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Recs on Mandolin brand/ price point?

Posted on 6/2/24 at 7:56 am
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
44906 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 7:56 am
Longtime acoustic guitar player, thinking about buying a mandolin. What’s a good brand and what’s price for something decent?

Will be played unplugged just messing around at the house, no need for all bells and whistles.

TIA

Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
30966 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 8:10 am to
You can get an A style for 150 bucks and put a little work into it.
You'll know if you are meant to play mandolin. Go from there.
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
44906 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 9:58 am to
Good advice but wanna make sure it’s not so cheap it’s difficult to play. Like most beginner guitarists quit quickly, sometimes I think attributed to a shite guitar that’s hard to press the strings. I don’t want anything top notch at first, but don’t want the equivalent of an Esteban.
This post was edited on 6/2/24 at 10:12 am
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
30966 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 11:06 am to
Mandolin is a small instrument, there are the same issues as a guitar, but don't affect sound and tone as much, because of size and scale
Work on the bridge and nut, get those right, just like a guitar.
Posted by SidewalkTiger
Midwest, USA
Member since Dec 2019
67080 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 2:40 pm to
Eastman makes great mandolins for the price
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
42432 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 2:55 pm to
I bought a cheap Fender FM 52E way back when I was messing with the mandolin. It's a solid mandolin and perfect for what I was looking for. Looks like they don't make that one anymore but the PM 180 looks like their entry level model now. Kentucky also makes a good entry level for about $500. My brother played a Kentucky for a few years before he got a nice Gibson.
This post was edited on 6/2/24 at 2:56 pm
Posted by TTB
LA to L.A.
Member since Nov 2006
3072 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 3:48 pm to
I got one of these after doing a little bit of research for a good budget mandolin. It has a movable bridge which is how you fine tune the intonation. There are some videos on YouTube on how to do it exactly. Once I got that done it plays and sounds great! Not bad for just over a hundred bucks

Rogue RM-100A A-Style Mandolin Sunburst
Posted by TheFretShack
Member since Oct 2015
1347 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 8:05 pm to
If you get a cheap mandolin, you will spend half your time trying to tune it and the other half of the time complaining and/or fielding complaints about still being out of tune.

Don't skimp, and I recommend buying used so you can get better quality for your investment. I second Eastman. Washburn's mandolins tend to pack solid bang for the buck too.
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
30966 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 9:39 pm to
My friend has 1 of the used A style Washburns in his shop I'm pretty sure he wants $150.00 for it.
This post was edited on 6/2/24 at 9:44 pm
Posted by wareaglepete
Union of Soviet Auburn Republics
Member since Dec 2012
17597 posts
Posted on 6/2/24 at 9:49 pm to
Greta and Brandon have done told you folks we’ll be all electric in the next 5-6 years.
You need to go ahead and just get you a Strat or Les Paul or Flying V or something.
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
44906 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 10:23 am to
Thanks everyone for the input
Posted by Righteous Dude
Member since Oct 2017
1536 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 1:02 pm to
This guy is a really good teacher and has a lot of good mandolin videos on youtube.

In this video he ranks 7 entry level mandolins and winds up recommending the Kentucky KM 150... the entire video is worth the watch.



Posted by WonderWartHawg
Member since Dec 2010
10752 posts
Posted on 6/5/24 at 12:19 pm to
I was pretty happy with this Washburn. If you don't want/need the acoustic/electric, there are less expensive F-style.
I really wanted the F-style with pickup, so I went with it.

LINK
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
30966 posts
Posted on 6/5/24 at 6:20 pm to
Guy is a good player. He was very impressed with the Loar F-style, especially for the price.
It came in #3 behind #2 Eastman and # 1 Kentucky.
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