Re: Looking for a good mandolin
Originally Posted by
pheffernan
"...I just had someone tell me that the new Eastman's and Washburn's are made in Asia and China, so I would like to add that I only want the old ones from the US..."
Great advice in pheffernan's post. I'll only add that there are no "old Eastmans from the US"; Eastman instruments have always been made in China. Washburns haven't been made in America for what -- 75 years? The brand name, formerly owned by the US firm Lyon & Healy, was scooped up by a US firm and assigned, similarly, to Chinese-made imported instruments.
You could find an old US-made Washburn flat-back from the 1920's or '30's, but unless you're comfortable dealing with older vintage instruments, that may be available on the "collectors' market" and/or require a fair amount of restoration, you'd be far ahead looking at a used, decent-grade Asian-made instrument.
If your objection to buying an Asian import is that you think the quality is inferior, that stopped being true decades ago, as far as the more respected brands are concerned. If your objection is based on a "buy American" preference, I can accept that, but you'll have to do a lot of research to find one that meets your price and design criteria.
I'd also like to echo Jim G's advice, that an entry-level A-model is likely to be ahead of an F-model at the same price point.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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