In the guitar world, there are a lot of inexperienced players who claim that because their Squier is a perfectly good instrument, there's no reason for anybody ever to spend more than $500 on a guitar. Consequently, when I see people hyping very cheap instruments, my first reaction is to be wary. As of today, though, when I see folks waxing rhapsodic about their Stradolins, I'm on board.
I bought this really just because it was very clean and $300. I wasn't convinced that it would be any better than the usual old Harmony or Kay product. As soon as I put some tension on the strings, though, I realized that it was an exceptional instrument for the price. The tone isn't as sweet as my F-2, but it's every bit as loud. While it's not going to give a '20s F-5 a run for its money, the sound is still balanced and pleasant. It's not shrill or tubby, the balance across the strings is great, and the sustain is quite good as well. In fact, I think this sounds better than the pressed-top off-brand Gibsons from the same period. The worst thing I can say is that it needs some grommets behind the bridge to limit the ringing; considering I also say that about my Larson Brothers mandola, it's hardly a deal-breaker.
This particular mandolin is stamped Oct 4, 1935 on the inside of the back. The top and back are all solid and pressed into shape. Everything looks original, untouched and undamaged except for a few small dings around the edges. The neck is as straight as you'll ever find on an 80-year old mandolin, truss rod or not, with a nice chunky profile.
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