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Thread: New to mandolin

  1. #26
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    Default Re: New to mandolin

    I started on a used (older) the Loar LM 220 which was a good (nothing exceptional) mandolin, I understand newer builds are not as good, although I have no personal experience with them. You may find an older one for sale, if so they are worth of consideration (I paid $200 for mine.) So deals are out there from time to time.

  2. #27
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    Default Re: New to mandolin

    This 2015 The Loar LM-175 for $187 could be a winner.
    Solid carved top, laminate back and sides. Really nice Grover 309 tuners ($60 on their own)
    https://reverb.com/item/6619104-the-...style-mandolin

    As could this Michael Kelly with all solid woods for $234.
    Looks like an older model with great Grover 308 tuners
    https://reverb.com/item/5865108-mich...bacco-sunburst

    Both Will likely still need some setup work

    Edit:
    This 1980's Japan made Kentucky KM-180S is probably all solid wood. $190 with case. This could also be a sweet one
    https://reverb.com/item/9885172-kent...1980s-sunburst

  3. #28

    Default Re: New to mandolin

    Thanks for the added replies, advice, and recommendations, gang! Good points to consider.

    Thanks for the Reverb links, colorado al - those are surely contenders. I'm liking that 80's MIJ Kentucky.

    To those that have replied stating the Rogue is ok to start with a good setup - do you still feel the Rogue is a better choice over the original mention Ibanez and Washburn entry models? I notice the Rogue has no truss rod and the latter two do. I'm wondering if it is better or not to be sure to get an instrument with a truss rod. Example - I was in a local small music shop last night and they had three Ibanez 510's - $149 each. Two of them had rather high action at the nut, but the other had nice low action at the nut (one of the first things I always do when guitar shopping is see what the action feels like while they are still hanging on the wall or in their stands before picking them up by pressing on the strings at the first fret). So, I pulled the one 510 down from its hanger and played with it a bit. It played very comfortably! It also sounded decent to my mandolin untrained ears. I was just strumming on some chords by reversing my guitar mind of the bottom four strings reversed, and was also able to pick out some melodies from my flatpicking repertoire by doing the same (I can see where the fifths tuning comes in handy here). Things were going good until I moved out of first position. Once I got up to and past the seventh fret, everything fretted out - everything, all four courses. Sighting down the neck profile, sure enough a pretty significant back bow. Being that I needed to be somewhere, I didn't follow through with the store staff on it. Sure, I've adjusted neck relief before, but I've also run into the case where the truss rod was at its limit and could not be adjusted any further to correct a neck's condition. I think this issue should have already been addressed when the store got the instrument in, but they specialise more in band and orchestra instruments so I wrote it off as that. I planned to follow up on this at a later day.

    But, my point being is rather or not a truss rod should be considered with these lower dollar entry mandolin. Do you think the $50 Rogue is a more wise choice over the $150 Ibanez, or is the extra $100 due to the brand name? Save the $100 and go with Rogue?

    Thanks again everyone!!

  4. #29
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: New to mandolin

    Given that we are talking about a starter mandolin that will be replaced if it works out, go for the $50 one and set aside the 'saved' $100 as a starter for funding your step up. Chances are very very strong (in my opinion) that the neck will be playably straight for at least up to fret 12 and if not, a reputable seller would take it back (and be embarrassed). If you plan on using the dog whistle notes right away, you probably ought to find a way to scrounge up the cash for a better mandolin than just a "starter".
    New to mando? Click this link -->Newbies to join us at the Newbies Social Group.

    Just send an email to rob.meldrum@gmail.com with "mandolin setup" in the subject line and he will email you a copy of his ebook for free (free to all mandolincafe members).

    My website and blog: honketyhank.com

  5. #30
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    Default Re: New to mandolin

    Agree with Honketyhank, the Rogue will probably sound as good as the ones you mentioned, the neck will probably last as long as you want before an upgrade and you will have $100 toward said upgrade.

  6. #31
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    Default Re: New to mandolin

    I agree with HonketyHank as well.

  7. #32

    Default Re: New to mandolin

    Very good points - thanks for the help gang!

  8. #33
    Eternal Beginner Seamus B's Avatar
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    Default Re: New to mandolin

    Yes, I held off getting a £200 mandolin at the start, and went for an entry level at £50. The money I saved went towards my Eastman a couple of years later when I felt ready, I felt confident I wanted to learn in the long-run, and I had a much more profound step-up. Find out if you like playing on the Rogue (or even a second-hand Rogue) and then give it a few months. Happy playing!
    Eastman MD305 - set-up by Simon Mayor.

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