Yet another first (budget) mandolin question

[NickyD]

I am looking to buy a starter mandolin. I currently play 5 string clawhammer banjo - folk and American roots ( not bluegrass ) and would tend towards this genre with a mandolin ( Also play a bit of acoustic guitar and ukulele).
I am also considering to use it to play along with my wife's ukulele group/jam who mainly play modern popular music.

I want to limit my budget which obviously makes buying a mandolin difficult! So for example Eastmans are more than I want to pay. BTW I am in the UK.

So at the moment have narrowed down my choice to Ozark models (even the Hobgoblin Ashbury budget models seem a bit high).

The ones I am considering are the

Ozark 2251 - A style round sound hole. Solid top but laminated sides and back
https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/prod/...e-mandolin.htm
or
Ozark 2073 - A style but F holes and solid top back and sides
https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/prod/...3-mandolin.htm


I would also consider the Loar LM-110 Honey creek (their most basic model) but these are out of stock and earliest lead time is possibly 2 months.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_loar_lm_110_brb.htm


Anyway any opinions on these models considering type of music I want to play, would be welcome

many thanks

Nick

BTW I am quite adept at setting up banjos's so hopefully will be able to learn how to do this for the Mandolin

[James Vwaal]

Go with the 2073. F holes project better and solid wood all the way around beats laminated sides and back.

[Zach Wilson]

NFI (no financial interest). Here is one you may want to check out that was posted in the Classifieds here.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/180995#180995

Also, looks like Hobgoblin has a used section you may want to browse and then, if you're able, try in hand.

https://hobgoblin.com/secondhand/mandolins

Happy hunting!

[NickyD]

Thanks for the replies so far.
Not too concerned with volume but agree that all solid probably better.
The problem with trying out hobgoblins secondhand mandolins is that they are in different shops plus initial info about them is sparse (though can email for more info).
Looking through options again would an Army Navy style flat top be suitable for the type of music I want to play. I also like the plain style .
So this is another option:
https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/prod/...p-Mandolin.htm

I think I may need to go to my local hobgoblin and try out these styles as just trying to find samples that match on YouTube is not always easy

[Zach Wilson]

Looking through options again would an Army Navy style flat top be suitable for the type of music I want to play. I also like the plain style .

Yes, Army-Navy style (or pancake) or other Flat top mandolins sound great for most all types of music, except for maybe Bluegrass or Classical. They do shine in folk and roots settings IMHO. I own and play two Flat tops for folk, singer-songwriter, indie type music.

Also, with Flat top mandolins your money will generally go a little further.

[NickyD]

Zach,
Thanks for that. Beginning to think this may be my best/good option for starter/introduction to the mandolin. For one thing will allow me an upgrade route to a more expensive one , for example a carved arch top without having to throw out or regret my "starter",
Have a feeling the less bright sound (or am I wrong here) may fit in better with the type of music I prefer playing plus fit in with those damn ukuleles!

[Zach Wilson]

Zach,
Thanks for that. Beginning to think this may be my best/good option for starter/introduction to the mandolin. For one thing will allow me an upgrade route to a more expensive one , for example a carved arch top without having to throw out or regret my "starter",
Have a feeling the less bright sound (or am I wrong here) may fit in better with the type of music I prefer playing plus fit in with those damn ukuleles!

Oval hole instruments tend to have a more... 'mellow' sound, more 'bassy' or 'tubby'... To me anyway. Flat tops also have a lot of 'overtones' and more harmonic noise too. I find they're sound very full and complex. Monel strings and a rounded pick can add more mellow-thumpiness too.

[Zach Wilson]

Here's a short video I made of one of my flat top mandolins. My '82Flatiron 1N.

Enjoy

[Ray(T)]

I think I may need to go to my local hobgoblin and try out these styles as just trying to find samples that match on YouTube is not always easy

Just out of interest, which is your local Hobgoblin? They tend to have most mandolins at their London branch and not that much of a choice elsewhere.

You used to ba able to combine a trip to Eagle Music with one to the Music Room in Cleckheaton but the latter closed several years ago and is sadly missed.

[Eric F.]

In this price range, I wouldn't fret over whether the back is solid or laminated. It's not going to be hand carved, it's going to be pressed. There may be no appreciable difference in sound quality between the laminated back and solid back. Get something that works for your budget, set it up so it's comfortable to play and start playing. Save well and when it's time to upgrade try to make it a significant one.

[NickyD]

Just out of interest, which is your local Hobgoblin? They tend to have most mandolins at their London branch and not that much of a choice elsewhere.

You used to ba able to combine a trip to Eagle Music with one to the Music Room in Cleckheaton but the latter closed several years ago and is sadly missed.

Live in London so Eagle Music way out of my way but Hobgoblin within easy reach.

[NickyD]

In this price range, I wouldn't fret over whether the back is solid or laminated. It's not going to be hand carved, it's going to be pressed. There may be no appreciable difference in sound quality between the laminated back and solid back. Get something that works for your budget, set it up so it's comfortable to play and start playing. Save well and when it's time to upgrade try to make it a significant one.

Think this is sound advice (no pun intended).
Could afford a more expensive banjo but want to dabble my feet (or fingers) on a budget model first...just in case it ends up just hanging on the wall!
My initial Banjo was at the cheapish end and ex display but apart from now having several vintage banjos I repaired the original one had been enhanced with new parts to become an instrument commensurate with my growing skills...though eventually I will pull the trigger and get an overall higher grade one. Imagine if I get on with the mandolin the same may be the case.

[JeffD]

Is it possible to borrow a mandolin from a friend, for say a month or two? Or to rent one from a music store? Or I have seen here a trend at libraries to loan out guitars, mandolins, banjos, as they would a book.

Point is that if you can get a mandolin for next to nothing, just to see if you are going to fall in love, you may save even the cost of a beginners mandolin. If you do fall in love you may be able to justify a bigger budget, and you will have a feeling of what you like and don't like in a mandolin, so your purchase will be even more informed. And if love is just not there, well you have not thrown money down a hole, however inexpensive the beginner model may have been.

If you are bent on ownership - please consider a flat top. In general a flatty will be a better made instrument for the same price. So that when you move on (and you will) you won't be stuck with a mandolin that no-longer does it for you.

[Steve Finlay]

If you are in the UK, you can probably get an APC, made in Portugal. If my APC mandocello is a fair sample, they provide really good sound for a modest price.

[NickyD]

If you are in the UK, you can probably get an APC, made in Portugal. If my APC mandocello is a fair sample, they provide really good sound for a modest price.

Did try a Carvalho in Hobgoblin seemed ok but a little more than want to fork out. Thomann have several budget Portuguese style mandolins but not sure if made by APC.
Still toying with idea of a Army Navy style banjo as a starter and then getting a more expensive flat or archtop if get on with it so can keep the AN one.
But can only find two models here in the UK
The Ozark as linked to above or the Ashbury one
.https://hobgoblin.com/gr31012-ashbur...style-mandolin.
The difference in price is almost £100.
Is the higher price worth it?
The Ozark however only has a solid top but has a rosewood fret board, rosewood bridge and truss rod.
The Ashbury is all solid but fretboard simply hardwood, bridge not specified and can see no truss rod.
However, Hobgoblin have brought one down for me to try,
Whereas I cannot try out the Ozark and can find no reviews (except one bad comment here) or videos / sound clips
So has anyone got the Ozark AN one?
(May just ask this as a new topic ...apologies in advance!)

[maxr]

The only clear thing about budget mandolins seems to be that there is no sure fire guide. Although I haven't done it myself (!), there's a lot of advice on this forum to say that playing it, or getting someone who can to do so, is the only way to go. In UK, there's too much overpricing on Ebay UK - people trying to get the new discount price for a used item. If it's priced anywhere near there, it's far too much. The 'rules of supply and demand' don't mean much there - the seller only needs one mug who doesn't know the general discount price to make the sale.

Another aspect is that a badly set up mandolin is a finger eating out of tune horror that could put you off playing completely. This is where it can make sense to buy from a specialist shop such as Eagle (or others mentioned above, no connection) and ask them to at least check its playable before sending it out.

[NickyD]

FWIW ended up getting the Ashbury.
Main reason was that I could try it at the store. Have only bought two new instruments off the internet one was a load of horse s**t the other ok after I did considerable amount of set up. So as the only comments I could find on the Ozark were not very positive (and to do with where I intended to buy it from) decided the punt not worth it.
The Hobgoblin staff extremely friendly and got a reasonable deal plus set up seems hunky dory.
Now the fun and frustration of learning to play it.
BTW thanks to all for your input and happy new year.

[CES]

Congrats! I’ve bought all but one of my mandolins online and have been fortunate with the exception of the first (which taught me a lot), but it’s so much fun to pick one off a wall of instruments that really resonates with you and know you’re getting one you like and will enjoy!

[Bill Cameron]

Looks like a good value! I’ve never seen sapele used for a top before, I’d be interested in hearing it.

When you get around to your next Mando (and you will) try some models with f-holes. It is oft-repeated that instruments such as you Ashbury are not suited for bluegrass, but the reverse is not true—you can play any style of music on a carved-top f-hole mando. I stuck with mine for many years, playing celtic stuff, after a disappointing experience with a handmade carved-top oval-hole. If you tend towards an aggressive, fast-n-loud playing style (let’s say for the sake of argument you’re also a banjo player), sometimes a bluegrass mandolin and setup are just the ticket.

Have fun with this one, it looks delicious.