristopherLeeHarriman]

Thanks for everyone's input. I decited on getting a Summit instead of a Gibson...

[ChristopherLeeHarriman]

I will play it for a while, and if need be, move to another... So I'm still looking and learning.

[Br1ck]

Good luck with the Sumit. It really is hard to go wrong with a hand crafted mandolin. While different, they are all flavors of good.

[JeffD]

I will play it for a while, and if need be, move to another....

"Need", what does "need" have to do with it.

[colorado_al]

I'd check out this Redline
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/109449#109449
Seller is asking $1500. New, those sell for $2200 http://cumberlandacoustic.com/product/redline-a-5-10/
I've played a few of Steve Smith's carved A5 and all have been excellent! This one looks really nice with the sunburst finish.

This Redline is down to $1400 now. I think that is a good buy. And it looks like it has been upgraded with a cast Allen tailpiece. If I were the one spending the money, this would be the one.


I prefer the ones that Steve has made with a classic finish, as apposed to the bright red or orange ones:

[Charles E.]

Chris, congrats on the Summit. It looks really nice from what I can tell. Keep us posted on how it sounds and your getting to know it.

[Bill Kammerzell]

This Redline is down to $1400 now. I think that is a good buy. And it looks like it has been upgraded with a cast Allen tailpiece. If I were the one spending the money, this would be the one.


I prefer the ones that Steve has made with a classic finish, as apposed to the bright red or orange ones:

I can appreciate that. Still I like my unusual colors and finishes also.

[DataNick]

Looks like there is a Flatiron Performer A, Nashville made, for slightly under what you have to spend, at the classifieds, right now. Excellent+ condition according to the seller. NFI

First off Christopher, congrats on the Summit.

As for this Gibson made Nashville Flatiron A, it used to be mine, I still wish I had it, it is a bluegrass hoss with percussive tonal qualities off the charts, and a couple of pros said it was the best Flatiron they had ever played...YMMV

[doublestoptremolo]

First off Christopher, congrats on the Summit.

As for this Gibson made Nashville Flatiron A, it used to be mine, I still wish I had it, it is a bluegrass hoss with percussive tonal qualities off the charts, and a couple of pros said it was the best Flatiron they had ever played...YMMV

Small mandolin world! I've been in the OP's situation for the last few weeks and have looked at pretty much every mandolin mentioned in this thread, and even corresponded with DataNick and some others about what's out there. The Performer A should be on its way to me today. I'm very excited.

[Stevo75]

I played that Flatiron A over the weekend and almost bought it. It's a great mandolin!

[doublestoptremolo]

I played that Flatiron A over the weekend and almost bought it. It's a great mandolin!

That's great. I'm glad to see that several people that know more about mandolins than I do have such a high opinion of the sound. Anything will probably be better than my Rover but I was hoping for a good bluegrass workhorse, something I wouldn't want to trade up from for a while.

I noticed this Flatiron on eBay for a good price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Flati...MAAOSwXYtY09uM

The seller has it labeled as a 1990 but I think it's a 1999 Performer as well. Reading all the past threads about these it seems like a pretty good deal.

[9lbShellhamer]

Summit mandolins are total beasts. I really like the ones I've played. Very open and powerful.

I always wondered why they weren't talked about more!

Congrats.

[Bill Kammerzell]

Summit mandolins are total beasts. I really like the ones I've played. Very open and powerful.

I always wondered why they weren't talked about more!

Congrats.

Same here. Loved mine. They don't appear as popular as some other mandolins, that I find they are better than. Or at least as good.

[ccravens]

This looks like an amazing deal. NFI but I have a similar Girouard mandolin and love it.

https://reverb.com/item/4537960-giro...Xv8P8HAQ&pla=1

That is an insane deal on an American hand-made mandolin.

If I didn't already own one....I do, and I'm still tempted.