What would ya'll consider the poor man's Gibson? Kentucky's? Really like them, Loar's too!
What would ya'll consider the poor man's Gibson? Kentucky's? Really like them, Loar's too!
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.
If I was looking between 1K and 2K I'd buy a used Gibson A-9. Or an older Gibson A.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Older Stradolins if under $1,000 is considered “poor”.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
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
This......
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/122176#122176
NFI
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
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
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.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
It would surely be the Givson -made in India and trying to cash in on the similar name.
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.
Keep in mind that the poor man's Gibson might just be a Gibson.
The Nashville-built Flatirons... same instrument apart from the name and thicker frets...
Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
Northfield Big Mon #127
Ellis F5 Special #288
'39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.
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
What's your budget?
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!
Time Travel? I got an A40 for $150 in the early 70's
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
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.
2014 Gibson 'Harvey' F5G
1917 Gibson F2
2013 'The' Loar LM600VS
2013 Morgan Monroe 4FJ
Blue Chip Picks
The Scallywag Social Club
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...
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.
F5? - this is it:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/122161#122161
Save about $1K if you don't need the scroll.
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.
"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...
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