Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?

Subject: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From:
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 09:57 AM

Greetings -

Thread title says it all really. I've been offered an electrified (not bothered about that) Fender mandolin. Any suggestions about what intelligent questions I should ask - I'm not even a beginner yet, until I buy something - or what I should check before parting with money would be much appreciated.

Would it possibly make a suitable instrument to learn on?

CT

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Áine
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 09:59 AM

Hey, CT! What's the model number? Have you played it yet? Two important questions -- oh yes, and how much is being asked for it.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: GUEST,CT
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:05 AM

Yup, me again - and hello!

Model number, good call, I'll ask. Played it, no - but I used to play (badly) guitar 30 years ago, ukulele a little even earlier, so not much idea how much help that would be. What would I be looking for? Asking price, maybe negotiable (?), £125.

Oh, and by the way, it's 120 miles from my home so I'm working blind here....

CT

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: GUEST,GUEST Richard
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:40 AM

If it's one of those solid body ones with four single strings (instead of four pairs), I wouldn't bother. The double stringing makes a difference to the sound and the feel. Might be good fun, but it's not a mandolin.

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:42 AM

If my brain is working at all today , this ought to have an adjustable
height bridge , so the action ought to be settable , as should the intonation , which means it should be ok to learn on . The only other question is how battered is it if it is second hand ! And does it come with a case ?

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Áine
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:49 AM

My first mandolin was a Fender FM-52E, acoustic/electric. I played it for two years while learning 'the ropes', as it were. I still play it, even though I now have a lovely, lovely, lovely handcrafted mando made for me by my father-in-law.

The only drawback to my Fender was that it wasn't very loud if it wasn't plugged in. Other than that, it did have an adjustable bridge; and the action was pretty good for such an inexpensive mandolin.

I did put rather light strings on it (Thomastik-Infield), which made the action just right for me - I play mostly Celtic, Italian and Oldtime pieces, so there you go.

Another question, is there somewhere you can get a good setup done on the Fender, when and if you do purchase it?

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: GUEST,BIG ANDY
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:54 AM

Hold the mandolin back to your stomach and look at the space between the strings and the fret board. Line up the strings, and then take notice of the space between the strings and the fret board, from the first fret to the strings the space between should be about 2 mil, and on the 12th fret about 2 ½ to 3 mil. You will then have an idea of if it's playable or if the necks in warp or twist

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: GUEST,CT
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 11:48 AM

Right - got more info.

It is the FM 52E Aine, but 'SB' also - don't know what that means. Yes to the adjustable bridge, yes to non-solid, yes to 8 strings, yes to a hard case, yes to excellent condition but they would say that wouldn't they, and I can't get any sensible idea of age or previous use. (It's a dealer, not a private sale.)

What would this post-purchase 'set-up' involve? Very possibly there's someone here in Lincolnshire UK who could do this for me if I knew what it involved! Any takers to volunteer?

It sounds like the sort of thing that at £125 negotiable could be a good starter instrument for me - until I ask for contact details of your father-in-law, Aine!

Best -

CT

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Áine
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 12:49 PM

Hey Chris,

Not to make you jealous or anything (hahahaha); but, here's some pictures of my sweet Mandolanne - from tree trunk to finished instrument. Just click on the thumbnail pics to see a larger picture, or, click on 'Slideshow' in the upper left hand corner - that's kinda cool, too.

As far as the setup is concerned, I'll let the more experienced folks give you the intimate details. But, what I would want is (if necessary) adjustments to the bridge, filing of frets, lowering/raising the nut, that kind of thing.

As long as the action is decent, and the neck is straight, and you like the way it plays, sounds, and just plain feels in your hands, I'd say go for it.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: GUEST,CT
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 02:50 PM

Aine - wow! What a handsome instrument! One day, maybe (just maybe!) I'll post a note here asking for help with something like this.

But a long way to go first, and maybe this Fender is a good enough start. I'll learn from it what I can change, what I need to change, and so forth, and see where it takes me.

Thanks for your encouragement and support! It has been very helpful -

CHRIS

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 05:04 PM

If there are any music shops nearby that specialise in folk instruments, pop by and see what you could get for your money. If you are only ever going to play acoustically, you might get something better for your £125. However, if you have visions of joining a bluegrass or country band, the Fender becomes more attractive.

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Áine
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 09:42 AM

Hey Chris,

Don't forget to let us know when you get your mandolin, OK? I remember being so surprised at all the help and advice I received when I first became a Mandolinquent ;-) -- you're going to be in great company here on the Mudcat and on the Mandolin Cafe forums.

Helping each other out is almost as much fun as playing the mandolin!

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Fender Mandolins - good for beginner?
From: Bert
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 10:04 AM

Wow Áine, what a wonderful mandolin. Just think of all the love that went into making every part of it.

Chris, Have you shopped around and listened to, and played, other instruments?

I used to think that Fender made good instruments until I tried a Telecoustic guitar and I didn't like it at all. Now I don't pay too much attention to brand names, you just don't know until you pick up the beast and try it.