Poor Man's Gibson

[JamesHall77]

What would ya'll consider the poor man's Gibson? Kentucky's? Really like them, Loar's too!

[Marty Jacobson]

It's called a Kalamazoo... and sometimes a Cromwell.

[Mando Mort]

Depends on what you define as a "poor man" in terms of price range. If you are talking about between $1k-$2k, I like the Kentucky and Eastman mandos.

[MikeEdgerton]

If I was looking between 1K and 2K I'd buy a used Gibson A-9. Or an older Gibson A.

[Dave Bradford]

Older Stradolins if under $1,000 is considered “poor”.

[Jim Garber]

Here ya go... from back in 1951. This is the poor woman's Gibson (she is pictured):

[Loubrava]

I got mine ! I took chance in having this one built because I had a sound I was looking for and not wanting to spend 4K-5K for a new F9. This mandolin hit the mark tone & volume wise it's really really nice. I added wide nut, radius fret board, James tail piece, EVO frets. These Country Boy's start around 1.5K. worth every penny and then some. I went down the rabbit hole of trying to find a poor man's Gibson even bought a 2002 F9 and returned it. I don't have a Gibson but I'm very pleased with what I have.
Lou

[Charles E.]

This......

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/122176#122176

NFI

[Willie Poole]

I would say that a "Poor Man`s" Gibson would be a Flatiron Festival that was made by Gibson in Nashville...Same basic mandolin as the Gibson F-5G.....

I also like the Ratliff mandolins and it is my #1 mandolin that I play on all of my shows...

Willie

[Jeff Mando]

Here ya go... from back in 1951. This is the poor woman's Gibson (she is pictured):

Wild stuff, Jim! You don't see a lot aprons being worn these days! Come to think of it, don't see a lot of dresses being worn either....NMC

[Br1ck]

I have yet to play anything that sounds like a Gibson but a Gibson. I've played quite a few Kentuckys and Eastmans.

I went through the same thing trying to find a guitar that sounded like an old Gibson. Even new Gibsons didn't sound like that. Moral: don't play a forties or 50s J 45. That sound haunts you. If I were mainly a bluegrass player, I'd have to get a Gibson.

[maudlin mandolin]

It would surely be the Givson -made in India and trying to cash in on the similar name.

[William Smith]

If you want the gibson sound well you got to go with a Gibson.. some of the old A models are a great deal and sound really great IMHO. They can be modified.
That country boy above looks pretty sweet! Love the wood and finish work, I'd love to hear it.

[JeffD]

Keep in mind that the poor man's Gibson might just be a Gibson.

[almeriastrings]

The Nashville-built Flatirons... same instrument apart from the name and thicker frets...

[NursingDaBlues]

What would ya'll consider the poor man's Gibson? Kentucky's? Really like them, Loar's too!

If I'm reading your question correctly, you're asking which would be a better option: Kentucky or The Loar?

This thread may start you off with some information worth considering .

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...ins-to-gibsons

[BrianWilliam]

What's your budget?

[Heykoolaid3]

Check out the Mandolin Store. They have some really awesome Eastmans! Occasionally, they will get some “blems” and it’s really hard to tell what was wrong them. I got an Eastman F 515 for under $1k! Awesome mandolin!

[mandroid]

Time Travel? I got an A40 for $150 in the early 70's

[KGreene]

I went for a long time trying to have the "poor mans Harley" ... ended up investing a lot of money into trying to have a bike that sounded like a Harley ... At the end of the day, even though the sound (and look) was close, It still ain't a Harley (Now have three).

If you want the Gibson sound ... buy a Gibson ... there are many that may come close, but at the end of the day ...It ain't a Gibson... and you probably won't be completely satisfied until you have one.

[John Soper]

Or go someplace where you can play a bunch of mandolins & figure out that you don't want a "Poor Man's Gibson". Sometimes the sound in your head doesn't line up with a brand name... but sometimes it does...

[JamesHall77]

Thanks for the comments fellers! Think I may just do like some of you said. Save up for me a Gibson, Lord willing. Like to have an F5 style. My budget I guess would be around $1500 to $2500, I guess. Been looking at stuff from the 70's and 80's, read some negative things about the 70's. Heard some on YouTube though, sound good to me anyway.

[doublestoptremolo]

F5? - this is it:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/122161#122161

Save about $1K if you don't need the scroll.

[lowtone2]

Yes, right, the woods can be identical, dimensions identical, construction methods identical, but if it doesn't have that Gibson on the peghead, it just won't sound right.

[John Soper]

"Yes, right, the woods can be identical, dimensions identical, construction methods identical, but if it doesn't have that Gibson on the peghead, it just won't sound right."

Somehow, I don't get that. The sound is in the mandolin and the player's ears. I've played plenty of Gibsons that didn't have THE sound, but had Gibson on the peg head. Play a bunch and buy something that has THE sound that you are listening for - it's like only playing an F5 because it sounds better than an A5 & you can tell that by the way it looks...