Givson (yes, Givson) mandolin

[Isaac Casas]

Hey there,

Someone in my area is selling this. Never seen one of these before, but I looked it up and apparently those are (were) made in India. Looks like a toy. Does anyone know if it's at least fun to play? Sometimes stuff like this turns out to be just unplayable...

It's not that I'm even thinking about buying it. I just thought it could be a fun instrument to discuss.

Thanks!

Isaac

[Nevin]

I think the Givson brand has been discussed before. Not a bad looking electric if it is cheap enough.

[CWRoyds]

Yup, it is an indian company.
They sell a lot of cheap questionable gear.

https://givson.com

[CWRoyds]

Having said that, if it is cheap enough, why not buy it.
I have had plenty of crappy instruments that sounded cool.

My favorite was a pawn shop Silvertone electric with lipstick pickups.
It was kinda Strat shaped, but flat, and made out of particle board and Naugahyde binding.
Terrible guitar, but when you cranked it up through an amp, it sounded great.
I dont poo poo an instrument until I hear it.

[mandrian]

Hi,

I bought one from a music shop in Edinburgh in the mid-90s, just when I was starting to play the instrument. It was very similar to that pictured.

When I took it home, I found that I could not tune it. I showed to a friend who was an excellent guitarist, but dabbled in mandolin. He said that the intonation in terms of fretwork was so far off, that it would never be in tune. He phoned the shop owner who was an acquaintance and gave him an earful for ever letting it out of his shop. I got my money back.

Basically, I would not touch it, unless of course you can check it out personally and are happy with it.

Regards,

[Isaac Casas]

Hey mandrian,

Yeah, that's exactly what I meant in my first post. As CWRoyds said, it could be good fun. On the other hand, it could be useless. I guess the answer comes when I play it. To be honest, though, I feel kind of lazy in terms of contacting the guy and giving it a go. If I force myself to be rational, it's been a while since I plugged any instrument

[MikeEdgerton]

I think the Givson brand has been discussed before. Not a bad looking electric if it is cheap enough.

Right you are! Only a Givson is good enough.

[Woyvel]

I bought my first two mandolins for $40 and $50 earlier this year, caught the mando bug, and sold them for $160 combined later, which went toward an Eastman MD505. If the price is right, have at it. If it's cheap fun for a while, it's worth it.

[Isaac Casas]

Thanks everyone for your input! I have to say I can't stop laughing at the "Only a Givson is good enough"!

[John Flynn]

I wonder if they have higher end instruments called: "The Givson?"

[trodgers]

Right you are! Only a Givson is good enough[/URL].

Don't you mean, "Only a Givson is good enouvh?"

[Chris Calley]

A friend had an acoustic guitar with "The Gubson" painted on the headstock. But I think the instrument started as something else and someone along the way added it. Good for a laugh.