I was dead-set on getting a nice instrument - Collings or Weber. Something that would be my last instrument (I do not suffer MAS... so that isn't an issue). I was figuring I'd be investing $2500.
But this morning I thought, "Do I want to worry about this thing? When we have an outdoor gig and the dew settles on everything, do I want to fret (no pun intended)? When I take it to school to practice (I'm a teacher), do I want to worry? Do I want to play a different mando at home then I do at gigs?"
My answers to almost all these questions are, "No, I don't. I want a good tool. I want a Honda Accord. A Toyota Camery. I want it to work and sound good, but if it gets nicked in the parking lot I don't want to care."
So here's what I'm thinking...
1. Buy new so I can get just what I want, right away, and never think about it again.
2. Buy from the respected mandolin stores on-line so it comes set-up and ready to go.
3. Just go ahead and have a CA bridge thrown on from the start.
4. Have a solid cast tailpiece thrown on from the start (I very much dislike covers).
5. Even though it's an easy install, get the K&K twin stuck in there. They can worry about how it'll work with the tailpiece. Even though we play single mic, at least I've got the K&K as backup.
I concede I'm no mando expert. But I'm lucky enough to make some money with it. I also like to focus on music and performance rather than the instrument so I really want to nail this all in one shot and forget about it.
I'm also old enough to know that I don't know what I don't know. So I offer my thoughts up to critique. No need to be gentle, I don't get offended.
Thanks!
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