I may be looking at picking up an A Style w/Oval for Irish/Celtic, Folk, Swing, etc. I'm not sure on a budget yet but may not be very big, somewhere around $600 probably. I'm just dipping my toes in to see what type suggestions I get. Thanks!
I may be looking at picking up an A Style w/Oval for Irish/Celtic, Folk, Swing, etc. I'm not sure on a budget yet but may not be very big, somewhere around $600 probably. I'm just dipping my toes in to see what type suggestions I get. Thanks!
A Washburn Celtic oval hole A style.
Big Muddy MW-0 has been favorably mentioned several times on the Cafe.
Allen Hopkins
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I own a Kentucky KM-272 and really like it. Bit of a hybrid A oval with a raised fingerboard and neck that attaches at fret 14. Not as amazing as my Collings MT2-O, but also 1/9 the price.
$500 with setup and gig bag.
KM-270 & KM-276 are the same just different colors
https://www.elderly.com/products/ken...m-272-mandolin
https://themandolinstore.com/product...hole-mandolin/
https://www.elderly.com/products/ken...m-270-mandolin
https://themandolinstore.com/product...hole-mandolin/
There are a few Red Valley Flat-tops currently in the Cafe classifieds.
Thanks for your support?
Another one to consider would be the Eastman 304 - The Mandolin Store lists one for $510, and coming from them you would know that it would be well set up:
https://themandolinstore.com/product...oval-mandolin/
2018 Girouard Concert oval A
2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
1969 Martin 00-18
my Youtube channel
Thank you for all the replies! I'll check them all out and welcome more suggestions, thanks again!
I liked the looks of the Red Valley mandolins as well. But they are flat tops?
I used to have a Flatiron 1N that I liked. They can be found used in the $450-650 range from time to time. Great little instruments, IMHO. If you’re looking new the Eastman and Kentucky options mentioned would fit the bill.
Chuck
Thanks again for all the feedback I've been steadily looking at all of these different mandolins and I really like all of them. I got to say though, it kind of irks me that holes are drilled to install pickguards on mandolins. It's kind of like seeing a Les Paul guitar with a pickguard... it just doesn't belong. But that's just my opinion and I'm sure that others with playing styles different than mine would greatly disagree with me.
Has anyone had the same problem I have had with the advanced search feature on the classifieds? I can't get it to work at all. I enter in keywords and click search and it just takes me back to the full list of classifieds.
Anyone know anything about the Gold Tone GM-50? I ran into it while debating on getting an octave mandolin instead.
Leaning heavily toward the Kentucky KM272. I haven't ruled out the Big Muddy MW-0 if I found a good deal. I haven't seen the different options shown for the Big Muddy on their website but it's nice they offer them. My Morgan Monroe MMS-5W is a bit tight around the nut for my fingers and a slighted wider neck profile would be nice. I'll have to look at the stats between them.
Last edited by ryevick; Apr-27-2020 at 12:12am.
Morris A4
Morgan Monroe MMS-5W
Fiddlerman Concert Violin
I'm not a fan of pick-guards/finger-rests on mandolins either. I just removed the one that came on the Kentucky. It does leave a screw hole, but it isn't an issue for me.
Regarding the Gold Tone GM-50, they make decent instruments for the price.
The GM-50 has a solid spruce top (likely pressed, not carved) and laminate back and sides. The Kentucky and Eastman mandolins will have solid carved top and back, solid sides (which is generally preferred)
If you need to save $150 vs the Kentucky or Eastman, I'm sure it would work. Just make sure to buy it from a good dealer who will do the setup for you.
I know you are leaning towards the Kentucky, but I will join 2 others in this thread to suggest the Red Valley.
Here is one in your price range:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/153488#153488
Chris Cravens
Girouard A5
Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
Passernig Mandola
Leo Posch D-18
J Bovier flat top at reverb
Morris A4
Morgan Monroe MMS-5W
Fiddlerman Concert Violin
2018 Girouard Concert oval A
2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
1969 Martin 00-18
my Youtube channel
1&1/8" nut width on Kentucky 200 series. Radiused fingerboard though. I find it to be quite comfortable.
https://www.sagamusic.com/products/p...px?item=KM-272
Kentucky is still in but I would like to hear thoughts on Red Valley vs Big Muddy?
Morris A4
Morgan Monroe MMS-5W
Fiddlerman Concert Violin
I bought a 1922 Gibson A for $600. in the 80's (So, a Time Machine would be handy)
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On a side note, I didn't realize The Mandolin Store was located where it is in Tennessee. I drive by there fairly often... that's nice.
Morris A4
Morgan Monroe MMS-5W
Fiddlerman Concert Violin
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