Going to Africa

[Barry Platnick]

I posted under a different title and didn't get much response so...

I'm going to Tanzania on a medical mission and I want to take a mandolin to play that I will leave there for the hospital or school. I want to keep it under about 400 dollars. I don't know much about mandos in this price range, any good suggestions?
Prefer f-hole.
thanks

[Michael Richmond]

Kentucky KM-254 is nicely playable with good tone.

[Sandy Beckler]

Kentucky 380S...Musicians Friend $346.50 (NFI) you won't regret it.

Sandy

[Mandolin Mick]

Several Kentucky mandolins would do nicely in that price range.

[Coffeecup]

I can't help thinking that a guitar might be better appreciated to fit in with their music style.
It's over thirty years since I visited Tanzania as a tourist but I suspect not much has changed. The item that we were mostly asked for then was footwear as Kilimanjaro porters couldn't go all the way up without shoes.

[Barry Platnick]

My daughter is coming and is going to collect sneakers from her sports teams and school to donate. we're gonna try to fill a duffle bag with them.

But I was going to take a mandolin to play for the 2 weeks we'll be there and planned on leaving it.

[Coffeecup]

Of course; I forgot that you're planning on playing while you're there. Good idea with the sneakers!

[Life Is Good]

Get a pancake oval hole.

[Jim MacDaniel]

Ditto on a Kentucky. Folkmusician.com has several within your pricepoint, with free shipping and setup. (NFI)

Also, it might not last long, but a Big Muddy M-4 was posted in the classifieds for only $350. (Risk: you might end up falling in love with than one and want to bring it back -- great little mandolin with good volume, nice tone, and very light.)

[Barry Platnick]

which of the kentuckys in that range has the best sound