mandolin make and cost??

[nitejule]

i was interested in knowin the make of his mandolin and the approx cost of one, thanks and i hope that someone out there can help me!!!

[mandoBob]

check out his bio in the .info site...
he plays a Dudenbostel right now, which is a custom-made mando. many thousands of dollars.
he used to play a gibson f-5L exclusively. also many thousands of dollars....like $7500 or so.
and apparently he has a rigel too. custom made in vermont (YAY vermont!). less traditional. more affordable.

[Peakbagr]

At CT's level of playing, he can both play and afford any mandolin he wants.
The Dude Thile plays is well over $10K, and the luthier has an 8 year waiting list and closed to new customers at this time.

You can buy a Rigel like he plays for around $4K, but probably not hand-selected features like Chris can request, at least not at that price.

He probably also has other mandolins of similar quality.

[nitejule]

yeah i can understand that. i don't play mandolin i was just curious as to what kinda of instruments they all played. i am learning guitar, but i will prolly never be able to afford any string instruments like theirs. i was just curious to know!

[BoFrazer]

There's a ditty called Day after Xmas or some such which is reprised at the end of this tune, and they've either tweaked the tone to be way trebly or he's maybe playing a single string electric. Anybody know about that?

I have a 5-string solid body myself, made by Steve Ryder in Maine. (My acoustic 8-string is a very mediocre Tyler Mountain, Korean made -- I don't want to talk about it!)

[sarah]

You can buy kits with all the mando parts for about $500 but need all the tools to put the mando together. But it's better to make everything from scratch in my opinion. Korean mandos aren't very good (I've gone through 3).

[Chip]

Wow, Sarah... you must be pretty handy if you can assemble your own mandolin, even from prepared parts!! I bow to your superior ability! :)

I'm a decent it'll do carpenter -- I can do most medium sized fixit projects around my house, including building walls and such -- but I'd NEVER try to build a mandolin or guitar!! Having seen the care and attention that went into every step of building my guitar (made by a luthier in a tiny shop in North Carolina) I'm quite certain that almost anybody else could do a better job than I... so I leave that sort of thing to the pros :)

[sarah]

I have a friend who is AWESOME when it comes to working with wood. He builds tables, chairs, and has built a few mandos and a guitar. He's an older guy and has played mando since he was a teen and he ROCKS! He still plays even though he cut off one of his fingers :eek: My dad and I are gonna see if he'll help me start building a mando here soon. So I haven't really made one yet but I've seen how long it takes and how hard it is.

[Thilefan]

You lucky duck! [bang] NO FAIR!

Robin

[prinny]

I was thinking about trying to get a hold of a mando...but I just bought a new cello and I can't afford a super expensive one...does anyone know how affordable a mandolin can be? I don't really need a good one right now, it's just for fun. ;)

I ought to get a mandocello! hhahaha.

Jenn

[mandofocus]

Good mandos range from $400 to upwards of $10,000.
If your looking for a mando that isn't the highest of quality but will last, those usually start around $130. I bought mine (a simple Rouge A-model) for only $100 on sale (nnormal cost was $235). It's what I use until I can get a Dudenbostal, Gibson, Rigel, or Kentucky F-model. Those are in the range of $600 - $1500 because I'm looking for and acoustic-electric.

-PJ- :cool:

[mandofocus]

Good mandos range from $400 to upwards of $10,000.
If your looking for a mando that isn't the highest of quality but will last, those usually start around $130. I bought mine (a simple Rouge A-model) for only $100 on sale (nnormal cost was $235). It's what I use until I can get a Dudenbostal, Gibson, Rigel, or Kentucky F-model. Those are in the range of $600 - $1500 because I'm looking for and acoustic-electric.

-PJ- :cool:

[matt the fiddler]

hey- it is a better deal than violins- where really good violins range from $8,000- $10 million [being the messiah strad]. with occasionally a very lucky good sounding all around complete beautufull tone for around $5 but that is rare...

[prinny]

Hahahha...buying a cello was one of the most stressful experiences I've ever had...

What would be the Strads of the mandolin family??

[mandoBob]

strads of bluegrass mando are generally considered to be Gibsons from the 20s made by Loar. If I'm not mistaken, the one Monroe played went for over a million. He didnt make a whole lot of them, so you'll pay about $30k for one played by mere mortals (I could be off on this figure however).

Chris plays what many consider to be the best of the modern-day Loar-style mandos...made by Lynn Dudenbostel. I think he charges about $10k but he's not taking any orders for a while. Chris actually just bought another Dude on the open market for about $22k...probly had something to do with the fact that he broke the scroll on the headstock of his first one...not that that would affect the sound, but anyway...Collings also makes a head-turner, but all of these new guys have yet to pass the test of time.

[Pickin' Fool]

Prinny,

Living in Columbia you should check out Mid-Missouri mandolins. Thay are made in Columbia, and are some of the most impressive, afforadable mandolins out there. They only make A-models with and oval hole vs. f-holes. People really like these mandolins and I have heard nothing but poistive things about them.

[Eric18]

I wanna start learning to play the Mandolin, and I was looking at this one. http://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/mandolins/legacyf/
What do you all think? I wanna get an F style one, but most of the ones I find are so expensive, thats about the only one I can afford.

[mandoBob]

if you're desparate for a F and short on cash, the MK is the way to go. I havent played one (they dont stock them in stores...mail order only), but from what I've read, they're great for the price. I'm sure you'll be happy with it for a long time. be aware that that particular model has laminate back and sides (which means it's plywood). Solid wood is much better for sound as well as resale value. FYI, all MKs are made in Korea. but dang, you cant beat that price.
personally, I dont like the F style and I'd rather have a well-built American made mando (like a Weber or a Rigel), but to each his or her own.
enjoy.

[Eric18]

I just wanted to get the style of Mandolin that Chris plays, which I think is F. Um this one isnt an F style but its really cheap and has alot of stuff for someone to get started with. What do you think? http://www.diamondstatemusic.com/items2.asp?ID=794

[Eric18]

Im sorry if any of my questions become annoying, I just really want to get the right Mandolin for me, but I dont have anybody to help me find a good one. Thanks for all of your help!

[mandoBob]

I bet chris owns a few A style mandos :-)
that looks like a pretty good package, the mando is probably at least as good as any other pacific rim (japan, korea, china (quality in decending order)) mandos. all that stuff will definitely help you get started, and that's a great price. and the money back guarantee is always nice. also, I'd recommend Chris's video.

I say wait for the F style after you're sure you're in love with the mando and go for this. bear in mind this will probably be good for what you need to get started. once you're into it you may realize you don't have a great mando, but if it suits your needs, then who cares? I'm realizing mine is not great at all, but it's still fun and does what I need, and I dont have the $$$ to get a better one right now.

[Eric18]

Thanks for your help man! :) Its made the decision making alot easier.

[pltees]

another decent mando, and relatively inexpensive, is made by kentucky. i bought a KM630 from janet davis music company, www.banjostore.com, about 6-7 months ago (w/ hard case) for $500 and have been very pleased with what i got. i asked around and everyone i have talked to said that for the price it was a pretty decent instrument.

[Goose_17]

note, all kentucys are now made in china and the quality has really dropped from the previous korean made ones. my source is www.folkofthewood.com and despite what the site says..all kentuckys are now made in china. i just got my first mando and while i wanted an f i was gonna settle for an a b/c of money but check out morgan monroe. mandobob, i haven't written you since i got mine sorry..but i got a morgan on the recommendation of the ppl at that site i just mentioned. i too am starting out but i love mine. no laminate, f-style, and amazing sound..its pretty loud. case and all was around 650 (i got the mms-4f) i know some ppl can't pay that and there are ones for less there too. yeah, i'm going to try and get chris' video too..
just thought all of y'all and you mandobob would like to know about the kentuckys now...

chris<><

[Adyn]

Have you heard/played a kentucky that was made in korea? I'm just curious how they compare. I am currently renting one and have the option to buy... anything under $1000 is fine by me at this point... I just want an F that sounds as good as I can afford LOL.

[mandoBob]

I havent heard them side-by-side, but the word is that the korean ones are much better than the chinese.

[pltees]

i'm not sure if the kentucky i bought is korean or chinese, but it sounds great, especially for what i use it for (learning/practicing by myself, and jamming with my buds). Adyn, there was a post earlier in this thread by Eric18 you may want to check out, he mentioned checking out www.michaelkellyguitars.com/mandolins/ i went to this website, and WOW. for the price, this guy makes beautiful instruments, and lots of really good choices. i'm actually debating on getting another mando and buying from this guy, his work looks great, not sure about quality though (probably wouldnt be a bad idea to do a little research, or go to a music store where the people know what they are talking about and ask them). Good luck with whatever you pick Adyn, and let us know what you decide on and finally get. Oh, and i definitely agree with mandoBob, get solid wood (top and bottom) dont settle for laminate. solid wood sounds much better, and will only sound better with age. and like he said, will definitely help in resale, if god forbide, you have to get rid of the instrument. spring for the solid wood, even if you have to wait a little while to save up the extra dough, it will be worth the wait, and you wont be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. again, good luck.

[Adyn]

I havent heard them side-by-side, but the word is that the korean ones are much better than the chinese.

Sorry :) didn't write the question very clearly LOL My question was the Korean kentucky vs. morgan monroe. The kentucky I am looking at is made in Korea... so before I buy it I was just curious if there was anything in the $1000 or less range that's better sounding? I like the Kentucky... but then again, I've never played anything super nice (maybe this is a good thing? ;) )

And thanks for the link, pltees, I'll check it out :)