Hey all,
I'm looking for a mandolin that is not going to break the bank over here in Europe. Let me tell you, it's not easy.
Where I live this is what I'm facing:
1) Zero high-end mandos unless I go to the CR, and there they are really quite expensive. I'm not really looking to spend much, but it would be nice to play them once in a while, heh heh.
2) Low-end is abysmal.
3) Medium-low (thinking along the lines of Kentucky) just are not around. If I order from the UK it is not that much cheaper than from the US as I get hit by VAT and customs tax. Yikes.
4) Fake medium-low end... the prices for mandos that are just not there are around USD 800. Locally, I've seen an Ibanez 700, I think, (very pretty, actually, great action, but quiet. Or who knows as the plastic padding is under the bridge); an Ortega--odd, sounds okay but clipped (also has the plastic padding under the bridge)--but it is black and looks as if it is made out of some kind of fiberglass. Not wood anyway. They say it's a German company? Finally, there is an Epiphone mm50 that actually feels and sounds like a mando (albeit with a very high setup). Only, if you look closer--dang, did they file it with their teeth? Under the neck where it meets the body it looks chewed, and the curl of the F is even worse. And there is a light spot where the bridge used to be--it's old and although they are not selling it that way--I would guess it's used. It's the cheapest of the bunch at about USD 300.
And that's it. Nothing else to pick up to even try out.
I've gotten the bug again (played years ago), but dang. I played a Kentucky a few years ago that was surprisingly loud and comfortable... Nothing like that over here though. I know there must be Loars around (Germany?) but I've never tried one...
Any advice? I want to get back to picking, but I'm not rolling in cash either.
K
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