Mandolin suggestion beginner

Subject: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: olddude
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 10:59 AM

Well my guitar playing and banjo playing can always use some improvement but lately I wanted to try a mandolin also. I know nothing about them except I really like the sound. I saw they make all kinds of variations, of course I am country music guy so any suggestions on a decent beginner mandolin that fits a country style of playing would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Dan

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: deadfrett
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 12:38 PM

Dude- I've been lookig at the mandolin kit in my Grizzley Tool Catalog and it looks pretty good for the money. I made one of their violin kits and it came out real well. Nice wood and sounds good too. Dave

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 12:42 PM

Ask 100 people to suggest an instrument and you'll get at least 100 different answers.

If you're in the UK, TAMCO in Brighton currently has a nice looking Nugget in stock for close on £13,000 which will do very nicely for the type of music you're intending to play. My bet is that you won't be intending to spend that much so I would suggest you try a few and see what suits. For a country style, I would suggest a carved top rather than a flat top. Bear in mind that those with scrolls sound the same as those without but are much cheaper.

If you are in the UK, TAMCO does have the best stock at reasonable prices. I should add that I have no connection with the place (I live almost 300 miles away) other than as a satisfied customer.
Ray

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: olddude
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 01:28 PM

I am in the states thanks, Dave your idea interests me, I will check it out also

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: bankley
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 01:36 PM

I picked one up last year at Steve's Music in Toronto for $150 CDN. It's a Stagg, made in China. I didn't know which end was up when I started. It took some getting used to the small neck and close frets.. but I kept at it and ended up recording a few support parts on Murdoch's CD... as well as my new projects... it's a nice colour in the mix.. and can be used to add groove to a tune... I won't ever be ready for a 1920's Lloyd Lear Gibson, even if I had the $200,000 to spare... just bought a really good Chinese Stratocaster for my daughter for $70 new... part of a bankruptcy sale... hell, the bridge and tuners are worth more than that.... good luck Dan, happy pickin'

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 01:43 PM

there's this shop in the US

http://www.themandolinstore.com/Scripts/default.asp

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 01:50 PM

Make sure it plays OK - in tune with a REALLY low (in comparison to a guitar) action all the way up the neck and no buzzes. It's much harder to get a mandolin action sorted than a guitar as the clearances are SO small. Lots of cheap mandolins have crap intonation too.

If it plays OK and the intonation is OK (get an expert friend to check, most guitarists say mandolin action is OK when it is WAY too high: all things are relative) you can get one witha better sound later. If it plays like crap you will never want to play it.

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: olddude
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 02:05 PM

Thanks folks, good suggestion Richard. Ron is that the mandolin you used for my southbound train song. It sounded great bro !!

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 02:24 PM

also, bear in mind the nut width can vary,
I find some mando necks just too narrow for my big fat stiff fingers.

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: bankley
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 03:15 PM

yeah that's the one... I had to do a set up... shave a bit off the bridge to lower the action more... the intonation and action are fine
sometimes you got to make it your own... but carefully...

that's okay, I once stripped the gold paint of a '52 Les Paul and replaced the trapeze bridge with a tunomatic... so much for collectibles !

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: olddude
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 03:22 PM

52 Les Paul ... !!!!   bad Ron, bad bad ... go to your room

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: bankley
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 04:42 PM

yeah, well I was 18... the fifties weren't that far from the sixties, and that axe only cost $140.. add 2 zeros for one today ! it had a rippin' sound.. later I got a '68 Les Paul Custom in NYC for $350... still have it but it's being repaired... a long story..
meanwhile, good luck with the mandolin... it's a fun instrument and a nice colour for the palette..

btw I mailed you a copy of the new CD... there's mando on a few trax. Funny thing, as inexpensive as it was, I got to use 2 Royers ribbon mics on it so it sounds sweet.. those mics are lovely $3K each

plus the acoustic slide I use is an old shitbox Harmony that cost me $10... so one never knows

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: olddude
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 05:40 PM

Can't wait to hear it bro ... I heard your slide on sing and play
and I thought it was an expensive slide until you told me ... soooo cool

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 06:02 PM

GUEST made a good point about Neck Width ! I find the Entry Level mandos all have VERY narrow necks - Thats why I KNOW I was lucky to get one made that is a TAD wider tha normal !

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: Tangledwood
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 06:46 PM

Dan, for a beginner mandolin I'm happy with my Epiphone MM30.
Coming from guitar the neck seemed impossibly narrow but it didn't take long to get used to and now the guitar seems to have a lot of empty space.
I think most mandolins have movable bridges so intonation shouldn't be too much of a problem.
You say that your guitar playing could use some improvement - most of us find that playing mandolin does that.
Guest Ray suggested that you could easily get 100 opinions. Many of them are here Mandolin Cafe

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: Tangledwood
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 06:48 PM

BTW that site has a classified ad section where members sell their instruments.

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: olddude
Date: 06 Oct 09 - 06:55 PM

Thanks so much Tangledwood I will check it out

Dan

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 05:39 AM

Apart from the basic scale length issues, the two intonation problems I have seen on the mandolin that are not so common (or do not notice so much, because of the longer scale length) on guitar, are the misplaced nut - too far back so the first fret goes very sharp - and the saddle - straight ones give bad intonation no matter how you angle them because of the relatively large differences in string gauges, and the compensated ones are usually too compensated.

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 07:59 AM

If you get the chance its worth checking out some of the Ibanez manafactured arch tops from the 1970s-early 1990s (and possibly later, but I haven't tried any of those). The couple I've tried are well built, comfortable to play with relatively wide fret boards and good factory set up. They also often come with acceptable pickups. The one I own is badged Antoria (a UK import). Think the majority are not solid wood, but have a bright, fairly loud tone. Have used mine for country and folk and it held its own against other instruments. Best of all they won't break the bank (mine was a steal at £40), so if you decide its not for you, then no worries...

Subject: RE: Mandolin suggestion beginner
From: GUEST,astro
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 10:02 AM

I have sold several mandolins at mandolincafe...I check it out all of the time for new posts at the classified sections...you can find mandolins of all stripes and prices there...a great place to buy...astro in LA