Talk me out of a...

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You can also look into mandolas. The scale length is longer, and the instrument is slightly larger - it's equivalent to a viola. @AcornHouse built one for me a while ago and it is a wonderful instrument.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

So I bought a super cheap mando. $50 from the Stupid Deal Of the Day. I have learned a whole bunch of chords and have been wrapping my head around playing licks and leads. Lots of fun! Sounds not terrible if a bit trebly and harsh, but making it sound nice is a challenge I like.

I have fat fingers and was worried about them thin little necks. No worries. The chords are mostly pretty easy to finger. I've learned majors, minors, working on 7ths.

My advice which you can take or leave. Buy a cheapie and if you learn how to play then get a good one.

When I bought my first cheap mandolin (off eBay) and saw how short and narrow the neck was, I thought I would have problems! None at all

 

[fronobulax]

You know what makes a good guitar. Are you comfortable with the presumption that your idea of a good mandolin won't change after you have played one. If you were a parent asking for advice for their teenager it would definitely be to buy the beginner instrument and upgrade if, and only if, the kid takes to it and plays a lot. But adults don't usually have to justify the cost of their toys.

Any local store with a rental option or a friend with a loaner?

 

[Bill Ashton]

I put off buying a mandolin for years, thinking my big fingers could not handle it. All that time wasted...

In February of 2020, just before all hell broke loose, I borrowed (a very good) mandolin to take a beginner course
run at the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. Instructor showed me three chords in the beginning, and I could not believe
how easy it was to change positions, I had a blast all day.

So, with the knowledge that I really could make a go it it, while convelescing from my hip surgery, I laid in wait on Ebay to
see what came swimming by...I was told forget the cheapies at Guitar Center and the like, get a lower priced Eastman or
Kentucky or Loar (better manufacturers in the "Pacific Rim"), as that would give a better feel of the instrument. In my class
there were several Loar's, and I just didn't care for their sound so that brand was out...and the Kentucky in my image to the right
is what hit me first. Having seen so many at Kaufman Kamp, in my heart I wanted an F-style, but really, truly!...an A-style (pear-shape)
will sound just as good.

Am I Chris Theile, of course not, I am just a hack. But its fun! And even though the strings are reversed and backwards, the chords
and scales really are pretty easy...I can certainly pick out melodies if needed, though I would hesitate to say "solo."

I think mine cost be about $750, it was a year or two old, perfect condition. I had a new cast tailpiece put on it at Kaufman this year,
as the pressed-steel pieces everybody uses are a PIA when restringing, so that adds to my cost I guess.

Cannot urge you more strongly to GET ONE! But spend just a few dollars more and get a nice arched-top A-style...pick your finish!

And yes, there is MAS...Mandolin Aquisition Syndrome...I am longing for an oval-sound-hole F-style already...or maybe an octave
mandolin (big arch-top guitar looking thing like Sara Jaroz plays).

Buy One! Buy One! Buy One!

 

[JohnW63]

Well, it looks like I'm buying this one. Assuming no one else said, " Sounds like we have a deal ", before I replied to the email.

- Mandolin Cafe

Classifieds for mandolin, mandola, mandocello, Banjo, guitar, bouzouki, cittern, octaves and violin and fiddle and resonator instruments.

www.mandolincafe.com

Total cost shipped $700.

He responded right away. Sent me extra pictures I asked for. Told me about the tone and a video link that has a Breedlove with about the same sound.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Good job!

 

[bobouz]

An excellent buy - Congrats & Enjoy!

 

[JohnW63]

Well, I was beaten to the sale. Back to square one.

 

[richardp69]

I had a Big Muddy. It was pretty nice but I'm just not a Mandolin player, not even close..

 

[JohnW63]

Now, the problem is my brain is fixated on Breedlove mandos and trying to get one at the same price or less.

 

[wileypickett]

I wrote one of the first reviews ever published of Chris Thile’s debut album, which came out when he was all of what?, 14?!

His (very proud) dad sent me a nice “thank you” letter.

 

[bobouz]

Well, I was beaten to the sale. Back to square one.

Bummer, but never fear, something good will come along. In the meantime, dial up some blues-infused Bill Monroe to percolate a bit of mando mania. Got to see him live once - a real treat!

 

[Default]

I'm still dialing in the banjo mandolin, but it's promising. Mine is, frankly, junk, and probably spent it's career in a Mummer's string band, but it's a hoot an' a holler to play.
I need to cut a new nut for it, as the each course is wider at the nut, than at the replacement bridge.
Also, luthiers knots at the tuning machines are mandatory.

 

[davismanLV]

Tom,

Why do the typed words look like you mean it, but when I read it , it doesn't feel like you do?

Well, I was trying to comply with your wishes but then @bobouz posted photos of his 1922 Gibson AND the Breedlove mandolin and my resolve faltered. Forgive me?

 

[Guildedagain]

I've always wanted a mandolin so I have one, but I haven't played it in years. Looks great, dunno if I could ever bear to part with it, becaause it would just cause GAS, bad move ;]

I couldn't get past the price of the mandolin I really wanted, a 1918 Gibson Army/Navy, maybe one the finest simplest mandolins ever made, this is where Gibson really shone, mandolins, Loar's F5, it's unarguable.

So one day I'm at the pawnshop, one that's long gone now - all the good ones are - and I see this old Sunburst mandolin, lovely, no name but probably a Kay and this young dude hands takes it down from the wall, but he won't hand it to me, he can't stop rubbing the aged cracked finish and has to school me that "it's going to have to be re-finished"... What a dolt, but I finally I got him to hand it to me, quickly bought it, learned how to play Battle of Evermore and more, fun and easy little instrument, does the lead thing at jams like nothing besides a guy on meth with a really thin pick ;]

Like all new acquisitions, in that obsessive compulsive phase, of course I had to buy a better one, much better, gorgeous Flatiron made before Gibson wrecked that brand also, but somehow didn't float my boat like the old Kay/Harmony.

I liked the quasi medieval old timeyness of tone of the Kay, sometimes cheaper instruments have a unique tone that is endearing in itself.

So I sold the Flatiron, never regretted it, and I still look at the no name Kay everyday, just a lovely thing, even have new strings for it, but why would I want to put them on, just to look at it, waste of strings.

There it is here with some "other vintage sunburst guitars", it doesn't look like much and that's the beauty of it, it's not worth a lot so I don't have to waste time thinking about selling it.

This was the Flatiron, worth too much to be in the hands of a hack like me who's still trying to live out his EVH fantasy.

 

[JohnW63]

Tom,

I knew you were posting in the spirit of fun. When do any of us ever talk people out of buying another stringed instrument!

 

[JohnW63]

This has become the " Help me pick a mandolin " thread, out in the open. I have three in the " possible choice " list. 2 are new and one is used.

Northfield Calhoun = $995. Really the top of my budget.

A Big Muddy M11, which is about $800 with the wider neck option:

M-11 Mandolin — Big Muddy Mandolin

Honduran mahogany backs sides and tops. Standard tailpiece and bridge. Royal Blackwood fretboard and bridge. With the mahogany top, this mando gives a cool and subtle 'earthy and wooden' sound. Very pleasing and does grow in volume as the years progress. I (and a couple employees) heard one that wa

www.bigmuddymandolin.com

And a Breedlove Quartz used:

I'm trying to find videos and reviews, of course. I hate not knowing how they would sound in person, but I don't live near any of them. Maybe some of the mandolin players can give their opinions.

 

[Default]

All things being equal (in that you have no chance to play any of them), I would go for the wider neck option.

 

[JohnW63]

I think the Breedlove is 1-3/16" which is a touch wider than normal.

 

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Big Muddy and Guilds.