in search of mando advice

[bassoonist mel]

i have been looking into learning to play mandolin for a while, but i dont know much about them. i have played other string instruments before (violin and cello) but i am still mostly clueless. i love the way the instrument sounds and am awed by the possibility of playing such a beautifully sounding instrument. i just need to find a decent mando, it doesnt have to be new or exceptional quality, just one to learn on and i can get a better one later. could anyone tell me where i might find a decent, fairly inexpensive mandolin? i am also loooking for a book that i might could teach myself from ( i know chris has a couple, but are they good for beginners?)
thanks for all your help!

[desert rose]

Ebay. Look. I bought a Gibson Fiddle in perfect condition for $100. No catches. Just look and see. Theres also some good online Mandolin stores. I've been playing mandolin for a year now, and I highly recomend it for short fingered people.
Desert Roses,
Ashley

[Taipan]

I would exercise caution on Ebay.

Personally I would NEVER buy an instrument without having played it. A couple of points about online buying...

1) the person on ebay wants to make a sale.
2) mostly they are lower-range instruments
3) they're not gonna put a crap picture online
4) there could be something very wrong with the sound

you're probably better going to a store and playing for yourself. ask in the store about books etc, but it's not impossible to teach yourself, although most would agree a teacher is best (if you can afford it)

[mandoBob]

I'm with Taipan here. Be careful on eBay.

The best resource online for all things mando is www.mandolincafe.com (and the message board at www.mandolincafe.net). There's a ton of info on the message board, so take some time to wade thru the archives. If you can't find what you're looking for, then just ask. Most there are really nice, tho some dont understand that some of us cant afford mandolins that cost as much as cars and houses.

Anyway, what's your budget? Always go for solid woods when possible. If it doesnt say solid then it's plywood, which is BAD.
Do you have scroll envy? (as in, do you need an f-style mando with the fancy scrolls?) If so, add 30% or more to the price. Doesnt affect sound. Sure it's kinda pretty, but THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME!!!! Where the heck is the originality??? Ok, sorry about that.

Obviously hand-made is better than factory. Most cheap mandos are factory made in korea (not terrible) or china (stay far away).

If you can afford it, check out a mid-mo (if you dont mind the spartan looks). http://www.folkofthewood.com/page402.htm or the Weber Y2K http://www.folkofthewood.com/page233.htm (looks much nicer IMO). And there's always the classifieds at mandolincafe.

Have fun!

(and sting freak...gibson makes fiddles??)

[desert rose]

they used to. you can still have them special made by Gibson. I don't know why the guy even thought about selling it. I asked him and he said he would get a newer one special made. I'm thinking that this whole process costs about $2000. Why I got it for $100 and why he sold it is beyond me. I've even had it checked out and made sure that it wasn't a phony, and It wasn't. My lessons teacher said that she thought that it sounded beautifully perfect. I made sure I wasn't cheated. well, My dad made sure. and believe me. When he makes sure, he makes sure!!! I just think that I got an awesome deal, that's all.

[Bart Simpson]

MandoBob Gibson made fiddles from 1937 to 1941. They might still make custome fiddles. I have one from 1937 and it has a very bright sound with a nice lower rage too.

[desert rose]

I don't know why Gibson quit making fiddles for sale like they used to. Does anyone here know why? [think har

[Adyn]

Being new to this myself, I'd say definately play it if you can... they all have their own voice :)

Though do be careful what you play [lloll] I recently fell in absolute ga-ga love with a Weber Yellowstone and will spend the next year or 2 scrimping for it. I have a Kentucky 630 (yes I have scroll envy, I'm not too proud to admit it LOL I also got a thing for sunburst ;) ) and it sounds fine, and will be fine for now while I am first learning... but maaaan that Weber haunts my dreams ;)

[mandofocus]

I found a person who lives here in Portland that has a Dude and let me play it. I can only say one thing after that:
HOLY CRAP I WANT ONE!!!!! [yell]
lol
I am stuck playing on a Rogue A-style. I don't mind it except for that fact that it isn't put together as well as that Dude. I was able to massivey hard and the thing didn't break. My mando on the other hand had the bridge break totally messing up my mando. I have to wait 4 weeks with it gets fixed. [sob]
However the guy who owns the Dude is letting me borrow his Kentucky until I get mine back. I am beginning to like the F-style but it really doesn't matter what style I have.

PJ

[Adyn]

[lloll] exactly how I felt ;)

Though... you have it worse LOL... I thought the 3G was bad! *makes mental note to stay away from anything that costs more than her car*

It was amazing to me the difference in quality... I mean I knew it'd be better (it should for costing 6 times as much LOL) but I just didn't anticipate how much better... or that it would call to me sooooo...

Good thing I didn't have the cash in pocket or it would have been GONE

:D

[desert rose]

LOL:D Sounds like me. Something I would do. Haha. [lloll]

[sap2257]

Since yall are talking about mandolins I have a question. I'm looking into getting one soon and was wondering what kind is best. I have my eye on one-a Fender FM-52E. I have a really cheap budget of under $200. Could anyone tell me about this one I'm looking at or make suggestions-and keep in mind my budget. I know I'm not going to get a really great one, but I'm just beginning. Thanks! :D
-Sarah

[mandoBob]

hmmm. are you wanting to plug it in? then I guess this fenders not a terrible option, but wow, that's pretty ugly if you dont mind me saying.
http://www.elderly.com/fmic/items/FM52E.htm
what the heck is nato wood anyway?
if you're in that price range, I think a kentucky might be better for ya:
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/KM150S.htm
you'll find a better price at www.folkofthewood.com
as a disclaimer, some say that now that these kentuckys are made in china, they're not so good.
I hope you find a good one!

[sap2257]

I don't mind you saying that at all.;) That's what I asked for- people's opinions! So the Kentucky models are better than Fender. I read somewhere on this board to STAY away from anything made in China and that Kentucky one is made there. So I'm still not really sure what to do. and it doesn't matter to me if it plugs in or not. I just want a pretty decent one to learn how to play on. Remember my VERY low price range of $200-(I'm a poor college girl!) Thanks mandoBob!:D
-Sarah
I'm still confused :confused: and not really sure what is the best.

[mandoBob]

well I'm not so sure you could say that generally kentuckys are better than fenders It's true that kentuckys are made in china now, but the ones at the store might not be chinese. I've also heard they're getting better in china, but who knows? you're always taking a risk buying an unplayed instrument.
there's lots of cheapie mandos out there (johnson, kentucky, fender, rover, epiphone, etc) and honestly they're all roughly the same, esepcially if they're all made in the same country (and maybe even same factory!)
if you're happy with a cheapie, then good! if you can, get all solid woods (laminate = plywood = crappy). if it doesnt say solid wood, then it's probably laminate.
to let you know, I have a not-so-good epiphone A style. I got it when I knew NOTHING about mandolins (besides that I wanted to play one). and it's served me well for a few years now. I'm not happy with it anymore, but that's ok...I'll live with it til I get some debts paid off and such.

[Adyn]

If you're interested in the Kentucky's, you might want to try finding a used one. The older ones were made in Korea, I think the switch to being made in China is fairly recent (like this year?)I've come across quite a few used kentucky's at various music shops (in fact I am renting one right now) they seem to come up a lot as they are pretty much bought by people like you & me who are just starting out... then as you get better you'll probably want something of a higher quality, so you put up your kentucky for sale to someone else just getting hooked on mando's [lloll] (That's my theory anyhow LOL )

Just my novice 2 cents. ;)

[desert rose]

Here's my two cents.....

....oh sorry, I have no more pennies....

[sap2257]

ok I found some kentucky mandolins and now I need some advice on them. I'm looking at the KM 150S which is $265 with a case or an KM 140S which is $205 with a case. Now it said solid wood head does that mean that it is solid wood and not plywood like everyone says not to get? I would really appreciate it if some one would check it out and give me some info about which one is best. now MandoBob you mentioned the KM 150S (thanks) but what is the difference between that and the KM 140S?
Here are the sites I was looking at for the
KM 140S: http://www.folkofthewood.com/page148.htm
KM 150S: http://www.folkofthewood.com/page150.htm
Thanks for helping me everyone I really appreciate the opinions of people who know what they are talking about! :D
-Sarah

[mandoBob]

the difference b/w those is $60...:-)
Seriously, the 140 has a solid spruce top.
The 150 has a *carved* solid spruce top. So that leads me to believe that the 140 is bent, which is OK, but carved usually has a better sound (and resale value).
Also, the 150 has solid maple sides and back. The 140 has a mahogany body which is apparently not solid. Mahogany is ok...a little more mellow in tone. maple is brighter (in sound and looks) and has more of the bluegrassy sound.
so the rundown: the 150 is carved, has all solid wood, and has maple back and sides. everythig else looks the same.
these things increase the resale value if you're interested in that, and will probably make a better sounding instrument (but maybe not by much to untrained ears).
is it worth a $60 difference? that's up to you. if it was me, I'd save the $60 and buy Chris's video and some books, but then again I dont have much $$ (buying a house tends to put a damper on your finances for a bit).

oh and you could get a cheaper case here:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=021106073638131187253253371806/search/g=guitar/detail/base_id/43028

[sap2257]

Thanks so much MandoBob! You're awesome!:D you have been such a great help. Now after everything you have pointed out I would much rather get a Kentucky mandolin than a Fender. And thanks for pointing out all the info concerning wood (which I had no mattered so much) Can you explain what it is meant by a mandolin being solid or not, I've been trying to explain it to someone but I don't exactly know what it means. Thanks for showing me wnere to find a cheaper case too, I'll need the money for books and videos. Thanks again! and I can relate with your money struggles too, college puts a hamper on my finances too! ;) as you can probably see from my really low budget for a mandolin.
-Sarah

[Goose_17]

Hey Sarah, I have nothing really new to tell you other than what's been said except I was where you were like two months ago. I think you can still find the my old post about it and maybe some answers from mandobob and the others will be there too. I went looking around where we live (Mars, Guitar Center, and ken stanton music). The only thing I found was the fenders and like you, I just wanted a mando. I'm glad I waited for their advice. Yeah, i was on a tight budget too but there are other options besides that fender for your money. And do look for used ones too. Those kentuckys were just recently made in china so you might be able to find one that was made in korea for around the same amount. who knows. let us know what you go with and your final decision. i ended up w/a morgan monroe but i had a lil more money to spend so...and i got the ole premier mando book and video too. so far so good. hey, maybe we will see each other sometime at a bluegrass gig around here? I hear they play on the weekends up in acworth and up 85 at this barn. I've also got a banjo friend who plays w/a local group, Cedar Hill. It would be cool to meet someone else from the board, especially some other aspiring mando player like myself. anywho..thats all.
just stick to these guys' advice...its good stuff.

goose

[mandoBob]

maybe yall should come up here to signal mountain some friday nite for the mountain opry....old bluegrass at its best (and not so best sometimes).
anyway, as far as solid or not, I guess that sounds a little funny, doesnt it? solid woods means its a big hunk of wood from one tree that is cut out to be a lovely mandolin. of course that's just per piece: the back and sides might be different from the top. laminate on the other hand is plywood. if you dont know what plywood is, it's cheap wood that's been processed, I guess you could say. there's a few plys (layers), and usually the top layer is ok, but the middle layer(s) are usually really crappy. plywood is great for a lot of things (like building a roof or whatever), but not for instruments. I guess the sound gets lost in the layers or something?
by the way, dont think I'm some sort of expert: I just spend WAY too much time at the mandolincafe. I'm hoping to get into building a mandolin, but we'll see!
take care.

[Goose_17]

well thats not how i figure it..lets check my math...

time spent at mando cafe= intelligence...

haha


goose...sorry to post like this..

[sap2257]

Hey yall! I just got back from some places today-the same exact places you were talking about Goose, except Mars went out of business. Didn't really see anything but Fenders and some other brands I don't really know. I saw some Kentuckys (a 140S) but it looked like it was in pretty crappy condition. I want to get one off the internet (from folk of the wood), but my dad is pretty skeptical about that. That's what I was thinking it meant by solid wood-thanks MandoBob for confirming that for me. That would be cool to meet up sometime Goose-fun stuff! :D Thanks for all your help guys. I really appreciate it. I'll let you know what I end up with(should be around Christmas) and talk to you again if I come up with any more questions. Have a great Christmas! and keep in mind the Reason for the holiday! ;)
-Sarah