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Pretty sure there's only one model. Kentucky calls all the models in that price range "artist" models. When they first came out about 5 years ago they went for about $800. Now days they go for...

In that price range your best bet is probably a J Bovier F5 tradition model. J Bovier is a well regarded brand. Nut width is 1-3/16". The Mandoshop is a good place to check these out. ...

I guess I'm the odd man out (as usual). I never played guitar, but I definitely prefer a wide neck. My favorite is 1-1/4" (!) at the nut.

I wrote about my excitement with these new Kentucky...

The KM900 is the top of the line for Kentucky (scroll-less) mandolins. The MD315 is the bottom of the line (scrolled) for the Eastman line. The only reason to go for the Eastman is if you just love...

I saw this news item the other day, but didn't pay much attention to it. It looked like yet another Kentucky model, pretty much the same as the existing KM-1000.

I happened to be looking at the...

OK, I have some questions:

Are you planning to keep the same line-up of models that you currently have? and will prices remain the same?

Will there still be the same level of customization...

Best mandolin for $300 is going to be a used Kentucky 250/254/505/550 models, The Loar LM-220, Eastman 304/305 models, any Big Muddy/Mid-Missouri. In my experience, no other brand in the price range...

Sounds like a great CD.

If we are talking about OWNING only one mandolin, that means you have to PAY FOR IT, right? I know I'll never afford a Loar. I'm hoping someday to afford a custom Weber.

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Hi-ho, DA DERRY-O
The farmer in the dell

Maury's Music seems to have the best prices and selection on Blueridge guitars.

This really peaks my interest. I love to see a natural finish. I actually have an aversion to sunburst finishes (which, by the way, can really hamper one's mandolin shopping).

What I'd like to...

Do you mean you are scrapping the entire mandolin? Why not just make a new top?

Yeah, what you're referring to there is the wood itself. That maple has a figure in the grain. It is sometimes called flame or tiger or curl. I am told it only occasionally occurs in trees that...

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, then the Eastman F ovals are definitely the best value. The 514 model is the lowest priced. The 614 adds binding on the back,the fretboard and peghead. ...

?????

I've been watching ebay for a Breedlove Quartz for a couple of weeks, and there has only been one used one, and that was an oval hole.

If there's lots of used Breedloves out there, I...

Way off topic, but...

I noticed today on Breedlove's facebook page:

78525
Deschutes brewery using a Master Class mandolin neck as a beer tap handle!

Larry (mandobassman),

I notice your signature line includes "Small body guitar converted to octave mandolin". Could you tell me a little bit about it? Did you do the conversion yourself?

I like the idea of a small guitar shaped body with a scale length of about 20", and a round/oval sound hole. I think this would offer a bit of a guitar sound with lots of sustain.

Has anyone ever...

This is what I have seen done. I can't think of any other way to do it.

As a contrarian, I really wanted to vote no on this poll, but I have decided to follow the flock just this once.

John Hamlett,

Great post. I don't think anyone could have said it better.

I too think Elderly is one of the best stores out there, but I'm not sure what is being praised here.

You gave them $100 towards a mandolin. You never received the mandolin. THIRTEEN YEARS later...

Doubtful. I don't know what the "cheap beginners mandolin" is that you currently have, but this is probably not much, if any, better than that.

The "best" mandolin in that price range (in my...

I have one just like that which was handed down from my German grandfather. I would guess that he bought it in the 1970s - maybe late 60's. He lived in the Swabian area of Germany (southern...