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Thread: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

  1. #51
    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Thank you Ranald, if you misunderstood my reasons for asking, certainly other people did too, so it was worth it to clarify. My best to you all.
    -- Don

    "Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
    "It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."


    2002 Gibson F-9
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    [About how I tune my mandolins]
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  2. #52
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Someone mentioned on the first page that supply chains are global and we should get used to it.
    True 'dat.
    My motorcycle was made in Russia (I wanted a motorcycle that still looked like a motorcycle...with a sidecar) but the gears were made in Germany and the ignition was made in Italy. Lots of things have parts from all over these days.

    Any REM fans out there?
    Look who bought the myth, by jingo, buy America
    That always pops in my head when this topic comes up.

    Kirk

  3. #53
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Quote Originally Posted by tiltman View Post
    My motorcycle was made in Russia (I wanted a motorcycle that still looked like a motorcycle...with a sidecar) but the gears were made in Germany and the ignition was made in Italy.
    Hi Kirk,

    Might be a far stretch to mandolin content, but I'd sure like to see a picture of your motorcycle. Let's think. . .sidecar serves as a mandolin carrier! Yup, that could work. Any pictures?

    Bob
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  4. #54
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    I am guessing it is a Ural. There a couple of them around here.

    https://www.imz-ural.com/
    Last edited by Charles E.; Aug-11-2020 at 2:16pm.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  6. #55
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    I am guessing it is a Ural. There a couple of them around here.

    https://www.imz-ural.com/
    That sure looks like a lot of fun!
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  7. #56
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Yup - a Ural. Here we are headed to a bluegrass festival a few years ago.

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  9. #57
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    sidecar can carry a mandolin, tent, sleeping bag, stove, beer, beer...

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  11. #58
    Registered User Drew Egerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    All I will add from personal experience is talk to Adrian or Derek at Northfield sometime and your concerns will be eased.
    I spent hours at Swannanoa last year with Adrian and came away with a really cool understanding of how the company works and why.
    They don't perform some of their operations in China because it is cheap. It just so happens that their very best finish guy lives there and getting him to the USA would be difficult if he did want to go (but I don't think he did).
    On the most expensive 4th gen models they basically do all the work here, then send a kit over where the finish is done and then back for final assembly.

    Long story short, not as cut and dry as the typical Chinese product stereotype.
    Drew
    2020 Northfield 4th Gen F5
    2022 Northfield NFS-F5E
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  13. #59
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Thanks for bringing the thread back on topic Drew.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  15. #60
    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Quote Originally Posted by Drew Egerton View Post
    All I will add from personal experience is talk to Adrian or Derek at Northfield sometime and your concerns will be eased. ...
    I appreciate your insights Drew!
    -- Don

    "Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
    "It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."


    2002 Gibson F-9
    2016 MK LFSTB
    1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
    [About how I tune my mandolins]
    [Our recent arrival]

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  17. #61

    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Got a Northfield Big Mon a few days ago. I love it.
    Soliver arm rested and Tone-Garded Northfield Model M with D’Addario NB 11.5-41, picked with a Wegen Bluegrass 1.4

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  19. #62
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Hey Folks, My son and I spent about three hours over at the Marshall Shop last Friday 7/7 with Derek. He was very helpful with us pulled out about 7-8 mandolins for my son to try out Big Mons, 4th Gens and Artists Series in both the engelmann and the adirondack spruce tops. No rush take your time and play and he did. Tough choice for me (4th gen) but the Big Mon Adirondack Spruce was the winner for him. He plays a Gibson F5 Fern Adi (keeper) with a Flatiron Festival for a backup and has played a lot of other mandolins Gibson's, Stiver's, Collings, Weber's etc. and a Ellis that was wow but 12,575.00. Does it have the same bell like tone of the Ellis no but at far less than half the price it sounded fantastic in his hands. IMO way better than a Collings MF for about the same $$$. We have been to a lot of music stores and I have to say for the money they are great sounding mandolins. Will be placing a order for Big Mon 1 piece back in the next few days.

  20. #63
    Registered User Erin M's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    I have a Kentucky KM1000 - it was made in China. I originally resisted for that reason, but the truth is, it came highly recommended by a friend who is an experienced player. It turns out, it really is a very well made instrument for the price. I simply cannot afford a nice Gibson or Weber or Ellis or Collings or any of the fine instruments made by smaller makers. Maybe one day I will, maybe not. But I am very happy with my KM1000 - especially since swapping out the bridge for a Cumberland Acoustics bridge. Considering it's my first mandolin, I could've done much worse

    A luthier by the name of Olaf Grawert has designed a couple of violins - due to cost, he has them made in China. Hand made, by skilled violin makers. He oversees the production and makes certain it's up to his respectably high quality standards and uses high quality wood. They are very fine instruments that can be had for a reasonable price - equivalent in quality to good European-made violins, but much cheaper. He has a youtube channel with several videos about his instruments. I know someone who has one of his instruments and is very pleased with it.

    Yes, it's a global economy - yes, we should get used to it. We should always check things out beforehand, but these days, that "Made in China" label is no longer necessarily a reason to reject something. And I never thought I'd ever say that...
    "Flow, river flow. Let your waters wash down, take me from this road, to some other town." - Roger McGuinn

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  22. #64
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    Default Re: Chinese made mandolins (Northfield?)

    Oh yeah, forgot to say...I played a few Northfields at Wintergrass a couple of years ago. They were all really good and one was outstanding. I’m already very blessed with mandolins...but I was tempted!
    They make great mandolins - no matter where they’re made.

    Kirk

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