Just bought my first mandolin!

[Belle Starr]

Welcome to the Cafe and enjoy your fun new mandolin. If possible, have a shop set it up. Adjusting the string height will make those high tension double courses a lot more fun. I'll say as a barely novice player myself, that as you start learning, pretty much any mandolin that has a good comfortable set up is great to learn on. If the looks of this one inspires you to play more, that's great. Have a ton of fun.At the very least, you bought one of the prettiest first mandolins folks have bought!

Jamie

Edit to add: One thing to do even if you don't get it set up, is change out the strings to something nicer like D'Addario EJ74s. That one likely came with not the best strings.

Ugh.. Missed that you are returning. I like the Eastman mandolins a lot. You can get a lot of mandolin for $700, especially if you look at A styles (sound the same as F styles with less cost) or even used. Our classifieds are very safe space to look and consider.

thank you!!

[Northwest Steve]

If you could swing it this would be worth a look. Eastman and Kentucky mandolins have really improved over the years. It could serve you well for a long time. Mando Mutt is a site sponsor. A mandolin from most any sponsor should have at least a decent setup.
http://www.mandomutt.com/products-pa...-md-515v-amber

I will say that I did want a scroll and had a few. I currently play an A style mandolin with f holes. It is an amazing mandolin, far above my ability. But I could never afford or justify the same mandolin if it was an F5. There is not any difference in sound between an F5 and an A from the same builder. There have been some great professional players that play A style mandolins. So you could possibly get a better mandolin with an A for the same or less money.

[Belle Starr]

If you could swing it this would be worth a look. Eastman and Kentucky mandolins have really improved over the years. It could serve you well for a long time. Mando Mutt is a site sponsor. A mandolin from most any sponsor should have at least a decent setup.
http://www.mandomutt.com/products-pa...-md-515v-amber

I will say that I did want a scroll and had a few. I currently play an A style mandolin with f holes. It is an amazing mandolin, far above my ability. But I could never afford or justify the same mandolin if it was an F5. There is not any difference in sound between an F5 and an A from the same builder. There have been some great professional players that play A style mandolins. So you could possibly get a better mandolin with an A for the same or less money.

Thank you for this information and link, I will check into this!

[Belle Starr]

Hey All, A local dealer has an Eastman 805, 2006 model for $650, thoughts??? Yes, I know it's A style :0)

[allenhopkins]

Hey All, A local dealer has an Eastman 805, 2006 model for $650, thoughts??? Yes, I know it's A style :0)

That's a very good price for one of their top-end 800 series instruments. Play it and see if you like it.

[Belle Starr]

That's a very good price for one of their top-end 800 series instruments. Play it and see if you like it.

heading out soon to give it a try!

[Ranald]

Welcome to the Cafe, Belle, and enjoy playing mandolin. I do like the original though -- it seems like a flashback.

[Belle Starr]

Welcome to the Cafe, Belle, and enjoy playing mandolin. I do like the original though -- it seems like a flashback.

[Belle Starr]

What do you all think of the Loar LM520???

[Eric F.]

In this price range, I think Eastman and Kentucky are the way to go. If you have to have a scroll, an Eastman 315 would likely be your best bet. Others will have different opinions, but mine is the correct one.

[Belle Starr]

In this price range, I think Eastman and Kentucky are the way to go. If you have to have a scroll, an Eastman 315 would likely be your best bet. Others will have different opinions, but mine is the correct one.

Haha! Okay, thank you!

[J Mangio]

Speaking from my own experience, with a 700 dollar budget, I would jump on the The Loar LM600 in the classifieds.

[Charles E.]

+1 for the Eastman 315...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/152330#152330

NFI

[Willem]

What do you all think of the Loar LM520???

I had a Loar 520 for a while when I started out. I enjoyed it. Get it from a Cafe sponsor that does a set-up, and it will make a good starter instrument. Best f-style at that price point (500-600 new) that I have played. I do agree that you would do better to spend $700 on a used a-style.

[Belle Starr]

Speaking from my own experience, with a 700 dollar budget, I would jump on the The Loar LM600 in the classifieds.

I will check it out! Thanks

[Belle Starr]

+1 for the Eastman 315...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/152330#152330

NFI

Looking at this one too! Oh the choices!

[Belle Starr]

I had a Loar 520 for a while when I started out. I enjoyed it. Get it from a Cafe sponsor that does a set-up, and it will make a good starter instrument. Best f-style at that price point (500-600 new) that I have played. I do agree that you would do better to spend $700 on a used a-style.

So the ones sold here are "cafe sponsored"?

[Belle Starr]

I had a Loar 520 for a while when I started out. I enjoyed it. Get it from a Cafe sponsor that does a set-up, and it will make a good starter instrument. Best f-style at that price point (500-600 new) that I have played. I do agree that you would do better to spend $700 on a used a-style.

Reasons to choose A style??? Sell me!

[Charles E.]

One joke around here is that the scroll on a mandolin is called a "thousand dollar strap holder". Often one can get a better quality A style mandolin for the same amount of money as an F style. Especially used.

That said, in your price range, something like this would be worth a look...

https://www.denverfolklore.com/shop/...-x46387067.htm

NFI

Good hunting!

[Belle Starr]

One joke around here is that the scroll on a mandolin is called a "thousand dollar strap holder". Often one can get a better quality A style mandolin for the same amount of money as an F style. Especially used.

That said, in your price range, something like this would be worth a look...

https://www.denverfolklore.com/shop/...-x46387067.htm

NFI

Good hunting!

Haha! But I like how it looks................... I will ck out your link!

[mdgri3]

Consider Eastman MD-315. I am so happy with mine. Check out BanjoBen Clark's Store. They will professionally set up, help you with necessary equipment and send right to your door. https://store.banjobenclark.com/
Call and ask for Jake. Tell him Will Cooper (Lifetime Member) sent ya.

[Belle Starr]

Consider Eastman MD-315. I am so happy with mine. Check out BanjoBen Clark's Store. They will professionally set up, help you with necessary equipment and send right to your door. https://store.banjobenclark.com/
Call and ask for Jake. Tell him Will Cooper (Lifetime Member) sent ya.

Thank you, I will ck out their website!

[Br1ck]

So the ones sold here are "cafe sponsored"?

The term Cafe Sponsor is used here for stores that contribute to keeping the Cafe running and it turn they are listed at the top of the forum pages and the classifieds. Click on the names or store logo to go to their web sites. Gryphon, Elderly Instruments, and The Mandolin Store are just three. They are known to include a setup with every instrument they sell, and all have very good reputations. Several manufacturers also participate. The sponsor prices are really quite good considering the value added service provided. You can buy with confidence from any of them.

Buying from one helps keep this site going.

[pheffernan]

Reasons to choose A style??? Sell me!

Because you can get an independently built instrument by an established American luthier in the same price range as a factory built import F5:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/152471#152471

[Northwest Steve]

Because you can get an independently built instrument by an established American luthier in the same price range as a factory built import F5:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/152471#152471

I 100% agree with the above and I don't think you could find a better mandolin for the money. A US made mandolin from a small shop builder that has build many mandolins and doing it for a long time. Buy it, you will be glad you did.