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Look for a Kentucky KM-150 or an Eastman 305, used if possible. They’re very good mandolins for the $ and ones you won’t soon outgrow. Forget about F-style scrolls in your budget…the quality hit you...

Very cool, thanks for posting the pics, James!

I'm very happy with my Kelley A-5 and my Rigel CT-110, but can't say either are my one to keep forever. I'd wanted the Rigel for years (just because I like the concept/design) and the right one and...

Congrats!

Yeah, it ain't fair, lol. He's a helluva picker!

Allen nailed it. My Kelley A-5 is a bluegrass hoss and very adept at anything else I play…but my Rigel CT-100 excels at some things the Kelley doesn’t. And, for jazz, don’t forget about sold body...

I've owned Sitka, Engleman, and Adirondack topped mandolins. I kept the Sitka Silverangel Econo over an Engleman topped MT I got to try at the same time because I preferred the tone of that mandolin;...

Seriously! We'll just miss you, unfortunately.

I saw Jr Brown at the Neighborbood Theatre in the NoDa area of Charlotte. It has a large ceiling fan, and it didn’t seem to bother him the night we saw him, but another audience member said he’s seen...

Another satisfied Baggs M-1 user. I used to use it on my Taylor with their Venue DI system with excellent results. I’d put it in on days our band was playing in church and take it off when we were...

My daughter lives in Boston, but I’ve only managed to make it to TME once. Awesome shop! Loving the Griffith based vibe, too…

Y’all sounded great! Both mandolins have the sound, but the Hamlett is the clear winner to my ears. Just more complexity/depth of tone without getting muddy. As with my Kelley A5 it gives just a bit...

Beautiful work!

Some great videos in this thread!

Basically, a capo moves the key up by a half step per fret. So, if a song is written in G but the singers can’t quite get down there, they may prefer to move it up to A (capo 2), B (capo 4), or (if...

Very cool. I’d like to pick one of these up some day, but the price is off putting given the uncertainty (and continued functionality of my 4 string ‘Bird…

Also, love the Gruhn’s story about the...

David, if you google Matt Bruno bluegrass jam charts his site pops up.

She has congenital alopecia, and thus is bald, so she wears wigs all the time. I can’t speak for her, of course, but suspect her lashes aren’t terribly full for the same reason, so she uses the...

If you’re not looking to play bluegrass the flat top options out there can get you gig ready quality at a more reasonable price. Flatiron 1N, Big Muddy (or Mid MO…same builder, just a name change),...

I personally wouldn’t take a bath on this, Kevin. I’ve let a few hundred dollars go the other party’s way in a couple of trades I’ve made (particularly with dealers when I really didn’t want to deal...

Nothing technical to add regarding the finish, but I have a Guild D-40 that I got with a TKL hard case for about $500. It was my first guitar purchase and was a factory blem made just after Fender...

I have a lot of respect for Eastman instruments. Prior to a downsize move in 2018 I had a 315 that I got for a great clearance price at a big box store. It was one they got right. I used to joke that...

I usually keep my instruments in their cases when not in use but will sometimes leave some out on a Hercules 3 instrument stand, which I also used a lot when more active with our church praise band,...

And, I have a friend who works out with a local F3 group. I never thought they were intense enough for me, though they’ve not been as short lived as the F3 mando…tongue planted firmly in cheek ;)

Glad to hear they’re still in the game!