Good Beginner Mandolin

[JohnSmith467]

Hi, I'm a somewhat okay guitarist/pianist wanting to buy my first mandolin. Since I barely know a thing about mandolins, I was hoping to get some advice. I know a lot of you recommend Rovers/Kentucky's in other threads but unfortunately they are not for sale in the Netherlands (where I'm from). I should also add my budget is very tight.

I've been looking at the Stagg M40s (https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/M40S) and Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS (https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbma_100_vs.htm). Are these any good?

I've also been looking at more expensive mandolins (although these are already kind of above my budget), namely the Ibanez M510-BS (https://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_m510ebs.htm) and The Loar LM-110-BRB (https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_loar_lm_110_brb.htm).

Are the +/- 140 Euro mandolins recommended or should I really save up in order to get something decent sounding? Don't really care about A-/F-style as long as the sound is good. All advice is hugely appreciated .

[allenhopkins]

The Stagg is all solid woods, the Loar has at least a solid top. Better than laminated. Stick to the A-style and you get a bit more for your euro.

"Any good?" Well, for a beginner, if properly set up, at least adequate to learn on. Set-up's the key and Thomann won't do it (I think they just ship out instruments "as is," but would welcome correction if I err). You can get a set-up e-book here from Cafe member robster, free to Cafe members, and try doing it yourself, or you can pay a competent instrument tech to do it.

You'll get conflicting advice on the subject, but my attitude is to buy what you can afford, start playing and learning, and save your euros for your second instrument. By the time you're ready to buy it, you'll know what you like in terms of sound and playability, which will help you select one that suits you. You won't be "decent sounding" for a while as you learn; the main thing IMHO is to get one that's easy to play, decently constructed, and can get you started.

By the way, I notice that you're looking exclusively at arched-top, f-hole instruments. You could also consider some European-made flat-top, oval-hole mandolins, available at just over 100€, like this Hora.

[Ramtin]

Hi, I'm a somewhat okay guitarist/pianist wanting to buy my first mandolin. Since I barely know a thing about mandolins, I was hoping to get some advice. I know a lot of you recommend Rovers/Kentucky's in other threads but unfortunately they are not for sale in the Netherlands (where I'm from). I should also add my budget is very tight.

I've been looking at the Stagg M40s (https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/M40S) and Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS (https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbma_100_vs.htm). Are these any good?

I've also been looking at more expensive mandolins (although these are already kind of above my budget), namely the Ibanez M510-BS (https://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_m510ebs.htm) and The Loar LM-110-BRB (https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_loar_lm_110_brb.htm).

Are the +/- 140 Euro mandolins recommended or should I really save up in order to get something decent sounding? Don't really care about A-/F-style as long as the sound is good. All advice is hugely appreciated .

I think we're in the same situation. I must shop from Italian stores or another online stores in Europe, like Thomann. I suggest to search these models and hear their sound. They all have some YouTube clips. For example I love the way The Loar mandolins sound. Maybe you like Stagg or anything else.

[mandroid]

the who you get it from is another factor, low price warehouse sellers that don't do pre sales prep/setup,

vs a smaller specialist musical instrument shop, that does..

[JohnSmith467]

Hi, thanks for the replies! I've decided to go the old-fashioned route and purchase an instrument in a real-life shop instead of online. I found a good shop that sets up mandolins for free when purchasing one. They sell the Stagg and Ibanez. Are there any huge advantages of the Stagg over the Ibanez in terms of sound/playability or vice versa you know of?