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Thread: mandolin on the cheap.

  1. #1

    Default mandolin on the cheap.

    what is the cheapest price you have ever paid for a mandolin. for me it is the Rouge from musicians friend at $49.00.

  2. #2
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    I got several for free: Gibson A-1 and B & J Victoria bowl back (inherited). Holdrio German "pocket" mandolin (found), no-name mandolin banjo (given by a friend).

    As to purchases, I paid $25, as I remember, for a cracked Strad-O-Lin that a 90-year-old lady had kept under her bed. Had it repaired, played it for about 20 years, got $95 in trade on a better Strad-O-Lin.
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  3. #3

    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Paid $79 for a Johnson plywood f-style in a durafoam case on a Musician's Friend blowout.

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    Since the case sells for $80 I could argue I got the mandolin for free. Or I could split the $79 in half and say I paid $39.50 for the mando and $39.50 for the case. Or ...

    Mando is long gone [for $225 believe it or not] but the case stayed.
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  4. #4
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    My first mandolin was a Kentucky I scored for $62 off eBay.
    ...

  5. #5

    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    My Michael Kelly 199.00 blowout special. Cheap is a relative term, isn't it?
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    My first mandolin was free. I helped a friend move out and discovered it in her basement, covered in dust. I asked her where she wanted me to put it and she said I could keep it. Now I'm hooked. Isn't that always the way?

  7. #7

    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    86$ for my no-name vintage bowlback. Plays great, sounds decent, no cracks etc. The previous owner was a mandolinist culling his collection, so it was well cared for and had a good set up.

  8. #8
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Won a Weber Yellowstone F from The Mandolin Store a few years back. Still own it. Still play it!

  9. #9
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    My dad bought me a Terada for $80.00 that he purchased from a television repair and musical instrument store. I played the potatoes out of that thing.
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  10. #10
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Kentucky at a flea market IIRC $75.
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  11. #11
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    From another thread...25 bucks for a bottom end Rogue .

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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Bought my first one for £8-10s. I negotiated £0-10s off 'cos it had a string missing!

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  14. #13

    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    hey Ray, so that would be about $12.00 to $16.00 US dollars correct ?.

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  16. #14
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Quote Originally Posted by mandolin tony View Post
    hey Ray, so that would be about $12.00 to $16.00 US dollars correct ?.
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    Registered User Louise NM's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    $145 for a handmade F-style in great shape. Came with a leather strap and a solid hard-shell case, plus a few picks and a chord book.

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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post
    Bought my first one for £8-10s. I negotiated £0-10s off 'cos it had a string missing!
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    Unfamous String Buster Beanzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    2013 I paid a £10 donation to a music charity for a Stridente bowl-back.
    Eoin



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  21. #18
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Tony/David/Jeremy - difficult to say what the $ equivalent would have been in those days. It would have been about 1970 - does seem a long time ago and, no, farthings had long gone by then (as had groats).

    I did take a guitar into the office many years ago and an old coleague asked if he could have a go. "I bought a Gibson in 1932" he said, "Bought it new and it cost me £7-10s.".

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  23. #19
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Not quite the same but I bought my first Gibson, a 1919 white-faced A3 from Mandolin Brothers in 1978 for $300. MB was probably priced their mandolins high back then. I could have bought an A model I would guess for $150 or even $100 but MB had a whole wall of them to choose from. I could barely afford it and could not have bought it except my friend and bandmate bought my Vega cylinder back for $200.
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  25. #20
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    People forget what inflation has done to instrument prices over the years. I bought a Martin D18, new, in 1974 and it cost £190 - I still have the tag.

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  27. #21
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    Yes, I bought a brand new D-28 in New York in 1976 and paid with tax under $400. That was a lot of money tho. New telecasters were $180.
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  28. #22
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    $200.00 for my the Loar LM220, and for each of my 4 bowlbacks. I consider each of them to be a bargain, too.

  29. #23
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    Default Re: mandolin on the cheap.

    $18 from a pawn shop way back when I was 16 years old...

    willie

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