Off Topic...Mandolins

[FunkyE9th]

Any mandolin players out there? Been thinking of buying one and learning how to play. Any suggestions on what to buy for beginners?

-FunkyE9th (or should that be FolkyE9th)

[mattsmith]

I highly reccomend the complete Jethro Burns method book, Mel Bey, or greg hornes mandolin books, alfred/worlshop arts... mandolin rules!

[ET_KenW]

I highly reccomend the complete Jethro Burns method book, Mel Bey, or greg hornes mandolin books, alfred/worlshop arts... mandolin rules!

Take the mans advice. He is a shredmaster on the mandolin. Or almost any stringed instrument, for that matter.

[FunkyE9th]

Thank you for the book advice. What about mandolin brand/model to buy? I know nothing about them. I saw this one...

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-DSP-FEN956300032.html and can get it for $370. That is pretty much my price range. Should I go Michael Kelly or Kentucky?

Thanks,

-FunkyE9th

[BadgerDave]

Believe it or not, these are pretty nice. I had to shim the neck on mine, but once I did, the action was perfect. Far better than any of the sub-$500 acoustic mandolins I tried.

Mandobird

[hikarateboy]

I don't know as much as these guys about mandos but as mentioned in another thread I bought an EXTREMELY cheap one (Rover NOT rogue if that makes a difference) from El Duave and for what I know its great. It does all the chords too! It sounds. It's like like its alive or somethng but it really isnt because that would be freaky.

Seriously though,

I fully recommend it. Its alot of fun to play. I only play chords on it and play a hayseed dixie type thing I cant imagine single note runs that Matt can do. I got enough just practicing those on a guitar where the strings and frets are spaced within reason. One of the best things is my kids love it and my 8 year old son was finally able to play a clean chord on something cause of the small size.

I dont know a lot about what to buy but I noticed at NAMM that ovation also had a cheaper overseas one at like (199 retail)? Mine was less than 100.00 and at this point dont know if I could tell the difference between it and a really nice one.

Man it appears I dont know much about anything. Why did I post this?

[copper blue]

Fretboard Roadmaps has an excellent Mando book...and yes get a good starter mando..I opted to go cheap and am regretting it..although not super bad..the one I have is in need of a setup and it's hampering my ability to play (sounds out of tune on the high gg strings)

[Rockola]

Aria made decent F and A style Gibs*n mandolins in the late 70s and 80s. Me thinks they still make them but cannot speak for the new stuff. I bought an MIJ 80s model A5 Jethro Burns copy for my wife ten years ago. I had to get a new bridge carved but still a nice, above average copy (solid top only)

regards,

S.

[Buzzy Fretts]

I don't know as much as these guys about mandos but as mentioned in another thread I bought an EXTREMELY cheap one (Rover NOT rogue if that makes a difference) from El Duave and for what I know its great.

I believe Dave got a block of these to facilitate a deal on a different item being ordered by a fellow HFCer. I bet he has one or two left. I bought one at that time too. The only downside on the Rover was the thin neck. If ya got big sausages for fingers you might want to shop around.

[cmatthes]

I like the Ovations, and they do make a cheaper/import model that isn't bad at all. It is closer to the $300-$400 range though new, I believe.

Many of those mandos (Michael Kelly, Kentucky, Fender, etc) are made in the same factory (factories) and vary only slightly in my experience. They DO tend to come in a wide number of styles and price points, so you should be able to find something to fit your needs.

I used to fumble around with the mandos that the Irish and folk bands would bring in back in my bartending days, and really think that they are a fun instrument. Of course, I've always loved that doubled string thing on guitar and bass too.

good luck in your search!

[JohnnyB]

I've never been too impressed with the Ovations, as much as I wanted to like them, and I've found the Applause versions difficult to play. My favorite new mandolin for the money is the Tacoma, but they're more in the $600-800 range.

But HERE's a NOS Tacoma w/hardshell case, current bid of $310, and no reserve if you act now (auction ends in an hour from this post).

For me, the ultimate kick-ass entry-level mandolin was the Flatiron Cadet. No frills or fancy contours -- just good solid wood and construction. Sometimes these show up on eBay for cheap. And here's a Flatiron model A for sale now:

Place your bid here.

The Japanese-made solid-top Washburns are nice and have good tone. My wife got me one for Father's Day. It doesn't sound like a knock-off (F-40 style) at all.

Still, there's a Tacoma at Guitarville with my name on it I love the playability on that one.

[FunkyE9th]

Thanks for everyone's input. That Tacoma is very tempting, but I really like the looks of a traditional F-Style mandolin. -FunkyE9th

[JohnnyB]

Thanks for everyone's input. That Tacoma is very tempting, but I really like the looks of a traditional F-Style mandolin. -FunkyE9th

Funky, I know you have a thing for jazz, which tends to do better with a wider fretboard for easier articulation of single-note playing.

I've found that I gravitate to the wider-fretboard mandolins, partly for that reason.

My first mandolin was a good Japanese copy of a Martin A-style mandolin. It was easy to play single notes and it had a nice clear projection. The next one I got was a 1962 Gibson A-5. This was the one favored by Jethro Burns, and it also has the wider fretboard and joins the neck at the 12th fret.

The Tacoma is also like this. It's not that I have the fattest fingers around, but they're on the short side, and I found the Tacoma to be particularly playable for me and had great tonal focus and projection, especially for the money.

OTOH, if you're wanting to learn bluegrass chording, the narrow neck style will probably suit you better.

[FunkyE9th]

Thanks for everyone's input. That Tacoma is very tempting, but I really like the looks of a traditional F-Style mandolin. -FunkyE9th

Funky, I know you have a thing for jazz, which tends to do better with a wider fretboard for easier articulation of single-note playing.

I've found that I gravitate to the wider-fretboard mandolins, partly for that reason.

My first mandolin was a good Japanese copy of a Martin A-style mandolin. It was easy to play single notes and it had a nice clear projection. The next one I got was a 1962 Gibson A-5. This was the one favored by Jethro Burns, and it also has the wider fretboard and joins the neck at the 12th fret.

The Tacoma is also like this. It's not that I have the fattest fingers around, but they're on the short side, and I found the Tacoma to be particularly playable for me and had great tonal focus and projection, especially for the money.

OTOH, if you're wanting to learn bluegrass chording, the narrow neck style will probably suit you better.

I like wider fretboards on guitar beacuse I play a lot of fingerstyle. I'm not sure about mandolins though. If I had to guess, I will probably like a wider fretboard also.

Do A-Style generally have wider fretboards?

-FunkyE9th

[Rockola]

JohnnyB,

A-5 with pig ears. BTW, I was wrong, this Aria is solid top, side and back.

This topic reminded me I needed an new picture for insurance purposes.