Interested in picking up mandolin, advice on buying first.

[sja33]

Hey folks. An update to my post back in March. I bought the Big Muddy flat top Mandolin. I am loving it, and practicing a lot to try and get it down. It is challenging and fun! Anyway, not that I should do this, but I'll ask anyway. With me now owning a flat top Mando, what would be the logical next Mandolin to look at? Still to just play on my back porch only. Sounds? features? anything different that might be of interest? I saw a lot of suggestions above. But now with the flat top on board, what's next? Thanks for all your expert advice.

[pheffernan]

Hey folks. An update to my post back in March. I bought the Big Muddy flat top Mandolin. I am loving it, and practicing a lot to try and get it down. It is challenging and fun! Anyway, not that I should do this, but I'll ask anyway. With me now owning a flat top Mando, what would be the logical next Mandolin to look at? Still to just play on my back porch only. Sounds? features? anything different that might be of interest? I saw a lot of suggestions above. But now with the flat top on board, what's next? Thanks for all your expert advice.

The biggest contrast for a flattop with an oval hole would be an archtop with f-holes. If you have significantly increased your budget, you might consider this new Collings:

https://themusicemporium.com/products/collings-mt-lefty

A more affordable alternative for porch picking would be this used Eastman:

https://sunvalleyguitars.com/product...o-setup-lefty/

[BBarton]

This is too late, but Peter Sawchyn in Regina, SK, has a used Beavertail F/S at his store: Sawchyn Guitars, Regina, SK, Canada. (NFI) Patterned after the old Flatiron flattops (and similar to what you're ordering), Peter makes these with all solid woods (spruce, flame maple, etc.) and they are very well made. He's asking $800 CDN, or about $650 US.