Buy The Best Mandolin For Your Money
If you want to get the best value for your money there are a few things about mandolins that you need to know. The purpose of this page is not just to sell you on a certain mandolin, but instead to help you understand what you need to know to make a wise choice.
If you know what you are getting into and you are aware of what to look for you can make your mandolin buying experience a good one.
Solid Wood Mandolin Or Laminated?
Most mandolins that are under the $200 range will have laminated sides and back and many of them will also have a laminated top. Laminated means that the material is made of layers of wood pressed together instead of solid wood. A laminated mandolin will decrease in value and lose sound quality over time while a solid wood mandolin will actually increase in both value and sound quality with time and proper care.If you are really serious about playing the mandolin you will want to get one that is constructed of solid wood. I was able to find only one mandolin that was made entirely of solid wood in the under $200 range; the Rover RM-50. You can get the Rover RM-50 for around $150 to $180 depending upon where you go.
A much better choice for a solid wood mandolin would be a Kentucky. The Kentucky mandolin is well known and for the price range ($225 to $800) it is a very well built instrument. You can get the solid wood Kentucky KM150S for around $225 to $250, it is well worth the extra cost to get the Kentucky when comparing these two mandolins.
A Or F Model Mandolin?
The Rover RM-50 and the Kentucky KM150S are both A model mandolins. F model mandolins bring a higher price, but the difference in the two types of mandolins are mostly in the appearance (at least for mandolins in the lower price ranhes).
There is no doubt that the F Model is a much better looking mandolin, but you don't want to sacrifice on quality just for cosmetics. In other words if you buy a cheap F Model mandolin it may look great but it will not be a good quality instrument. If you are set upon getting an F Model and you want a high quality instrument you can expect to pay more than $300.
If you look around you can find several lower priced F model mandolins. However, the cheaper F models sacrifice quality for appearance. For example you can get a Rogue RM-100-F model mandolin for around $175. The RM-100-F is made with a laminated spruce top and laminated maple back and sides. It is a beautiful looking mandolin, but playability and sound quality are low.
I also saw a Santini F model mandolin on eBay for 89.95 with free shipping. This too is a very nice looking mandolin, but it is also made of laminates.
Kentucky KM150S A Style Mandolin
Kentucky KM150S A Style Mandolin
Should You Buy A Cheap Mandolin?
Some cheaper mandolin brands commonly available are Johnson/Savannah, Rogue, Rover and Indiana although each make does have some higher priced models. Some of the better mandolin makes are Kentucky, Morgan Monroe, Michael Kelly, Eastman and of course the Gibson and the Loar.
How To Comparison Shop For A Mandolin
When you shop for a mandolin don't just compare the prices. One seller may have a slightly higher price, but they may offer free shipping, free set up, and even extras like a case or gig bag, tuner, instructional materials, etc. Remember to consider the added value of things like this when looking at prices.
Free shipping can save you as much as $39.99, a case or gig bag is worth $25 or more, and professional set up is worth at least $50.
Buy A Mandolin With Professional Set Up
Believe it or not there is one thing that may actually be more important than the price, and that is set up. If you buy a brand new mandolin that has not been set up you will have to do some work on it, or pay someone else to do it, before it will be truly playable.Most reputable mandolin sellers will include professional set up with your purchase. You should not buy a mandolin that comes "straight from the box" unless you are prepared to set it up or you know of someone who can. When you buy a mandolin from a seller who provides professional set up you are getting a lot of value added to your purchase.
Typical set up includes: Complete inspection of mandolin for damage or missing parts; Placement of bridge for optimal intonation; Adjustment of string height - often the bridge is shaved or the nut may need to be filed to obtain the proper string height. The mandolin is then tuned up and checked for buzzing at each fret. The mandolin is then left to rest for several hours or overnight and then everything is rechecked.
Recommended Mandolins
If you just want a mandolin to play around with I would recommend that you get a lower price range solid wood model. If you are serious about your playing then you should definitely get a nice mandolin. I would not recommend a cheap laminated model for anything other than a "toy" or a beginner instrument for a child.
My highest recommendation for an entry level to intermediate mandolin is the Kentucky KM150S or the Rover RM-50. Whatever mandolin you decide upon should be constructed with solid wood. If you are spending less than $300 to $400 you should stick with an A model, don't sacrifice quality and playability solely for appearance.
Some Of The Best Mandolins
The Loar F Style Mandolin
The Loar is a legend among mandolins and anyone who owns one is very fortunate indeed. Here are some of the best quality mandolins you can find:
Loar Golden Age F Style Sunburst Mandolin
The binding is a vintage white and the tail peice and the pickguard are true reproductions of the original Loar.
The Loar Golden Age F-Model Mandolin, Sunburst Finish
Amazon Price: $599.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Solid Spruce Top
Solid, Highly-Flamed Maple Back and Sides
Hard Rock Figured Maple Neck
Abalone/M.O.P. Florentine-Style Headstock Inlay
Ebony Fretboard & Bridge
Dean Bluegrass Vintage Sunburst Mandolin
Dean Bluegrass F Style Mandolin, Vintage Sunburst
Amazon Price: $319.00 (as of 11/30/2009)
This F Style F Mandolin Features:
Select spruce top
Maple back and sides
Maple neck with extended rosewood fingerboard
13-3/4" scale
1-7/32" nut width
29 frets
Gold hardware
Mother-of-pearl binding
Vintage sunburst finish
Kentucky KM-340S Artist A-Model Mandolin
Classic mother-of-pearl script and Kentucky-head veneer inlay.
Traditional snakehead peghead also carries deluxe tuning machines.
Adjustable compensated rosewood bridge.
Kentucky uses a multi-ply binding on the top and back of your KM-340S Mandolin.
Kentucky KM-340S Artist A-Model Mandolin
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
A-style mandolin with solid spruce top
Flamed maple back and sides
Maple neck with adjustable truss rod
Extended 29-fret bound and stained rosewood fretboard
15th fret neck/body joint
Classic mother-of-pearl script
Kentucky peghead inlay
Deluxe tuning machines
Adjustable, compensated rosewood bridge
Multi-ply binding on top and back
Traditional nitrocellulose lacquer finish
Mid Range Mandolins
If you are in a low budget range take a look at these mandolins.
Mid Mandolins
JB Player - Mandolin
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Washburn M1SDLTR Mandolin
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/30/2009)
Sunburst F Style Mandolin with Case
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
RM100F F-Style Mandolin (Standard)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Oscar Schmidt Mandolin
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/30/2009)
Low Range Mandolins
Rogue RM-100 A Mandolin
The Rogue RM-100 is one of the most popular selling mandolins today. Perhaps that is because it can be purchased right around $50.
These mandolins are about as cheap as you can go. I don't really recommend a laminated mandolin at all, but if you are short on money and you just want to get something to play with check out these mandolins.
Cheap Mandolins
Saga Appalachian Mandolin
Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Stagg Music Blugrass Mandolin - Violinburst Color
Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Kansas K-MA1B Mandolin, Sunburst
Amazon Price: $67.00 (as of 11/30/2009)
J. Reynolds JRMAN10 Tobacco Sunburst Mandolin
Amazon Price: $69.00 (as of 11/30/2009)
Rogue RM-100A A-Style Mandolin, Sunburst
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Mandolins On eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Mandolin Cases
Guardian Wood Hardshell Mandolin Instrument Case
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Musicians Gear Economy Mandolin Case for A and F Mandolins, Black¹
Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Featherweight Lightweight Hardshell A-Style Mandolin Case
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Guardian CG-455-M Mandolin Vintage Tweed Gig Bag
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Guardian 400 Series DuraGuard Gig Bag
Amazon Price: $44.95 (as of 11/30/2009)
Mandolin Tuner, Strings And Straps
Farley's PocketTones Mandolin/Violin Tuner (Standard)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
D'Addario Mandolin Strings Set, EXP, Phosphor Bronze, Medium
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Levy's Leathers 1/2 Carving Leather Mandolin Strap,Dark Brown
Amazon Price: $18.56 (as of 11/30/2009)
Neotech Mandolin Strap
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Learn How To Play The Mandolin
Cool stuff to help you learn to be a better mandoilin player!-
Learn How To Play Mandolin
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by htsherpa
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