The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #134916 Message #3072935
Posted By: GUEST,Ray
12-Jan-11 - 10:26 AM
Thread Name: Review: Looking to upgrade my mandolin
Subject: RE: Review: Looking to upgrade my mandolin
I don't think you will find a radiused fretboard any easier than one with a flat board assuming both are set up correctly. Visit the Mandolin Cafe discussion boards - this has been discussed to death.
I know nothing about the Kentucky mandolins but, at the cheaper end of the market, I don't think you'd go far wrong with an Eastman. One thing to bear in mind - from my observation, the cheaper/lower-numbered models don't seem to sound any worse than their expensive/higher-priced siblings. All you seem to get is a mandolin with a little more "bling". The only criticism I've heard about them is that the finish can sometimes be a bit on the soft side so they can mark easily.
I don't know where you're located but if you're in the UK the best place to buy a mandolin is undoubtedly TAMCO in Brighton. (Other than being a three-times satisfied customer I have no connection with the place. I also live 250 miles away; which is probably a good thing!) Trevor stocks Eastmans, and other things to druel over, up to around £13,000. One thing you can be sure of is that whatever you buy from TAMCO will be set up correctly which is more than I can say for many of the UK's dealers who don't seem to know one end of a mandolin from another.