Re: Cheap/low-end mandolins...
When I was a guitar player, I liked parlor guitars, and guitars with a smaller but beautiful sound.
Some (not all), cheaper mandos are like that, they have a smaller (but still beautiful) sound. All of my Eastman's fit in that category for me. One was sub-$500. The oval hole is particularly special in the sound category.
Throw in a pickup and such an instrument is good to go (I don't skimp on pickups though).
My first high end mando is actually too loud for me, made my ears rings and everything. I want to preserve what hearing I have left, so it's sitting on the shelf. Kinda wondering what to do with it now. Maybe useful for bluegrass jams where my Eastman's were totally lost. Loud every once in a while is ok for the ears, but not for an every day practice instrument.
Davey Stuart tenor guitar (based on his 18" mandola design).
Eastman MD-604SB with Grover 309 tuners.
Eastwood 4 string electric mandostang, 2x Airline e-mandola (4-string) one strung as an e-OM.
DSP's: Helix HX Stomp, various Zooms.
Amps: THR-10, Sony XB-20.
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