I have a nice rigel but looking for a travel mando around 5 to 8 hundred , any suggestions? thanks
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I have a nice rigel but looking for a travel mando around 5 to 8 hundred , any suggestions? thanks
Not sure what you are looking for in a travel mandolin, light, quiet, less expensive. I have a couple of old bent top mandolins that play well, sound good, and are loud enough to keep up if you get into a jam. If you can set them up yourself, under your budget too.
Not to denigrate them as simply "travel instruments," but I think that flattops offer great value in that price range. This Flatiron looks great:Quote:
Originally Posted by kjbllc
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/149784#149784
Or, if you want one already worn and further devalued, there is this alternative:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/151404#151404
yes looking for something that plays well, I pm'd pops 1 .
I am also looking for 1 1/4" neck width also.
thanks for the links also
I am with Pat. I think the flat top route is an excellent answer to your travel mandolin needs. Lots of volume, easy to pack and a lot of fun to play.
NFI - but I have heard some good things about Bruce Weber's Ranger travel mandolins. They look similar to the old Weber Sweet Peas, and are well within your price range: https://www.montanalutherie.com/prod...avel-mandolin/
Sam Lyman (samlyman here on the cafe) has posted a few times about his mandolin, which makes trips on the bike with Sam. Here's a video from a few years back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaBeWgdkSI4
Mandolins are small, but sometimes a mandolin is not actually small enough if you need to fit it in a bag, or if weight is an issue.
New, I'd checkout a Kentucky KM-250.
Used, I'd find a JBovier A5
I travel a lot with a flatiron flattop. mc-2 I thjnk. It’s really great. I keep it in a soft uke case and can tuck it above the luggage on a plane, etc. it’s got a great tone and volume and is very comfortable to play. I like it so much I bought three of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by pheffernan
I also have a couple of the old Martin backpacker mandolins. They’re ok but much quieter and less fun to play. Super cheap though, and tough.
A nut that wide is a bit less common but can be found in the Big Muddy wide neck model:Quote:
Originally Posted by kjbllc
https://reverb.com/item/9949894-big-...ith-k-k-pickup
And this one is currently available:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-Muddy-M...4383.l4275.c10
Love these options, Pat! Tempting...
I've found travel mandolins to be a tough place to look for a satisfying instrument. I've tried:
Weber Sweet Pea (nice neck, but sounds very small)
Martin Backpacker (durable, can't say much more good about the one I had)
Big Muddy MM-8 the "mini-muddy" model (not much smaller than the full-sized big muddy which I liked much better)
Seagull S8 (surprisingly loud but had a tone I didn't really love)
None really got far enough from the "thin-sounding" flavour to really find a place in my heart. Of course they *are* small so that might go with the territory a little!
Given all that (and with NFI) I like the suggestion a few posts above for the black Flatiron flat-top in the Classifieds right now: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/151404#151404. I know it's not a lot smaller than a regular-sized mandolin but they're fun to play, sound good, don't cost too much and wouldn't probably be too hard to sell on later if necessary.
Enjoy!
I've been pretty pleased with my Seagull S8. It's small enough to put in my carry-on backpack and still have enough room for clothes etc - so only one item of luggage.
I've travelled to New Zealand, Crete, Ireland and London like that and I've found it quite satisfying to play in a variety of situations.
Here's me playing it.
https://www.facebook.com/daggergordo...270712795/?t=3
I've carried my pancake Flatiron all over the place! Then again, I've carried my 1920 A3 all over the place. (I'm a geologist.)
They both have wide(r) nuts.
f-d
For that nut width you may want to consider calling Bruce Webber, Sonny Morris, Redline, etc, and discuss getting a custom build. There are a few options out there with that width, but not many easily available in your range. My RM-1 has that width, so I get the appeal. Good luck!
I also have a big muddy. I used a trick I saw in a violin luthier book - put a him strip of Teflon plumbing tape under the bridge. Makes it a lot louder. Also out a red murphy 11 hole bridge on it. It’s actully louder then some of m carve tops now, good tone. So that might work if you want the wider nut.
Gee, who do I know with big paws and a vacancy in the flattop department . . . :whistling:Quote:
Originally Posted by lflngpicker
never heard of the teflon trick
I never found my unmodified Mid-Missouri to be lacking in volume. YMMV.Quote:
Originally Posted by kjbllc
If a 1 3/16” nut will work, jump on the Lm600 in the classifieds.
Luthier Tom Haywood builds one, or anyway has built one.
Thread
A gal showed up with a little travel mando from Montana Lutherie at last week's get together.
Cute little thing. In the $500 range. Looks like you can order a wide nut. NFI
Attachment 184100
I don't really comment on theae types of topics, but I now have two instruments I choose from when needng a compact travel instrument:
Seagull S8 mandolin
Pretty compact, slim case, surprisingly loud.
Ukulele Strumstick
I restrung it to CGDA tuning, and it has been my travel mandola / tenor guitar for years. I even have a capo for the fifth fret to play in the mandolin range.
A couple of other non traditional options - Breedlove Crossover oval hole. Or used Breedlove Quartz if you can find one. The neck might be big enough for your needs and they are not too fragile.
Otherwise, another model to consider would be a Kentucky KM-272 or similar. Oval hole and a good instrument for the price, IMO.
thanks a lot of good suggestions!
<Removed by Moderator. This is the second time. Please read the posting Guidelines and feel free to post a Wanted Ad in the Classifieds>Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Schillace