Shar Mandolin?

February 24, 2007 at 10:06 PM · Also I guess there are two styles, A and F, whcih style should I get?

February 26, 2007 at 12:39 AM · I guess no one knows anything about mandolins.

February 26, 2007 at 02:16 AM · Did you read your blog? I gave you quite a bit of info.

February 26, 2007 at 11:23 AM · mandolincafe.com has lots of information.

All I see is the Fender FM-100.

At the lowest price point, these may be OK. They do take setup, and at that price you're not getting setup. Not getting a decent bridge.

Generally something like the Kentucky KM-254 gets recommended. Above that, something like the Eastman MD-505. Yes, Eastman Strings. Nicely hand carved like their violins.

February 26, 2007 at 01:26 PM · I'm suspect of buying a mail-order mando, same as I am of buying a violin out of a catalog. Any decent folk/acoustic shops around you? You could look at the site for Bernunzio's Uptown in Rochester,NY

February 26, 2007 at 05:01 PM · As a point of note, I am primarily a mandolinist who is studying the violin and have two custom made mandolins. My advice would be to lurk for a while at mandolincafe.com. This is where all the terminal mandolin heads hang out. After a wading through all the fighting about who has or makes the best instrument you will get a feel for what works for most players. You didn't mention what kind of music you plan on playing on the mandolin -- sometimes this is critical to your choice. If you are playing classical, a much different instrument than Blugrass. A good source to buy mandolins (and fiddles) of all sorts is www.elderly.com. The choices are overwhelming. If you want a cheap starter mandolin, I am hearing really good reviews of the Eastman lines. Doing your homework and trying a lot of instruments will save you the time and expense of flip selling the wrong ones you buy in search of the right one.

February 27, 2007 at 03:39 AM · A good non-traditional entry level instrument would be a Tacoma.

If you're thinking of spending more like a thousand USD, then definitely check out the Eastman mandolins. I know a bluegrass player/teacher who surprised me by buying an Eastman (I figured he'd go for a USA-made mando). I've liked what I've seen of them.

Their archtop guitars are superb, unbelievably good for the price.

February 27, 2007 at 04:30 AM · I'd certainly second (third?) checking out mandolincafe.com.

Don't discount the bowlback mandolin. They have a miniscule following in the US at this time, though many thousands were made and played in the heyday of the instrument (1900-1920, approx). Many examples are fit only for firewood, but many more are worthwhile and can be had for small money. (I got a lovely Ceccherini off ebay for $200, for example. But many old instruments suffer from condition problems from being strung with heavier strings than they could cope with).

The fact that US players are not interested in these makes them potentially a bargain. While the Italian instruments are highly thought of (sound familiar?), any number of US makers made worthy examples. The Italian instruments are pursued by classical mandolinists worldwide, especially in Europe and Japan, few of these folks have much awareness of the quality American makers. The Martin company, Vega, Maurer, Stahl and others are worth looking into. Italian makers of note are Calace, Embergher, Ceccherini, Salsedo, De Meglio and the many Vinaccias.

THere's a classical and renaissance section of the mandolin cafe discussion board where plenty of info is available for the reading, or asking.

February 27, 2007 at 07:57 AM · What kind of mado do you want?

What style do you want to play?

If you wanna play classical then you're looking at a turtle or bowl back. Folk styles are gonna want an F or A model. I find though that my current A model suffices for everything just about. Check out www.mandolincafe.com as it will tell you everything you need to know. They have a sales board on there (i think!) you might be able to pick somehing up from there

Good luck

March 2, 2007 at 03:58 AM · I neglected to mention scale length. All bowlbacks are approximately 13" in scale length; all Gibson mandolins are 14". This may possibly make a difference to you, though it doesn't seem to affect those who use the Gibson mandolins for classical play. Still, a stretch is a stretch.

The Lyon & Healy company made a line of carved-top (Gibson-like) instruments, in both scale lengths. These are some of the finest classical mandolins ever made, with tonal qualities between the two extremes mentioned above.