I was shopping for a new mandolin about 20 years ago, and the fellow in the shop handed me one and said to try it. I did, and handed it back, saying I couldn't afford it. He protested that he hadn't told me the price. I said that if it played like that, I definitely couldn't affoed it.. I couldn't, either. It was £110. I bought an Antoria instead (£65) and still use it. Like it, but that Yamaha was the sweetest mandolin I've ever handled. Can't play guitar (well, OK, I managed Annie's Song at a guitar class on my Kimbara classical which I then sold to a friend - three chords, G, D and another one) but the original post didn't SAY guitar. Yamaha recorders are crap, though, in my opinion at least. I prefer Rahma.