Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: New Recording King mandolin

  1. #1

    Default New Recording King mandolin

    Not personally interested in getting one, but noticed in the newest Guitar Center mailing that Recording King has an interesting new model intended as a throwback to the 1933 World's Fair, most notably it has a pearloid fingerboard. Solid top, laminated back and sides looks like. It must be a GC special because I don't see it listed on the Recording King website.

    https://www.guitarcenter.com/Recordi...-Mandolin-3.gc

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	K47089000001000-00-500x500.jpg 
Views:	299 
Size:	27.9 KB 
ID:	166906

  2. #2
    Registered User mee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Shenandoah
    Posts
    261

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Seter View Post
    Not personally interested in getting one, but noticed in the newest Guitar Center mailing that Recording King has an interesting new model intended as a throwback to the 1933 World's Fair, most notably it has a pearloid fingerboard. Solid top, laminated back and sides looks like. It must be a GC special because I don't see it listed on the Recording King website.

    https://www.guitarcenter.com/Recordi...-Mandolin-3.gc

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	K47089000001000-00-500x500.jpg 
Views:	299 
Size:	27.9 KB 
ID:	166906
    Wow that caught my eye also while browsing the ad, I wouldn't want one either but would like to see and hear it. My hubby plays his inexpensive RK banjo more than his Gibson, I wonder if RK will make good mandolins as well as banjos.

  3. #3
    Mando-Afflicted lflngpicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    2,238
    Blog Entries
    6

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Seter, That is an eye catcher! Thanks for posting it.
    2014 BRW F5 #114
    2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model

    YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"

  4. #4
    ===========
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    1,628

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    I played one at G.C. last week. Eye-catching, not much tone, needed SERIOUS set-up work. Sold quickly.

    They had a Savannah 'A'-style for 1/3 the price that was actually a better mandolin.

    Good luck to whomever bought it.

  5. The following members say thank you to MikeZito for this post:

    mee 

  6. #5
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,283
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    For a Campfire mando that MOTs fingerboard is nice. For $199 I would expect a lot of setup work. I have loaned my old Johnson Savannah mandolin out to a friend for years. It's a tank. It doesn't sound epic but, for a beginner, it really gets the job done. It intones well up the neck and the tuners hold. The action is low without buzzing. That's a good mandolin as far as I'm concerned!

    If this MOTs special can do that and look fun, good!

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  7. #6
    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Ashland KY USA
    Posts
    244

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    1.62" neck width at the nut? Eek. I could hit over .300 this year in the AAA league with that. I hope that's a typo.

  8. #7
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Charlottesville Va
    Posts
    1,052

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    What the heck is "whitewood"? It seems to be a trade name for soft junk wood like basswood and linden. Doesn't sound like something to get too excited about.
    We are the music makers,
    And we are the dreamers of dreams

  9. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,863

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeZito View Post
    ...They had a Savannah 'A'-style for 1/3 the price that was actually a better mandolin.
    Funny how that works. I picked up a Gretsch New Yorker in the local GC a few years ago to try it out. The Rogue next do it sounded better to me.

    With that said I was never really attracted to the original Century of Progress instruments. The copy just isn't my cup of tea.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  10. #9
    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Ashland KY USA
    Posts
    244

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    I have one of the "whitewood" guitars, a series 5 Dirty Thirties O. It has been fairly resistant to dings. It's painted black so it's difficult to tell much about the wood from looking at it. It's an OK guitar for what it is, a cheap couch/travel/campfire guitar. It has a 25.5" scale length so I can fingerpick or flatpick it. I bought it from Elderly to ensure a decent set up when I got it. I think their guitars are decent values if set up well. Here it is in action: https://youtu.be/s5qUVv-EbxI

  11. The following members say thank you to Scott Rucker for this post:


  12. #10
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    I tried one at GC last weekend. Not much to sneeze at (even in allergy season). I am more impressed by their guitars. And I agree with the assessment of lack of proper setup.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  13. #11
    ===========
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    1,628

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I tried one at GC last weekend . . . I am more impressed by their guitars.
    This past Christmas our office asked me to buy a new guitar for a kid in an underprivileged family who had just taken up the guitar at school - but did not have one of her own. I picked up a Recording King model for $100 - and for the money, it was something that should make a beginner VERY happy.

  14. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Pacific NW, slightly outside BC
    Posts
    814

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Probably a rework of a The Loar 200 or something about that level.

    Music Link has a lot of brands. https://www.themusiclink.net/

    More importantly it also has Greg Rich's fashion sense: http://www.deanhoffmeyer.com/bho/ric...#1526218472826
    Kentucky km900
    Yamaha piano, clarinet, violin; generic cello;
    a pedal steel (highly recommended); banjo, dobro don't get played much cause i'm considerate ;}

    Shopping/monitoring prices: vibraphone/marimbas, rhodes, synths, Yamaha brass and double reeds

  15. #13
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeZito View Post
    This past Christmas our office asked me to buy a new guitar for a kid in an underprivileged family who had just taken up the guitar at school - but did not have one of her own. I picked up a Recording King model for $100 - and for the money, it was something that should make a beginner VERY happy.
    Yes I got one for my daughter also on sale for $100. Solid spruce top and laminated white wood back and sides. Decent guitar esp for the money.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  16. #14
    Registered User Bob Visentin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Decatur, GA
    Posts
    254

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    It does not look like a 1.6" wide nut and it does not have a bone saddle either. These look like guitar specs. But the white pearloid is aged!

  17. #15

    Default Re: New Recording King mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Moss View Post
    What the heck is "whitewood"? It seems to be a trade name for soft junk wood like basswood and linden. Doesn't sound like something to get too excited about.
    Whitewood is usually poplar or pine. Leo's first Telecasters were pine and they seem to have done fine.
    VerneAndru.com | oKee.ComX

    - ---==< V >==--- -

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •