Want to start playing mandolin

[willpshack]

I have played guitar for about 6 years and I would now like to start playing mandolin. Can anyone suggest a good mandolin for me to start off with? One that is a good price for a quality mandolin. Thanks!

[Freeman Keller]

I am anything but an expert on mandos - I built mine a year ago and still haven't really learned much on it. They range dramatically in price, largely because of the construction involved. Have you settled on a type of music and/or shape of mando you want? ("A" style, "F", etc). Most bluegrass mandolin will be played on the classic F5 shape which tend to be the expensive ones, but a friend has a nice little Horner F5 that I think was pretty reasonable.

 

It is also a reasonable project if you are at all handy - the StewMac campfire mando kit is only $150 and I think Grizzly has one for even less.

[daklander]

Price range?

 

Ya know, I got to thinking. Go to Janet Davis Music and look around. They have great prices on instruments and parts, including banjos, resos, dulcimers & on & on.

[silmaneero]

Not sure what kit is available where you live, but I've had good dealings with this place:

http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/

 

They sell stuff from many smaller, low-volume builders; the sort of guys who work from workshops rather than factories. They give useful descriptions which will help you match an instrument to your needs, rather than the standard marketing junk that most places have. Guy who runs it seems like a nice person too.

 

However, they also sell from some factories too. I got an A-style mandolin manufactured in China by "Kentucky" for a relative and it's really nice. They'll get the hand-made mando next year if they keep playing the thing

 

The good news is that most of the principles with which one can select a good acoustic guitar also apply in the selection of a good mandolin. Similar factors apply with the materials, designs, and construction methods.

 

Sadly, my fingers are just too large and clumsy for the mandolin

[daklander]

... Sadly, my fingers are just too large and clumsy for the mandolin

 

 

Two finger chords....It may be cheating but it works. Get 'em here!

[silmaneero]

Two finger chords....It may be cheating but it works. Get 'em here!

 

Cheating is always a good idea. Thanks!

[Freeman Keller]

Cheating is always a good idea. Thanks!

The two finger chord from Mando Cafe' and a few simple fiddles songs are about all I know on mine. The Cafe' is a great resouce for beginning players.

 

Terrible picture but here is the one I built (and no, it is not red inside - weird effect from the flash)

 

 

[bjorn-fjord]

Eastman mandolins are by far the best value these days. They're not the cheapest, but considering the quality you get, they are well worth the price. This is my opinion of course, but it is shared by many.

[silmaneero]

Terrible picture but here is the one I built (and no, it is not red inside - weird effect from the flash)

 

That's a really nice piece of work there. Very pretty.

 

I wish I had the aptitude and patience to create in this manner. However, nature decided that it had other uses for me and hence I can only admire the work of others.

[Jkater]

I would say from my experience that "A" mandolins are a safer bet than "F" mandolins if you want the best bang for your buck. I have an "F" mandolin that I paid rather a lot for ($600) and it's not that good. I would have been happier with a simpler body style but a better instrument.

[Amanda-Jane]

 

Thats beautiful! Good work

[roughtrade]

Weber mandolins offer great value.

 

Alvarez has some nice ones also.

 

I have only seen the Eastmans online, but they get good reviews.

 

I'm partial to Webers.

[ignatz]

Best bang/buck ratio is Big Muddy (formerly Mid-Missouri). They aren't the prettiest mandos, but they're solid-wood, American-made instruments that sound great.

 

F-style mandos are generally far more expensive than A-style, and the scroll and points contribute nothing to the tone. They do look pretty, though.

[redhawks2]

Morgan Monroe sells a line of mandolins that have very good reviews and they are priced right. I have had Morgan Monroe guitars and they have a lot of bang for the buck.

[redhawks2]

By the way...why are mandolin necks so narrow? Seems to me you could make your own and widen the neck a bit to make it easier to play. I have enough problems on a 1-11/16" guitar neck without narrowing things down even more than that!

[Freeman Keller]

By the way...why are mandolin necks so narrow? Seems to me you could make your own and widen the neck a bit to make it easier to play. I have enough problems on a 1-11/16" guitar neck without narrowing things down even more than that!

 

It has been done, but lots of pretty big guys seem to do OK with the standard necks. Being a double coursed instrument you fret two strings at once and the very short scale means the one finger spans two frets. Tuned like a violin it is a natural for someone you plays the fiddle.

 

One of the hardest things for me was getting used to the way you wear the strap (and it is almost impossible to hold without one).

 

A mando is a great "travel guitar" - you can carry it on an airplane and it is quiet enough to play in your hotel room at night.

[whit townsend]

Eastman mandolins are by far the best value these days. They're not the cheapest, but considering the quality you get, they are well worth the price. This is my opinion of course, but it is shared by many.

 

Agree that Eastman is the best import going nowadays. Beats Kentucky, Morgan Monroe, etc in the same price ranges handsdown.

Check out this guy

giannaviolins.com

 

For something really on a budget, try several of the simplist A model w/solid top Kentuckys. Every now and again a jewel turns up with a sound 3 to 4x the price.

[Jkater]

Best bang/buck ratio is Big Muddy (formerly Mid-Missouri). They aren't the prettiest mandos, but they're solid-wood, American-made instruments that sound great. F-style mandos are generally far more expensive than A-style, and the scroll and points contribute nothing to the tone. They do look pretty, though.

 

That's seems like a really good tip.

[rsgars]

You will get more for your money with an A-style if you are just staring out. For the longest time it seemed that Eastman mandos were offering the best bang for the buck.

 

You'll find all the information you need, including used mandos for sale at www.mandolincafe.com

[mrspeed]

I bought one of the $50 Rogues from Musicians Friend. As a guitar player maybe I don't know better but I think it's pretty decent and gets a lot of favorable mentions in the reviews at Musicians Friend.

 

I would buy that one, poke around on it. If you like the mandolin buy a better one and use the Rogue for kindling.

[daklander]

Well, this thread got me to drag out the mando. It's a cheapy but cuts pretty good.

[Chicken Monkey]

+1 on A-style. The inner chamber (soundbox) is virtually identical between A- and F-, so it's a cosmetic deal. Not worth it for a beginner.

[daklander]

I'm not sure about the sound box size making a difference or not and I don't know how close in size they actually are, they certainly look to be about the same volume. There may be some tonal changes in the design but I think the main difference is in the holes. When I step up in quality I'll be looking for an A body with f holes.