Re: Need Advice Choosing New Mandolin
The MD 305 is a perfectly fine instrument, especially if it's what you like. It takes time to really learn what you want from an instrument so if the 305 works at this stage of your playing -- go for it. I really like mine, fwiw and I've tried more expensive versions. an instrument you like -- at any price point -- is going to get played more. in a year or three, if you want to upgrade to a more expensive instrument, you'll know why you're paying more money. You can think of instruments as any other commodity: for instance, there are wine connoisseurs who have no problem distinguishing between a $100 bottle of wine and a $1,000 bottle. Me, I find that any bottle of wine that costs more than $18 is wasted on me. I simply cannot tell the difference.
The Eastman will do you well for your chosen music. if it has any drawbacks, it would be the thinner neck that Eastman modern mandolins have. some guitar players prefer a thicker neck. but if it plays and sounds the way you like, then go for it. my 2 cents.
(I'll also put in a word for used, and for strad-o-lins, which cost less but usually sound much better than you'd expect.)
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1920 Lyon & Healy bowlback
1923 Gibson A-1 snakehead
1952 Strad-o-lin
1983 Giannini ABSM1 bandolim
2009 Giannini GBSM3 bandolim
2011 Eastman MD305
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