How old were you when you started mandolin?

[EdSherry]

I started sometime back in 1972-73, age 19, on the theory that I wanted to play fiddle and that I'd start with mandolin ("because the fingering is the same") and transition over. Well, 35+ years later, I'm still trying (albeit not very hard any more) to make the transition. [It's true -- the DEVIL invented that pesky bow ...]

[Keith Erickson]

17 but I didn't take it seriously until I was 35

[David O'Brien]

I was sooo much older, I'm younger than that now. But I did start in 1974. . .

[alanz]

55, 7 months ago... my first instrument.

[chordbanger]

Around 5 years ago, but I am not tellin' my age.

[Mike Snyder]

1973 or 4, I was 19 or 20, a long long time ago. Started out singing John Prine songs at keg partys.

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Started mountain dulcimer at 17 and started mando at 18. Still playin' both!

[man dough nollij]

Very close to the twentieth anniversary of my 21st birthday.

[Rob Powell]

I just need to figure out how to retire.

Stop buying instruments? You can't retire ever now...MAS will prevent it.

[Rob Powell]

1973 or 4, I was 19 or 20, a long long time ago. Started out singing John Prine songs at keg partys.

Back in those days, you could make a living doing that. In fact, I sometimes think I made a better living singing John Prine songs than he did at that time

[Ivan Kelsall]

60 years of age physically & 25 years of age mentally - should have taken it up when both matched,
Saska

[opie wan]

I started at age 48... about 7 months ago. One of the best ideas I've ever had.

[Rob Powell]

I was 47 the first time. I rented a poorly set up Washburn MK1 for 3 months. At the end of 3 months, I couldn't play a lick so I took it back.

A year later, I bought a Breedlove KF and tried again. After a year, I still couldn't play so I traded it. Mostly, I didn't have the time to learn.

3 years after that, I decided to try again. I bought an Eastman 505 and in a few days, I was actually learning pretty nicely thanks to Anthony Hannigan and Music Moose. So, I traded it up literally several days later to an 804. Over the next week I got even better so, I traded up again for my Yellowstone.

That was 6 months ago and at age 52, I'm in the firm grasp of MAS.

[Rod_Neep]

62 years young. Loving every minute of it.
Michael A. Harris
the dulcILLINI
2008 Weber Custom Yellowstone A Mandolin
2008 Weber Bridger A Mandola
3 McSpadden Mountain Dulcimers
Life is Good

Same here, but slightly different line up.
63 years... 64 on Friday
2008 Weber Custom Yellowstone F
2009 Weber Custom Bridger A
A home made Mountain Dulcimer (2008)
Lots of ukuleles
Too many Martin guitars
A lust to learn something new
Life is great!

Rod
Growing older may be mandatory, but growing up isn't.

[opie wan]

My next instrument is fiddle... then steel guitar

[Mike Bromley]

I was four. I started on a washburn. My parents and everyone else for that matter, wanted me to play guitar because it would be easier on my fingers and easier to find a teacher. How old were you?

it was 34 years ago. :-P

[Shelagh Moore]

I probably would have been around 10 or 11 and starting playing on my Dad's mandolin which he used to leave lying around.

[Michael Butler]

I started three weeks ago at the age of 51. Never too late to start something new!

[Troy Mayfield]

44 - August of 2008

[Skip Kelley]

I started on the guitar at 24 and picked up the mandolin a year and a half later.

[kestrel]

Three-years ago, at 67. Let's see - I'm 39, now. Three years? Yeah, that seems just about right. Mandolin makes you younger. In a few more years, I'll be just a kid, again.

Gene

[Jonathan Ward]

Two years ago, at age 47. Getting ready to finally start taking lessons in the interest of developing better habits and eliminating the "giant sucking sound" emanating from the instrument.

[papa willie]

One year ago, last Christmas, at the young age of 60.

[Ken_P]

I started on mandolin about 8 years ago, at age 18. I started on guitar about 3 years before that. I started playing viola in school at age 7.

[sgarrity]

I started when I was in college, so I was about 20 y/o. I've only been serious about it the last 4-5 years.