Looking for opinions on the best Asian made Mandolin for $2500

[DigitalSky]

I’m a guitar player who has discovered a love for Mandolin. I’m looking to purchase my first Mandolin, but I’m not really wanting to shell out the money on a Collings or similar American made Mandolin.

My ideal Mandolin would be around $2500, F-style, with F-holes. The two that have caught my eye are the Eastman MD815 and the Kentucky KM-1500. Both seem like great mandolins.

It’s worth mentioning that the type of music I’m mainly interested in playing is classic Bluegrass.

I will add a bit and say that I own a lot of cool guitars from Gibson, Collings, Ibanez, and Eastman. However, the two guitars I end up playing more than any others are my Eastman AR805CE (and amazing solid wood jazz box) and my Ibanez EKM100, which is better than any 335 I’ve ever played. I’m only putting that out there because in my honest opinion, the Japanese and Chinese can actually make some very, very fine instruments. If Eastman mandolins are anywhere near as good as my Eastman guitar, I would be blown away.

As for the Kentucky KM-1500, I’m not sure where they are made or how their reputation is. They don’t seem to have a dedicated website like Eastman.

Anyways, I’m hoping some of you might be kind enough to share your opinions and let me know if perhaps there’s another brand I am overlooking.

[almeriastrings]

I have never found the more expensive Eastman's to be very inspiring. In my opinion, their lower end models are the 'best buy' with that brand. The KM-1500 can be very nice indeed and has an excellent reputation. You are also getting close to the price of a Northfield NF-5S. The Northfields are very fine mandolins...

[DigitalSky]

Oh man... hadn’t seen those Northfields yet. That pick guard certainly compliments it nicely!

[CWRoyds]

I played a KM1500 at a jam recently and thought it was a pretty good mandolin for bluegrass.
I has a pretty straight forward nice tone.

For my personal taste, every Northfield I have played blew it away.
The Northfields are much nicer to play too, IMHO.
At around your price range you could get a used NF-F5S.
They are killer mandolins.
You can get a new one for about $3,000.
http://themusicemporium.com/mandolin...f-f5s-sunburst

I have not played an Eastman that was close, but I have played a few I thought were nice mandolins for the price.
The Kentucky KM1500 is a nice traditional mandolin.
The Northfield is a bit more modern in tone, but that is what I like.
The guy who owned the KM1500 said that Northfields don’t do anything for him, so it is personal preference.

I own a Northfield Artist model and totally love it.
As for the NF-F5s, I have played them next to other much more pricey mandos, like Collings, and preferred the Northfield.
They are worth every penny.

[colorado_al]

Buy a used Northfield NF-F5S
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/129308#129308
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/129223#129223

[Br1ck]

I've been impressed by every Northfield F5S I've had the privilege to play. So I'll crowd the bandwagon. You won't get the fancy wood, the full binding, or inlay, but they put the tone and playability in them.

A Flatiron festival might float your boat too. You can find an F style used for $2500ish these days.

[trevor]

The F5S is a great mandolin and great value.

[Mandoplumb]

If you are playing classic bluegrass and want a classic sounding mandolin the Kentucky is hard to beat. The others are good mandolins but have a more modern sound.

[Bill Kammerzell]

As for the Kentucky KM-1500, I’m not sure where they are made or how their reputation is. They don’t seem to have a dedicated website like Eastman.

All Kentucky's including the KM-1500 are made in China. Kentucky mandolins are made by Saga Music and are at the Saga Music Website.
http://www.sagamusic.com/

If you are looking to spend the entire $2500.00 on an import, your best bet would be a used Northfield F5S. A used Kentucky KM-1500 can be had for around $1500.00 to $1700.00.

[Pittsburgh Bill]

I have a kentucky KM-950 that I like very much for old country and rockabilly. It is ideally suited for Bluegrass of which I play very little. I must say I'm only slowly coming around to the oversized frets on the 950.
A couple of weeks ago I visited Elderly instruments. I think I played a little on almost every mandolin hanging in the store. To my ears and fingers a Northfield F-4 blew every other mandolin there under the carpet including those costing several times as much money. The fit and finish was high quality and the tone, volume, and sustain was all there. Had it been an A-style I would have been pulling out my wallet.

[BrianWilliam]

Abandon the F-style requirement and pick up this skip Kelley A5: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/130264#130264

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NFI

[Michael Neverisky]

DigitalSky, I have to ask you about your forum name. I'm familiar with software by that name.

I found the mandolin after being a guitar player for decades. My advice is to get your hands on several instruments if you haven't yet. Flat fingerboard, radiused fingerboard, small frets, wide frets... you may find one style more accommodating than another.

[Charles E.]

You would be hard pressed to find a better deal on a quality, American made, mandolin then this.........

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/129995#129995

Paul currently builds mandolins under the "Summit" name.

NFI

[pheffernan]

My ideal Mandolin would be around $2500, F-style, with F-holes.

i have found ~$2500 to be a magical price point in mandolins, where not only domestic F-styles (like the aforementioned Flatiron Festival) but independently built A5's become available if you can live without the scroll.

[Bill Kammerzell]

You would be hard pressed to find a better deal on a quality, American made, mandolin then this.........

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/129995#129995

Paul currently builds mandolins under the "Summit" name.

NFI

That is a pretty nice buy.

[pops1]

I have had a Summit A model with ff holes, it was a great sounding and playing mandolin.

[Luna Pick]

Since the OP didn't specify it has to be an F Model I recommend putting the budget towards an A, but I lean towards A's anyway.

Regarding Northfields, I agree they can be a great value and amazing for the money, but they haven't all blown me away, and vary mando to mando.

[UsuallyPickin]

Take your time and play as large a number of mandolins as is possible. Your price point is smack dab in the middle between good and great. IMO you won't do any better than a Bozeman made Flatiron pre 1993 ... A or F it won't matter. A Gibson F5G can also be found near your price point. Yes Kentucky 1500 and Northfield F5S are very good instruments. Either will not be a bad choice. Enjoy the process..... Many of us started on guitar myself included. R/

[Pittsburgh Bill]

Since the OP didn't specify it has to be an F Model I recommend putting the budget towards an A, but I lean towards A's anyway.

Regarding Northfields, I agree they can be a great value and amazing for the money, but they haven't all blown me away, and vary mando to mando.

He did say he wanted an F style with ff holes. Not uncommon desire for new to mandolin players.

[Luna Pick]

He did say he wanted an F style with ff holes. Not uncommon desire for new to mandolin players.

I took "ideal" to mean preferred, not required. Matter of interpretation. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Hudmister]

He did say he wanted an F style with ff holes. Not uncommon desire for new to mandolin players.

Also not uncommon for long time mandolin players like me. The Gibson F5G (used) is a lot of mandolin for the money although it may be hard to find one in decent shape for $2500.

[Pittsburgh Bill]

Also not uncommon for long time mandolin players like me. The Gibson F5G (used) is a lot of mandolin for the money although it may be hard to find one in decent shape for $2500.

Agreed. Just a matter of personal preference. But I think still more prevalent in new to mandolin players. Kind of like trying to determine amongst friends which is the best pizza shop in town.

[Caleb]

$250 or $2500? I’m seeing both numbers here: $2500 on thread title and $250 down in the thread. Weird.

[pheffernan]

$250 or $2500? I’m seeing both numbers here: $2500 on thread title and $250 down in the thread. Weird.

The OP makes it clear in the body of the post both with the dollar figure and the target instruments that the budget is $2500.

[Br1ck]

He did say he wanted an F style with ff holes. Not uncommon desire for new to mandolin players.

Not uncommon among long time players either. But facts are facts, and a scroll contributes nothing to sound. Still, not a bad thing to have your eyes light up when you open the case. You want what you want.