Total noob wanting to get a mandolin

Hi, guys - I'm wanting to learn to plan the mandolin, and outside of a couple of weeks of searching on the Internet, watching YouTube videos, and scanning threads on this forum, I have no idea what I'm doing!

On the list are (1) buy a mandolin and (2) find a teacher.

I checked a local shop and they had a $300 Loar LM-110. I searched around on here and learned that getting a $420 Kentucky KM-150 would be a better option. My wife showed me an ad, though, for a professionally restored Harmony Monterey A style mandolin for $300 (pictures below) for sale in our area. I obviously can't test play any of these instruments because I don't know how to play! Is an older "vintage" instrument a better option? Would the quality be better? Would appreciate any advice you can give me.

Any tips on finding a mandolin teacher would be great, too. I live in Raleigh, NC.

Thanks for your help!

Attachment 197320

Attachment 197321

You might try here: http://www.nctradmusic.com/mandolin-lessons

or here: https://pinecone.org/teachers

The first one looks to be a music school and the second just a matching service the organization runs. I have no knowledge of these programs, so I am not personally endorsing them, just giving you resources to check out.

Do NOT buy the harmony! Worth $100.oo at best.

I would suggest you look for an Eastman 305 to get you started.

+1 on Charley's comments above.

Buy a 305 from a shop that is a Cafe' sponsor (so you'll get a good setup, which is critical for mandolins), or search the Classified ads here. Scott and his team do a great job keeping those two sources clear of hacks and cons.

While you are looking for a teacher, spend a bunch of time on MandoLessons.com, which has a ton of great beginner lessons (and is free, but do donate!).

Yeah, dig a little deeper into your budget. You'll be happy you did.
I saw this: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/176881#176881

I had a couple re-fret jobs done, they came back after skilled Professional attention a huge amount easier to play ..

In Short Who you get it from is really important. Do they carefully set it up before shipping?

David McLaughlin states some of those Harmony mandolins sound pretty darn good--one of the best mandolin players out there. I have one and can attest to that also...far better sounding than a cheap kentucky. Set-up would be key, I'm assuming it has one if its been "restored"

See if you can get it a little cheaper. It has better looks, too, better mojo. This will improve your picking at least 20%.

The safe bet is a Kentucky 150 or Eastman 305.A used Eastman is currently for sale for $399 at The Mandolin Store, which is known for its excellent setups. If you don't know how to play you aren't going to be able to evaluate a vintage instrument. I would pass on that Harmony. It's unlikely to be worth it.

You could also:
(1) find a teacher
(2) buy a mandolin

having discussed local affordable options with the teacher.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bren

You could also:
(1) find a teacher
(2) buy a mandolin

having discussed local affordable options with the teacher.

---

That's probably the best idea yet. The teacher might even be able to go with you to play instrument(s).

Even a friendly (acoustic) guitar player, amateur or pro, could help a great deal in evaluating the condition of an instrument with respect to setup. What’s not been said enough is that even brand new, store-bought mandolins can be difficult to play at first, even enough to discourage any interest. Setup is vital, sound quality, I think is a good goal, but not vital.

I think for your $300.00 you can get a great and possibly better quality mandolin if you look at flat tops. Arch tops cost more, and consequently you can usually get more quality for your money with a flatty.

You don't mention what kind of music you are chasing after, but the only genre issue with flat tops is hard core bluegrass, which is a tradition thing.

And lets me truthful, your first mandolin will not be your last, and as you fall in love with it, you will magically find more funding for the mandolinning side of life. Years from now we all want to see your collection. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JeffD

And lets me truthful, your first mandolin will not be your last, and as you fall in love with it, you will magically find more funding for the mandolinning side of life. Years from now we all want to see your collection. :)

---

Yes, Jeff is right. A little more than a year and a half ago when I started, I adamantly did not want to spend more than $250 (and I didn't, my first mandolin, a Korean Kentucky, was $235 shipped, and once I fixed the action by sanding down the bridge, it was entirely serviceable). Nonetheless, it was not long before I was looking at others, and now I have 7 various mandolin family instruments, and should blush over not only the number of them, but what I paid for the last one (though it's a drop in the bucket compared to some people's mandolin budgets).

I'm still a newbie, too.

Thanks for the tips, everyone! A slight change in plans: I'm not on the market for a mandolin (for now!) because my wife found a free one on a buy nothing group. It's a really inexpensive Hohner, but looks like it's unused. I've also started working through the MandoLessons site—thanks for that suggestion. Obviously the Hohner isn't a quality instrument, but it will at least let me get a little learning under my belt. I have previous musical training so I understand the concepts. In 3 to 6 months I'll upgrade to a better instrument. I'll also work through some of these lessons before looking for a teacher (the Pinecone connected teachers look great). I will look for one eventually.

Free is good. Now you need to get your Rob Meldrum setup E-book and make sure the action is good.

Be careful. Sometimes free is totally worth it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sue Rieter

Free is good. Now you need to get your Rob Meldrum setup E-book and make sure the action is good.

---

Thanks for the suggestion!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JeffD

Be careful. Sometimes free is totally worth it.

---

But if free doesn't work out, you're not out too much. The key is keeping expectations in line with the price, I think.

Welcome, CMB!

Good advice above. Also check out the Newbies social group where we give each other unauthoritative advice and heartfelt support on such things as sore fingers and other rites of passage in the mandification journey.

My "take" is that you can learn basics on nearly any mandolin by a recognized manufacturer (that includes Hohner, though they're not given many creds here on the Cafe), if it's properly set up. It won't sound good, but you won't either, not 'til you've developed some skill. Meanwhile, that $300 is accumulating interest, and you're saving up more, so when you decide you like mandolin and want a better one, you'll be able to take a real jump up the mandolin hierarchy.

Free is almost always good; I wouldn't own a ukulele-banjo if someone hadn't given me a free Stewart Collegian. Of course, that assumes that owning a uk-banjo is a good thing...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sue Rieter

Yeah, dig a little deeper into your budget. You'll be happy you did.
I saw this: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/176881#176881

---

I bought my Collings from Brian at Sun Valley Guitars, where the mandolin Sue posted is offered for sale. He'll take good care of you and is a sponsor here. He and Dennis were partners before The Mandolin Store moved to Tennessee. Brian chose to stay in Arizona (lucky me!)