Hello from a noob

[notamusician]

I bought a $50 Rogue mandolin from MF a few years ago, because I love the sound of a mandolin and I wanted to try one. I quickly gave up on it after it shredded my fingers though. I gave it to my bro in law. He recently gave it back to me. I tuned it up and played it a bit, and again wound up with very sore fingers. Being a wannabe guitar player for a good long time, I've learned a few things about setups, and after these years without that mandolin, I quickly realized that the setup on it was really bad.

I leveled the frets a bit, filed the nut slots down, lowered the bridge, and set the intonation, and suddenly this thing is surprisingly easy to fret, and for a cheapo laminate and my untrained ears, it sounds pretty decent. It's the first instrument other than a guitar that I could actually make some passable sounding noise on.

I really love the nice orderly and logical perfect fifths tuning. Makes figuring out chords and scales quite easy, compared to a guitar.

I believe I'm hooked.

[MikeEdgerton]

Welcome to the Cafe. You can never own too many mandolins.

[Mando Mort]

The 'hooked' part is easy if you spend any time at all with a mandolin...Welcome to the mando world

[kurth83]

Well let us know when you want to upgrade, pretty sure you can start at $150 and the sky is the limit, although $2kish can get a low-end (no frills) pro quality instrument used, new is closer to $3kish.

And there are many levels in between. :-)

And enjoy it, sometimes the most fun mandos are the first ones, not the best, but the most fun.

Consider taking lessons... To get the playing fundamentals right.

[Stacey Morris]

Welcome, notamusician! This is a good place.

[Paul Busman]

Welcome! You'll get a lot of good advice here.
Don't think about upgrading until you feel you're comfortable on the mandolin and know a couple of tunes pretty well.Until then you won't be equipped to make a good decision on a new instrument. When the time comes, don't get tied up in "it's more expensive so it's better and I'll like it more" land.The best instrument,of any kind,is the one you like the best regardless of price.

[RustyMadd]

Welcome to the hippest mandolin hangout on the web "notamusician". Hopefully within a few short years you will pick a genre to focus on and we will help you change your handle to "agoodmusician".

These guys and girls on this board are some of the most informed and considerate people you could ever meet. Everyone here is interested in your progress and I'm sure if you give it a chance it will soon become your home on the web.

That ol' Rogue is an amazing instrument for the price and A-styles have such a nice bass.
We all wish you all the best on this exciting journey and if there is anything we can help clarify or expound upon please feel free (after searching existing threads for any related info) to post your questions, concerns, experiences, or anything else you wish to share, and these people will do the best they can to help you out.

If you haven't already, look for the setup guide and sign-up for the traveling pick sampler. Blessings

[Teak]

Be prepared for a life of callouses on your left hand finger tips. I practice at least 15 minutes every day to keep those calluses hard. Sometimes I have to play 2-hour sets and if I don't keep the finger tips tough, the set has to end before the two hours are up.

Someone in a different thread suggested super glue on the finger tips, but I am not that desperate yet.

[ukenukem]

This IS one of the friendliest user forum on the Net from my experience and I have learned so much so I bet you will as well. I have a Rogue as well, currently tuned ebf#c# using DR 12's.

[Denny Gies]

Glad to have you aboard, this is a great site. When MAS strikes, take two aspirin and call me in the morning. You'll have a lot of fun and frustration but it is all worth it once you pick out your first tune.

[Randi Gormley]

Welcome to the mandolin and the café!

[treidm]

notamusician:

WELCOME
And the journey begins, best of luck...

Reid

[Kevin Winn]

You'll be needing a different handle, now...

[Zach Wilson]

Welcome!

[JEStanek]

Welcome and enjoy.

Jamie

[HonketyHank]

Hi Nota. I think that being able to do a decent setup is a huge step. Welcome to the bunch.