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Thread: Anyone heard of "Koda", particularly their CGDA mandola model?

  1. #1
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    Default Anyone heard of "Koda", particularly their CGDA mandola model?

    I have several nicer mando-family instruments, but I was debating getting a beater mandola for house parties and things, so I was shopping around because it generally seems the usual makers of cheapies rarely make a CGDA mandola variant.

    I checked eBay and ran across a brand called "Koda", and they make a mandola that's a very reasonable $225, but I'm in the US so it'd be another $60 to ship from Ireland. I dug around a little and apparently Koda is an import (China) brand marketed mainly in Ireland for cheap guitars and mandolins which are maybe okay for the price. Is anyone familiar with the brand?

    Given the difficulty of finding any mandola in this price range, is $285 and then maybe I get $75 of settup work done by a luthier (which I presume it could use) to have it running smooth? Like as long as it isn't falling apart, $350ish for a functional mandola doesn't sound bad even if the shipping is a bitter pill.

    I will say though that for folks in the UK or EU that sounds like a pretty sweet deal so long as it isn't total junk.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Anyone heard of "Koda", particularly their CGDA mandola model

    Koda, Ozark, and a few other names appear on that instrument's headstock.

    https://www.stentor-music.com/brands...-mandola-2326/

    I think you'd be better served with a decent secondhand instrument. For an archtop/carved top, probably the least expensive decent one I run across regularly is the Eastman MDA305, around $700, and the lowest-priced decent flattop is the Mid Missouri, later renamed the Big Muddy. Keep an eye on the classifieds over a few months, and be patient.

    Good luck!

  3. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone heard of "Koda", particularly their CGDA mandola model

    I looked at their Octave mandola and it is the same as as the ones branded Hora, made in Romania. I have heard they are not too bad for the price but you also have to factor in some setup costs to make them especially playable.
    Jim

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    Default Re: Anyone heard of "Koda", particularly their CGDA mandola model

    Thanks @Explorer and @Jim Garber!

    That helps get a feel for what budget product lines this model is part of. I'll keep an eye out for used options, but at the moment even new (and I can do some basic settup at home), this "Koda" instrument is half the cost of even a used decent mandola, so still on my radar for a beater.

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