Hey ollaimh

check out the Co-Mando sight...they are affiliated with the mandolin Cafe, and there is great tab there, plus you can join the Co-Mando list serve where new tab and tunes and technique are discussed all the time.

http://www.co-mando.com/

BTW, I play a Summit F-100 mandolin that I bought at Mandolin Brothers, and they are excellent.

I also have an old, inexpensive Flatiron army-navy style flat top mandolin that is great too.

We are in a golden age of mandolin luthiery right now. Great brands are Summit, Nugget, Gilchrist, Red Diamond, Pheonix, Rigels, Dudenbostel, Coombe. These are all much better than Gibsons line now (IMO anyway...,and I've played all of these types).

Folks are right though that alot of tone is in the player. I've heard of folks who got to play Loars and realized that however good they are....you have to be able to play them.

That said though....when I chose my Summit at Mandolin Brothers....it really stood out over many of the other brands (especially the expensive Gibsons....).

Happy Pickin'

Steve