I'm looking to possibly get an f-hole A style mandolin. I like crisp, bell-like tone and don't need a bluegrass machine. Looking to spend roughly $2,000. Any suggestions?
I'm looking to possibly get an f-hole A style mandolin. I like crisp, bell-like tone and don't need a bluegrass machine. Looking to spend roughly $2,000. Any suggestions?
It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!
Many, many choices ! But, Check out Girouard mandolins ! Fantastic !
Hard to beat the Kentucky KM950, for about half that price?
Thanks for your support?
http://store.dustystrings.com/p-4418...ByCategoryID=7
If you're anywhere near Seattle to try it out. I like this one... a lot. NFI.
Also, I've been very impressed with the Pavas I've played in that price range. The Weber Gallatin and Collings MT pop up in that range too, I like those a lot.
Good luck on your search.
Well I'd have to say a 1935 Gibson A-50 with F-holes and elevated board! I just picked one up for 1200 bucks and the sound is better than most F-5's no joke there! And I have vintage 5's, Not bad for a short neck! I do need to set her up better and for now I'll play her but it may could benefit from a neck set! Still I'm happy with the deal!
Check out Silverangel mandolins made in Eastern Ky. I own one of Ken's El Toro models which stands on its own against my Northfield Big Mon, sound wise. His A style mandolins list for $2,000.
If I were in your shoes, Iwouldn't go for a 2K list instrument; I'd go for a used instrument, because there's good chance of finding gold for 2K at a "used" price - getting a lot of value for your buck.
Start checking with your musician buddies. You might be surprised what you can turn up for that price.
WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
----------------------------------
"Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN
----------------------------------
HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
- Advice For Mandolin Beginners
- YouTube Stuff
Used Collings MT are available for around $2000
Here's a nice looking Collings MT2 for $2300
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/115746#115746
New Redline A5 for $1950
https://cartervintage.com/products/red-line-a-5-new
used for $1500 or less
https://reverb.com/item/4700388-redl...olin-with-case
My favorite at around $2000 that I've played recently is this Hawthorn A5 made by Mike Black - new for $2200
http://bfstrings.com/store/p86/HAWTH..._MANDOLIN.html
Hawthorn is the house brand for Braford & Franzke in Kansas City. This one was built by renowned KC luthier Mike Black, whose A5 mandolins start at $3200. This is essentially the same mandolin, just without the binding on the fretboard & headstock with $1000 discount.
Northfield Model M A5 is $1900 new
http://www.northfieldinstruments.com/mandolins/model-m
This is a nice looking Weill for $1800
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/118843#118843
Gibson A9 for $1400 if you like the Gibson sound
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/118738#118738
Last edited by colorado_al; Dec-19-2017 at 10:00pm. Reason: Found a few more in the classifieds
I had almost decided the tone I wanted was a collings mt, the only thing comparable I had found was a weber f style for a lot more money, when a weber f bitterroot showed up in the classifieds in my price range. 2K buys a lot of instrument used.
Thanks all, I should have stated tnat I would likely be looking for used ones, not new.
It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!
For a used A style with a $2000 budget, the world is your oyster. Add teens Gibson to your list. I'm biased toward Silverangels, but there are sweet Pavas out there, and about a dozen others. Subjectivity reigns here, as you will get quality.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
I have an A style Summit that sounds and plays great. I got it for $1600 but paid another couple hundred or so for fret work and setup.
I would look at Collings as well.
For crisp and bell like, I would find a few hundred more and get a used Collings MT2.
Collings MT - keep your eyes peeled for one popping up in the classifieds here - you see them often in the 1700-1900 range used.
2018 Girouard Concert oval A
2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
1969 Martin 00-18
my Youtube channel
Used Pava Satin, Weber, or Collings MT are safe bets for online purchase. To me, the Pava has more bell-like tone. Haven't played a Girouard but they have steller rep.
I had a long term loan of an Old Wave A5. Broke my heart to give it back. Fantastic instrument and great value too. Compared very well to a Duff A5 which is a brilliant instrument but out of your price range I'd say.
John
Weber Gallatin A-14F, $1999 new ... pretty nice mandolin.
https://webermandolins.com/instrumen...tin-a-mandolin
"Best A Style around $2,000?"
"Best" is pretty subjective ... but for me $2,000 would be a lot of dough right now, so I'd definitely have to get some used ones in my hands and find the one that speaks to me.
This past year I was fortunate to find a Collings MT for 3/4 that price with easy terms from a local musician who'd gotten scroll envy
I love the Collings.
WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
----------------------------------
"Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN
----------------------------------
HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
- Advice For Mandolin Beginners
- YouTube Stuff
I would agree with most of the recommendations above. You have to have a quality instrument that is in the neighborhood of what you are looking for. But you can change the sound of a mandolin fairly dramatically with strings, pick, playing an opening up (a newer mandolin or one that has been in the case for quite a while) that I think it is as important to get one that feels good (neck, fretboard, frets, setup) and you like the looks of. Just look at all the great mandolin players that play Bluegrass, Old time Celtic, Classical and they can make them sound great at any of them. It also seems that the great mandolin players sound about the same on any mandolin, so the player probably has as much to do with it as anything.
So recommendations -
-Collings MT or MT2 - fit/finish nearly perfect and very constant. They are terrific mandolins but the have a distinctive sound that does not appeal to me. But I have heard some great Collings mandolins, but mostly varnish finish. but for what you are looking for they might be a great fit.
- There is a brown satin Pava that looks like new in the classifieds, if I were looking for a quality A mandolin I would own that one. If you don't like it or find something you like better you should always be able to get your money out of it. But if could be a lifetime mandolin for a very reasonable price (I have not seen a Pava at that price).
- I recently acquired a used Weber Absaroka that has opened up and is a great mandolin. It will hold its own in a jam but is a very versatile mandolin and could play anything.
-You could also get a new Northfield M in your price range as well.
Good luck there are lots of good choices in your price range
This nice looking Gibson A5L just popped up in the classifieds for $1950
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/118951#118951
My 1922 A4 was about $1350 15 years ago, my plain brown A was $ 600 , 30 years ago...
the A40 was $150, with F holes.. 45 years ago..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
I think that you're getting a lot of good advice here. In my experience, the small factory / shop mandolins like the Collings MT and Pava come available used around $1600-1750, and I've seen Northfield Model M's in the same range as well. Occasionally, an independently built mandolin will show up similarly priced, particularly ovals, but in typical Mandolin Cafe fashion, I'm going to advise you that what you really want in an A5 is more often found just above your budget in the $2250-$2500 range.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
For your stated purposes:
Collings MT
Girouard
Pava
..not in that order
Chris Cravens
Girouard A5
Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
Passernig Mandola
Leo Posch D-18
Bookmarks