Hi everyone, I'm brand new here and I'm looking for a little direction in buying my 1st mandolin. I'm a bedroom guitar player who's wanting to get into the mandolin. I've got lots of questions (most of which I'll save for other posts for now). But first, I'll be needing a mandolin.
I have seen a few online lists of "The Best Beginner Mandolins" but was hoping to hear from some of you fine, knowledgeable people before making a purchase.
I'm *trying* to keep it at or below $200. I recently went to my local Guitar Center hoping to buy the basic Rogue RM100A for $50 new, but it wasn't in stock (I could still order it online). So I played around with a Mitchel AM100VS for $180 (their in-house brand I believe) and The Loar LM110BRB for $250. I preferred The Loar. Both were in need of a good setup.
Based on the feel of the two I got to play, I think I'd ultimately want to use a light-gauge string set, to help make it a bit easier on my hands. *BUT* if I change the string gauge, would I also need to adjust the action or truss rod? Or is this not really necessary due to the short scale of the mandolin? Do most Mandolins even have truss rods?
Also, I kinda have fat fingers, so do some models have wider fingerboards than others, or are they all pretty much the same from one manufacturer to another?
How about A-style vs. F-style? Are the differences minor, other than appearance?
It appears that many have a spruce top with a maple back and sides. Is this what I should be looking for?
I understand that what feels right to one person may not to another. That acknowledged, I'd really appreciate any suggestions for my first mandolin. Any thoughts or any advice or anything else I should also take into consideration would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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