I picked up a real cheap "Dean" (NOT BRIAN DEAN) mandolin from e.bay, to use as parts. It's an acoustic/electric with the electric not working; which may explain the really econo price. All laminate - but, has a terrific low action, and when played with a Dunlop "207" or a D'Andrea 1.5, it sounds nice. No banjo killer, but not tinny and with good projection. Bass strings are good and whoompy. Changed out the A string for a .016 to get rid of the tin. So much for using it for parts. Gonna be the traveller. All is not that bad in the el Cheapo world.