Hi, I'm shopping for my first mandolin and have found a used El Toro mandolin locally and am trying to figure out what they are worth ? My other options here are a The Loar 700 or Eastman MD605.
Thanks .
Hi, I'm shopping for my first mandolin and have found a used El Toro mandolin locally and am trying to figure out what they are worth ? My other options here are a The Loar 700 or Eastman MD605.
Thanks .
Go for the El Toro! Head and shoulders above mass produced imports.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
I recall those El Toros NEW selling for around $1900.00 at Reverb. Bradford and Company in Kansas City was handling them. Based on that, as a New price, I wouldn't pay more than $1250.00 used.
Here's an old link to a Bradford Listing at Reverb. They were asking $1900.00 NEW and accepting offers.
https://reverb.com/item/6551071-silv...black-sunburst
It is likely a better mandolin than the other two, but you have to consider what the seller is asking and what you'd pay for one of the other two. If they are asking much over $1250.00 I'd check out the Cafe for other US made stuff. The El Toro was made in Kentucky. The other two in China.
Consider this Breedlove, (link below) is US made and under $1000.00. Asking $850.00. I'd offer $600.00 and see how it goes. I've never really played a US made Breedlove that I'd say sounded "bad" and for a 1st mandolin and US made this wouldn't be bad. Again, consider what you'd pay for the two Chinese made mandolins you listed. Any Breedlove called a "Crossover" is Chinese, by the way.
Link:
https://reverb.com/item/34683903-201...ve-american-of
Last edited by Bill Kammerzell; Sep-08-2020 at 9:57pm.
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
Photo?
I've never played a Silverangel/El Torro (they're as rare as hen's teeth here in the UK), but Ken Ratcliff's been building mandolin's for many years, and his instruments are known to have a rich, meaty sound. Others who have actually played SA's will be better placed to give you more info.
Go for the El Toro if you can afford it. Ken’s building some awesome instruments, and has for years. My Silverangel Econo held its own against mandolins costing much more, and sounded better than any Loar/Kentucky/Eastman I’ve played (and I had an Eastman 315 that was really good).
The other options presented are good mandolins, but I think you’d pick the El Toro if comparison playing was an option...
Chuck
Yes! The El Toro is made by Ken Ratcliff (Silverangel Mandolins) in Kentucky. My main player is a Silverangel and it is an outstanding instrument! I upgraded from an Eastman to the SA. ... Worth the $$ for sure!
I think Ken was selling the El Toros new (I don't think he is still making them) for $2000 to $3000... If you can get it for a good deal, then it will be a killer first instrument!
aka: Spencer
Silverangel Econo A #429
Soliver #001 Hand Crafted Pancake
Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here
"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
Bourgeois M5A (2022)
Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
Hi Dwiggins,
The El Toro will give you something to grow into for many, many years, possibly for life. The sound of Ken's mandolins is unbelievably rich.
I owned a Silverangel El Toro - I only traded it to "upgrade" to my Collings. They are beautifully made and have a deep, resonate sound.
Northfield Big Mon
Collings Parlor 1T
Breedlove Legacy Concertino
PRS JA-15
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Slimline
Emerald X7
Emerald X10 Slimline
Rainsong Black Ice
Collings I30
Grab the bull by the horns
2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
Several nice old Fiddles
2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
Deering Classic Open Back
Too many microphones
BridgerCreekBoys.com
I own two Silverangel mandolins. I also live not far from Ken. So I have played many Silverangel and several El Toro mandolins. Every mandolin is different but they all sound like his work. I don't know if he was going for a different sound or just a different look with the El Toro model but I couldn't hear a difference beyond the individual differences in each mandolin. Obviously I'm a fan so take that into consideration.
Scott
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-202243268
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_R...e_polymer=true
I'm going to see it Tuesday night. Anything I should look for ?
Separations, top and back sinkage, cracks in the top (especially near the sound holes)
This one is number 391. Curious how many were made?
391 would be fairly recent, around late 2016 - early 2017. I'm not sure how many he is at now. I have a 2017 Silverangel that is a few numbers higher than that one. I don't think he did separate numbers for the El Toro mandolins, especially judging from that number. Ken would probably know, though.
Scott
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-202243268
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_R...e_polymer=true
Brought her home tonight ! El Toro & Tweed case for $1400 Cdn (about $1060 US) . Think I did good
Congrat's....you got a deal! Enjoy!
Looks great, love the shape. Very inspiring! Do you play other instruments?
That’s a fantastic price for a quality mandolin. Enjoy!
Congrats! And also, thank you. I live in Halifax and I have been eyeing that El Toro for a long time and it has been driving me crazy! Glad it now has a new owner and will not be tempting me on kijiji anymore.
Congrats!
Scott
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-202243268
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_R...e_polymer=true
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