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Thread: poor quality or MAS?

  1. #26
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    I don't wanta jump into a digression/dispute, and I do love the Strad-O-Lin I own, but remember, they were mostly budget mandolins originally. Good budget mandolins, but lets not make 'em Stradivarii. There may be more hand-work in the Kentucky KM-276 than in most Strads. I think "fairly awful Chinese junk" is not an accurate description.

    Also, if the mandolin is bought through Reverb and coming through a local dealer, have the dealer at least check the set-up. Ya never know...
    As Allen says, most were budget mandolins, but some had hand carved tops, those are my
    Strad-O-Varius and I've gotten good at picking them out. They are few and far between.
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  2. #27
    Registered User Eric F.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    There is nothing awful or junky about a Kentucky KM-276. I would never recommend a new player look for a Stradolin and I say that as someone who has owned a Stradolin and a KM-272. (BTW, the Kentucky is a MUCH better sounding instrument.) Frankly, plenty of Strads are, at least at this point, awful junk. If you do not know how to diagnose problems, if you don't have a local luthier, if you just want to learn to play, a vintage instrument is probably not right for you unless it comes from a dealer that has already gone over it and taken care of any issues.

  3. #28
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Well, I have bought, refurbished, done set-up on and sold 16 Stradolins that ran the gamut in quality. Sold them very cheap. Never had one complaint. Most people absolutely loved them. Your mileage may vary.

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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Well, I for one, feel the OP chose very well and picked an instrument that for that price point is very often recommended here as a no brainer. This forum is not a place where we belittle others purchases.

    Have fun with your new mandolin!

    Rob

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  6. #30
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    Well, I have bought, refurbished, done set-up on and sold 16 Stradolins that ran the gamut in quality. Sold them very cheap. Never had one complaint. Most people absolutely loved them. Your mileage may vary.
    I guess if I were trying to sell them on this website at inflated prices, I would say the same. Or not.

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  8. #31
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric F. View Post
    I guess if I were trying to sell them on this website at inflated prices, I would say the same. Or not.
    The majority of the guitars and mandolins I sell are to vintage dealers and retailers. Even in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds, most of the sales are to experienced buyers (dealers). Believe me when I say, they are the least likely people to pay "inflated prices". They are going to make a 20% to 30% profit when they resell my mandos.

    I'm not belittling others purchases. $500 Kentucky mandolins are the beginners choice and 100,000 will be sold this year. ...But there is an alternative. I just shipped a '$300 all solid woods, 1930's Stradolin'. Sold her to a retailer up north who will probably get $395 or more for her.

    The difference between the Kentucky and the Stradolin??? THE STRADOLIN WAS MADE IN AMERICA and we just don't get to say that very often any more (not in this price range, anyway). The wood on the Stradolin has aged and should sound better... that's why collectors pay more for vintage. Yes, Vintage American Mandolins can be a little fragile and can need "tweaking" so go to The Music Emporium (when the pandemic is over). There is your luther/ repairman. Everyone on this site should google mandolin repair for your area, they are getting more common. Then you will have someone to do set-up or tweaking if you ever bump your mando (god forbid).

    Lastly, let me get back on course and apologize for calling Kentucky mandolins Chinese Junk. My Bad. Everybody has their preference. There is no such thing as a bad mandolin, except for that 1970's paper lined bowl back I bought new. Will I get in trouble for saying that??? Oy vey!
    Last edited by your_diamond; Apr-05-2020 at 9:15am.

  9. #32
    Crazy Cat Lady collingwest's Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    She came in early! Delivered about 12:30 today, nicely packaged and detuned. Took me a while to tune her up as I did it gently and in stages, and she's definitely needing some opening up. But there's a noticeable difference in quality and tone. Here she is with my original Donner from Amazon (which is going to go to Goodwill). The strings do look a bit old, so I'm likely to get those replaced* when I take her over to Maple Street for evaluation and setup.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mandox2.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	112.4 KB 
ID:	184801

    As of yet I've not done a whole lot with her as I want her to get used to the house, and because the case hasn't yet come in so right now she's simply sitting on a table in my husband's office -- which is about the safest place for her to be. But I have picked a couple tunes and chords very quickly and I'm excited. Yeah, I know it's not a nice $2000 American-made model but we're going to have a good time together.

    ...as soon as I figure out her name.

    * and if it weren't for the Coronavirus situation I'd have them show me how to restring her; I'm having trouble making sense out of the online tutorials. But they're doing drop-off/pickup only right now so, this time around, I'll just need them to do it for me.

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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    Yes, they did.
    Cool, thanks. I’ll spend some time with Google later...
    Chuck

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  12. #34
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by collingwest View Post
    She came in early! Delivered about 12:30 today, nicely packaged and detuned. Took me a while to tune her up as I did it gently and in stages, and she's definitely needing some opening up. But there's a noticeable difference in quality and tone. Here she is with my original Donner from Amazon (which is going to go to Goodwill). The strings do look a bit old, so I'm likely to get those replaced* when I take her over to Maple Street for evaluation and setup.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mandox2.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	112.4 KB 
ID:	184801

    As of yet I've not done a whole lot with her as I want her to get used to the house, and because the case hasn't yet come in so right now she's simply sitting on a table in my husband's office -- which is about the safest place for her to be. But I have picked a couple tunes and chords very quickly and I'm excited. Yeah, I know it's not a nice $2000 American-made model but we're going to have a good time together.

    ...as soon as I figure out her name.

    * and if it weren't for the Coronavirus situation I'd have them show me how to restring her; I'm having trouble making sense out of the online tutorials. But they're doing drop-off/pickup only right now so, this time around, I'll just need them to do it for me.
    Congratulations, she's very pretty. When you restring your mandolin, DON"T take all of the strings off at once, do them in pairs. It's much easer that way.

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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by LadysSolo View Post
    Congratulations, she's very pretty. When you restring your mandolin, DON"T take all of the strings off at once, do them in pairs. It's much easer that way.
    Good advice. Or just one at a time, that's how I like to do it.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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  16. #36

    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by collingwest View Post
    Aaaaand it's official! KM-276 and hard case are on the way -- I found them on Reverb as TMS had no stock, meaning there likely is a trip to Maple Street Guitars coming sometime in the future. Hopefully this will fix some of what I do believe is indeed MAS. Wish me luck and thanks so much for all the welcomes.
    Congratulations on your new mandolin purchase! And if you’re in Atlanta, Marty Jacobson is someone you need to know. He’s a local mandolin luthier here, does great work at reasonable rates... He helped me with the setup and dressing frets on my Gibson. If you can work with his schedule, you can get the work done quickly -instead of leaving your mando 2 - 4 weeks with Maple Street.

    K’hat

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  18. #37
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    I remember my first mandolin, a $100 PacRim plywood special. You are doomed. : )
    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

  19. #38
    Registered User Eric F.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    The majority of the guitars and mandolins I sell are to vintage dealers and retailers. Even in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds, most of the sales are to experienced buyers (dealers). Believe me when I say, they are the least likely people to pay "inflated prices". They are going to make a 20% to 30% profit when they resell my mandos.

    I'm not belittling others purchases. $500 Kentucky mandolins are the beginners choice and 100,000 will be sold this year. ...But there is an alternative. I just shipped a '$300 all solid woods, 1930's Stradolin'. Sold her to a retailer up north who will probably get $395 or more for her.

    The difference between the Kentucky and the Stradolin??? THE STRADOLIN WAS MADE IN AMERICA and we just don't get to say that very often any more (not in this price range, anyway). The wood on the Stradolin has aged and should sound better... that's why collectors pay more for vintage. Yes, Vintage American Mandolins can be a little fragile and can need "tweaking" so go to The Music Emporium (when the pandemic is over). There is your luther/ repairman. Everyone on this site should google mandolin repair for your area, they are getting more common. Then you will have someone to do set-up or tweaking if you ever bump your mando (god forbid).

    Lastly, let me get back on course and apologize for calling Kentucky mandolins Chinese Junk. My Bad. Everybody has their preference. There is no such thing as a bad mandolin, except for that 1970's paper lined bowl back I bought new. Will I get in trouble for saying that??? Oy vey!
    Hey, I'm sorry I slagged you. I think I am running a little hot lately. Maybe three weeks of quarantine and anxiety are getting to me.

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  21. #39
    Registered User Eric F.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by collingwest View Post
    She came in early! Delivered about 12:30 today, nicely packaged and detuned. Took me a while to tune her up as I did it gently and in stages, and she's definitely needing some opening up. But there's a noticeable difference in quality and tone. Here she is with my original Donner from Amazon (which is going to go to Goodwill). The strings do look a bit old, so I'm likely to get those replaced* when I take her over to Maple Street for evaluation and setup.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mandox2.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	112.4 KB 
ID:	184801

    As of yet I've not done a whole lot with her as I want her to get used to the house, and because the case hasn't yet come in so right now she's simply sitting on a table in my husband's office -- which is about the safest place for her to be. But I have picked a couple tunes and chords very quickly and I'm excited. Yeah, I know it's not a nice $2000 American-made model but we're going to have a good time together.

    ...as soon as I figure out her name.

    * and if it weren't for the Coronavirus situation I'd have them show me how to restring her; I'm having trouble making sense out of the online tutorials. But they're doing drop-off/pickup only right now so, this time around, I'll just need them to do it for me.

    Frets.com is a valuable resource. I use the his method for restringing. If you need more help, just holler. Lots of people here can help you or point you to videos.

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  23. #40
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: poor quality or MAS?

    Quote Originally Posted by collingwest View Post
    She came in early! ///detuned///. Took me a while to tune her up as I did it gently and in stages. The strings do look a bit old, so I'm likely to get those replaced* when I take her over to Maple Street for evaluation and setup.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mandox2.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	112.4 KB 
ID:	184801

    Yeah, I know it's not a nice $2000 American-made model but we're going to have a good time together.

    * and if it weren't for the Coronavirus situation I'd have them show me how to restring her; I'm having trouble making sense out of the online tutorials. But they're doing drop-off/pickup only right now so, this time around, I'll just need them to do it for me.
    Hey collingwest,
    You've been through sore hands, cuts and bruises and more. Don't let the minor difficulty of restringing hold you back. Buy two sets of strings and have at it (we have all spent more money on something less important). I can tell from what you've posted, If anybody can do it, you can. Do one string at a time.

    Too bad were on corona virus lockdown, you're in a a great area for a mandolin player. This virus thing too shall pass. After this passes, go visit Maple Street Music AND (I'm not a Bluegrass player but if I lived in Boston) you might want to see what's going on at Boston Bluegrass Union ( bbu.org ) just because, as Yogi Berra said, "You can learn a lot by watching". They have a FaceBook page, while we're on lockdown.

    Now, when a person says "Yeah, I know it's not a nice $2000 American-made model"... I get from that, your not done buying mandolins. lol So here's MY FAVORITE MANDOLIN CAFE ARTICLE https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pu...s_001443.shtml

    Finally, enjoy that Kentucky mandolin and you might want to keep the Donner Mandolin to take to the beach... for now. You can always give it away later. Maybe to an underprivileged student.

    Rock on!
    Last edited by your_diamond; Apr-09-2020 at 8:13am.

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