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For the money, I still say it can't be beat. I've been really pleased. You should know I'm a basement picker and not a pro of any sort at anything.

You could try using viola sheet music.

If I had a dog that hunted like that, I'd give him to my brother-in-law.

If you're interested in a tenor guitar and don't want to spend a ton, Kala makes a nice one for around $200 if you order direct from the factory. Mine came well set up and sounds nice. It's well...

Good luck! Better to be nervous and in a group than content at home alone. I'm betting this will be a rewarding experience. Funny, I'm about 50 percent Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish, but you'd never...

I took your advice (ajh) and ordered a Kala tenor and am really pleased. For anyone wanting to experiment with a tenor but not wanting to commit a ton of resources, this is a great option. My setup...

This should take you there.

https://reverb.com/item/29667535-washburn-lyon-healy-2218-1920s-2-point-style-mandolin

I recently took delivery of a new Girouard oval hole and couldn't be more pleased with its sound. I have no doubt that if I ever wanted to sell it (a doubtful proposition) it would move very quickly.

You are a warrior Ivan. Keep going.

Max Girouard is building mandolins with Port Orford Cedar tops. I think he gets his from Bruce Harvie of Orcas Island Tonewoods. I have one of those mandolins (I just got it last week) and it has a...

Hi Ivan - I'm a late comer to the mandolin world and faithfully read the Cafe to try to more fully understand the instrument and how it's played. I've come to highly value your thoughts and opinions....

That's right. I had a mandola made with a top from that batch of bog cedar and it was phenomenal. I requested cedar then and that's what I got, but I've always felt I should've let Max make the call...

This is why I put this decision in the capable hands of Max Girouard.

I'm having Max Girouard make me a new mandolin and I couldn't decide between spruce and cedar for the top. Bruce Harvie's advice about letting the builder make the call was exactly what I needed to...

I second the Big Muddy recommendation. I bought my first mandola from Mike and couldn't have been happier with the instrument and the customer service. You won't go wrong with a Big Muddy.

Expand your list and consider an A style Girouard.

I own a Girouard mandola and it is a fantastic instrument. It sounds great with Thomastik strings and Curt Mangan phosphorous bronze strings, which Max recommends. Mine has a cedar top with maple...

You'd think having a glut of Loar signed 'dolas would drive the price down.

There's a very nice Lyon & Healy listed in the classifieds right now for $3,800. I don't know if it's the same model as yours. http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/107478#107478

I use the 174W Thomastiks on my Girouard mandola and have ample length. Here's a link http://www.juststrings.com/toi-174w.html
if you're interested in them.

I have a Girouard mandola with a cedar top. It has beautiful warm tone that, at least to me, is more complex than spruce. As for durability, my father has had cedar shake shingles on his roof since...

I'd highly recommend a Girouard mandolin. Max Girouard is producing fantastic instruments that have a beautiful tone and are incredibly easy to play.

Daniel Estrem has two great albums that feature solo mandola for music by JS Bach. Estrem plays both the Partitas and Cello Suites. They are wonderful recordings.

Search for a used Big Muddy 'dola. They usually go for a round $250 or $300 and are a high quality instrument with a great sound. Mike is also selling refurbished instruments on his web page, so you...

I wouldn't miss it.