I'm gripped with mandolin fever again and who knows, maybe this time I'll actually buy one. I have guitar experience (chords), violin experience, and tenor guitar experience that allowed me to use my violin knowledge after bowing became too painful for my shoulder.
I like instruments that are lower tension and pleasing to play, with a more rounded and mellow sound. My tenor guitar is 22.5" scale which is a bit much of a stretch with my hand agility/dexterity.
The 2015+ Breedlove Crossover OO seems on paper to be a good instrument. Wider neck and string spacing, a radiused fretboard, and all solid wood unlike the pre-2015 models.
The Gretsch New Yorker mahogany mandolin seems like another potential catch as it's made of mahogany which, in my guitar experience, means a warmer and more mellow tone than spruce.
I like the A-style mandolin with an oval soundhole. Is there something else in the sub-$500 range that I should be looking at? I'm not looking for absolute perfection, but rather something on the 80/20 principle. I lack variety in local stores to try things out but from what's been there (Loar, Recording King, Rogue, all with crusty strings) I know I feel more comfortable on something with a longer scale length and wider string spacing.
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