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That is such an individual opinion type of thing with a lot of variables. As you mentioned, acid-sweat is probably a big one.
And you've probably seen the "how often should I change my strings"...

Do you like your parents?
Do you think you'll ever visit them again?

Consider this option - buy a decent or good mandolin, have it shipped to their house, keep it there, and play it whenever you...

There are some ignorant and, occasionally, racist comments about any mandolin made in China...

I've not played any The Loar mandolins. I've tried a few Eastman and Northfield mandolins and some...

+1 for pachelbel canon in d - I've played it at a couple of weddings - seems to go well.

Kirk

wonder what the banjo forum would say?

Kirk

+ 1 on the beveled pick.
I won't bore you with all of the details of my personal pick journey...we've all got one.
But - Golden Gates and/or Dawg picks - heavy with the rounded edge - give all of...

I had an early Gibson F9 with a narrow nut and a pronounced V shaped neck. It caused a fair amount of discomfort in my left thumb. Loved the mandolin but had to let it go…
It was early in my playing...

+ 1.
I've got a '96 Bozeman era F-5V. Curious to hear what you think.

Kirk

Think of the time you save not drooling over guitars you’re not going to buy…
Take a stroll outside in the sunshine, smell the flowers, greet small woodland creatures…

: )

Kirk

Moderator's Edit: We try to keep Want to Buys in the Classifieds section, and not in the Forum as per Guidelines.
Feel free to list your need there.

Lots of solid advice here.
Key point - don’t over think which beginner mandolin to get. It’s a beginner mandolin…
Set up is the critical thing. That’s what will make whichever mandolin shaped...

This is what happens when people reply to really old threads...

Sigh.

Kirk

He only has a birthday every four years so by my calculations he will turn 17 today!

Quite the child prodigy.

I'm a fan.

Kirk

Lots of good advice here and some less good advice...

My .02.
I've been playing 20+ years and have a few good mandolins. But I can't see spending > $30 on a pick.
The difference between a...

When you figure in the cost of shipping it and marking it down as "shop worn"...it may not make that much sense to the vendor to take the mandolin back.
Keep that in mind when you are negotiating,...

Baby got back!
Wow!
Hope it sounds 1/2 as good as it looks!

Kirk

I have to, respectfully, disagree.
I'm no professional - ask anyone who's heard me play! - but I travel several times a year with a mandolin. Business or pleasure, if I'm gone for more than a few...

Yes.

Moderator - I think that there’s a racist troll in our midst….

Kirk

Definitely keep us posted on your travels!
I've been to China twice - such an amazing place to visit. And I was scheduled to go again in June of 2020, you can guess what happened...
I'll likely go...

Hey There,

Do you need phantom power for your mandolin mic?
I have several mandolins with different brands of microphones - none require phantom power.
I generally think of phantom power as...

It’s in the right hand, grasshopper.
Tone, taste, and timing all come from the right hand.

Kirk

All of these things - Mando, Hog, axe - hit my ear a little wrong, but don’t really bother me.
I reserve my disdain and derision for people who can’t drive…

Kirk

“Also Foghorn String Band does a lot of fiddle and mandolin doubling”

That’s just what I was going to say.
Definitely check out some early Foghorn.

Kirk

some of my newer cases have the keys...I just keep them in the little compartment with picks, tuner, etc.

add me to the list of someone who has never locked a case.

Kirk