Buying advice

[networ]

Hi,

I want to buy low-budget mandolin for home playing and pub jamming with friends.
I've read a lot on this topic here and I would go for Kentucky km-150 if this mandolin was available in my country, but it isn't and importing it from US would cost quite a lot, so Kentucky is out of game.
Budget around $250 - $300 USD.

Here is what is available in my country within that price range:
ORTEGA RMA5NA
IBANEZ M510E-BS
FENDER Concert Tone Mando A 52E
FENDER Concert Tone Mando Pack
Savannah SA-100

Do you have any experience with these models?

I've been playing for almost a year, I started on an old cheap bowlback mandolin, which sounded really bad. Now I have all solid oval hole kind of mandolin from 1900 - not the typical bluegrass A, and it's not portugese type either - will post photo later. It sounds quite good, so I'm actually not sure if I will help myself with these cheap models mentioned above. I tried the IBANEZ M510E in music store and it sounded quite dull to me. But I actually never played great bluegrass mandolin, so I don't know how it should sound except from what I heard from videos...

So, what do you think?

Thanks.

[Ray(T)]

Might help if you could say which country you're buying from.

[lenf12]

But I actually never played great bluegrass mandolin, so I don't know how it should sound except from what I heard from videos...So, what do you think?

None of the mandolins you are inquiring about will give you the sound of a great bluegrass mandolin. They are all less than acceptable for playing BG imo.

I still like the idea of buying a used Kentucky mandolin here on the Café classifieds. Where are you located? You can place a wanted ad in the classifieds section and stress that you live in another country to find sellers willing to ship abroad. Otherwise, brands like Eastman, The Loar, J Bovier, may be available where you live and would be much closer to a "great bluegrass" sound.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[networ]

Might help if you could say which country you're buying from.

Czech Republic.

I've actually found used Kentucky km-150 for a good price in London, but seller is not shipping abroad... Been following ebay and other sites for a few months, never found anyone willing to send by post abroad .

[lenf12]

Shipping is a difficult problem with all of the regulations and the recent Brexit referendum, but there has to be someone willing to do it, for the right price. Try some of the German online retailers. They must be able to get some of the brands mentioned above. I'm playing a Kentucky KM-340S right now as I type that I like quite a lot. I also like the sound of an Eastman F hole mandolin for a BG sound.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Ray(T)]

The Czech Republic is within the EU so there should be many retailers prepared to ship and there shouldn't be issues with respect to importation. Providing you're prepared to set the thing up, you can even buy a Kentucky on Amazon.

There are several great builders in the Czech Republic but they're probably out of your price range

[Ron McMillan]

None of the mandolins on your list are very good. The Loar's starter A model, the LM-170, is likely to be quite a bit better.

It's available online for 214 Euros with free shipping from Thomann.de

[mandroid]

You have some Very Good Mandolin builders right around Prague.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/...czech+republic

I own one Made By Jiri Lebeda.

lower expectations to match what you are willing to spend

Or get together more funds to buy a mandolin that you will Love from Day One.

[Roger Moss]

I agree all of your samples are below any useful standards. I notice all your links are for Amazon sellers. Amazon offers the Kentucky KM-150 for a competitive price. I and many will agree urge you to consider this option. At least consider a Rover RM-50 which is superior to all your examples at a much lower price and also available from Amazon.

[allenhopkins]

You can buy from Thomann within the EU. They carry a pretty full line of Loar mandolins. I'd take a Loar over any of the choices you've presented.

Thomann also carries some Gretsch models, and the Asian-made Breedlove Crossover mandolin. They don't do set-ups, so you'd need to either learn to do your own, or take the mandolin to a competent instrument shop, to have the set-up evaluated (at a minimum), and quite possibly completely re-done.

[dreadhead]

A Czech friend recommended this one to me: http://www.chn.cz/ko_komisni_prodej_...32daf6&vid=372

Another store to check out is Kieran Moloney: http://www.moloneymusic.com/Products...ndolinsbyprice