Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I am ready to step up to an good F-Style. I am playing a Kentucky 340S A-style now. I mostly play in bluegrass jams, so I am looking for something with some volume and punch, a good chop. What are your recommendations in the $800 to $900 range ( I know that is a weird price point; but that's what I've budgeted for this purchase). I've got my eye on a new Loar LM 620VS at a reputable and trusted music store here in Greensboro, NC. What do you recommend?
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Your best step up is a Morris A. Not the answer you may be looking for, I know. I guess it depends on what you mean by stepping up. If better tone and playability is what you are stepping up to, the Morris is it. If you want to step up to the look of an F (and I am one who loves that look) then one by Sonny Morris is out of your price range, unless you can find a used one.
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Mandobart beat me to it. Agree with a Morris.
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
A used Eastman or J Bovier!
Mickey
Skip Kelley-Kentucky F-5
Northfield F5S
Collings MT
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
JBovier F5 Tradition
lists for $1200, But I've seen'em around $900, especially a "new"-used...NFI
1994 Gibson F5L - Weber signed
"Mandolin brands are a guide, not gospel! I don't drink koolaid and that Emperor is naked!"
"If you wanna get soul Baby, you gots to get the scroll..."
"I would rather play music anyday for the beggar, the thief, and the fool!"
"Perfection is not attainable; but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence" Vince Lombardi
Playing Style: RockMonRoll Desperado Bluegrass Desperado YT Channel
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I would stretch that budget a teeny bit to 999 and get an Eastman 515.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I would buy used there are some good deals in ft he classified section, i saw a vintage gibson a in your budget, there are others in your range, most let you have a 48 hour trail period
Ibanez 70's 524, 521, 3 511's,2 512's,513,1 514,3 80s 513's, 522
J Bovier F5-T custom shop
Kiso Suzuki V900,
The Loar lm600 Cherryburst
morgan monroe mms-5wc,ovation
Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin
Emandos Northfield octave tele 4, Northfield custom jem octave mandolin 5 octave strat 8
2 Flying v 8, octave 5, Exploryer octave 8 20"
Fender mandostrat 4,3 Epip mandobird 2,4/8, Kentucky. KM300E Eastwood mandocaster
Gold Tone F6,Badaax doubleneck 8/6
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Here in the classifieds......
http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/87569
And it is in NC as well.
NFI
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
How do you like the Kentucky and have you played any other instruments you really liked. If you could possibly overlook the scroll and go for an A style a Kentucky 900/950 would be in your budget. A used 1000 pops up from time to time for in the $1000 range. There was an Eastman 815 used recently in the classifieds for $1000 as well. Be patient and you should be able to find a good mandolin in your price range.
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I agree with the Kentucky 900/950 it is hard to heat for the money.
Weber Bitteroot Custom
Eastman 905D 2 point
Scott Cao 850
Taylor NS34CE
"You have to go out on a limb, that is where the fruit is"
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
All you need now is the usual chap to chime in saying a Big Muddy flat-top is your best move, and you'll have the full set of answers you expressly did not ask for
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Ham sandwiches are great!
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
KM900/950 are serious professional grade instrument. You can't go wrong with either of the two.
Waterloo WL-M
Blues Mando Social Group - member
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
The Eastman 315 gets some high marks also and the F-style is still below your budget.
Weber Bitteroot Custom
Eastman 905D 2 point
Scott Cao 850
Taylor NS34CE
"You have to go out on a limb, that is where the fruit is"
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Could buy 20 Rogue mandolins with that budget . . .Originally Posted by Ron McMillan
All you need now is the usual chap to chime in saying a Big Muddy flat-top is your best move, and you'll have the full set of answers you expressly did not ask for
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I know I can find used ones in various classifieds, but I really like to try an instrument before I buy it. I want to see how it feels and hear how it sounds. So, ya'll don't think too much of the Loars?
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I have a loar i like it but it is not my number 1 which is my J Bovier, #2 vintage ibanez #3 loar 600
Ibanez 70's 524, 521, 3 511's,2 512's,513,1 514,3 80s 513's, 522
J Bovier F5-T custom shop
Kiso Suzuki V900,
The Loar lm600 Cherryburst
morgan monroe mms-5wc,ovation
Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin
Emandos Northfield octave tele 4, Northfield custom jem octave mandolin 5 octave strat 8
2 Flying v 8, octave 5, Exploryer octave 8 20"
Fender mandostrat 4,3 Epip mandobird 2,4/8, Kentucky. KM300E Eastwood mandocaster
Gold Tone F6,Badaax doubleneck 8/6
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
"The Loar" brand certainly has fans here. I have not been particularly impressed with the ones I played, but it may be a set up issue since I have only played them at a certain chain that notoriously does not set up mandolins.
Just about every Kentucky I have ever played sounds great, from cheapie to the top of the line. It's spooky how good they can be, truthfully. Also very impressed with Eastmans. On a visit to Elderly last year I played everything on the wall and the best sound to my ears was an upper line Eastman F style.
You can always order a mandolin from a store that has a 48 hr. approval period. That's the next best thing to trying one in a store.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Highly agree with the Kentucky KM900 or KM950, these have the bluegrass sound the OP seeks. A KM1000 in decent used condition will be a bit beyond the OP's current budget. Maybe for now, channel Tim O'Brian rather than Bill Monroe and let the scroll get edited from the want list. Also mentioned above is a bit of truly excellent advice - be patient. Get the best thing to fit the needs and budget at this juncture, and then sometime later, along the way there will be some opportunity that simply comes along which will be the perfect instrument for you, scroll and all, at a nice price, fitting your larger future budget. Just a matter of time...
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I've played a number of The Loars. Some sounded really nice. Some were disappointing. So I'd really recommend playing before buying, if you're interested in The Loars. The necks that I've seen were all thicker & rounder feeling than on Kentuckys.
If it feels good and sounds good and fits the budget, it's the right one!
Phil
“Sharps/Flats” ≠ “Accidentals”
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Buy used - esp. on that budget figure. Everything new is above or below. Go above, used, pay less, get more.
And wait for it to appear.
TheLoars NEW in that price range - 600's, 500's
East515 used OR new
Messed up Gibson, needs work????
Keep researching, make a list of candidates - new or used, etc.
Over time, you learn hidden details on a lot of these things.
Anything you buy, a year later, it's used. Used in good shape is likely nicely setup, or, if not, it's why it's being sold. (sometimes).
It helps if you can do your own setup work. That improves your position overall.
But if you want an F - you gotta work for it, kinda.
= The Loar, LM700VS c.2013 = "The Brat"
= G. Puglisi, "Roma" c.1907 = "Patentato" - rare archBack, canted top, oval
= Harmony, Monterrey c.1969 = collapsed ply - parts, testing, training, firewood.
"The intellect is a boring load of crawp. Aye. Next wee chune".
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
When I saw the thread title I just knew someone was going to say Big Muddy even though I pictured someone asking about a bluegrass mandolin.All you need now is the usual chap to chime in saying a Big Muddy flat-top is your best move, and you'll have the full set of answers you expressly did not ask for
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Kentucky KM-650
c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
"What a long, strange trip it's been..." - Robert Hunter
"Life is too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde
Think Hippie Thoughts...
Gear: The Current Cast of Characters
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
I also tried to "step up" to an F-style in the under $1K range, and found a nice Eastman 815. But after a while, I realized that the Pac-Rim F-style mandos weren't going to give me the quality tone I was looking for. I sold the Eastman, and found a nice used Weber Bitteroot-A. I'm now extremely happy, even though I don't have an F-style. If you want the playability and tone of a high quality mandolin at a reasonable price, look for a used Weber A-style, or a Gibson A-9, or a Flatiron-A.
Re: Best Mandolin in the $800 to $900 range
Have an A, so would not be able to weigh in here,on F-styles, however I wish you good luck with your search.
Playing:
Jbovier a5 2013;
Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
Jbovier F5 mandola 2016
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