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Thread: Want to get back to it.

  1. #1

    Default Want to get back to it.

    Hello everybody. My wife had some health troubles that have needed my full attention for the last year, not Covid related. Anyway, she's beginning to feel pretty good and it seems like she's going to make a full recovery. I gave my mandolin away when it all started, which is ok because I was pretty lousy anyway. Now, I'm ready to tackle it again. I learned that scrimping on a mando ( and guitar, and everything else) slows things way down. So, I need to buy one. I figure I can spend about $2000 for mando, case, and set up. I'd wish I could spend more, but I believe that 2K should get me a pretty decent instrument. I'm leading toward Kentuckys, but I'm not sure why. If any of you could point me at some Kentuckys or other makers, I would be grateful.

  2. #2
    Registered User J Mangio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Want to get back to it.

    You will get lots of suggestions; buy used, A style, or the darlings of the cafe; Eastman or Kentucky.
    After selling off my Gibson F9 and Kentucky KM 1000 for a The Loar LM700, I couldn't be happier. If I was to do it over I would jump on the new LM 700 blem that The Mandolin Store is selling for $800.
    Last edited by J Mangio; May-14-2021 at 2:17pm.
    2021 The Loar LM700 VS

  3. #3
    Playing on the porch
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    A Hilltop in Central Texas
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    Default Re: Want to get back to it.

    Howdy,

    I moved to the mandolin about 4 years ago and bought an Eastman 515, F-style, mandolin. With the instrument, case and setup, it came inside your budget easily.
    ---
    2021 Ellis F5 Special #564 mandolin
    1928 Roth violin
    2016 Eastman MD515 mandolin
    1907 Foltz violin

  4. #4
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Fort Lauderdale, FL
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    3,859

    Default Re: Want to get back to it.

    Quote Originally Posted by TonyT View Post
    If any of you could point me at some Kentuckys or other makers, I would be grateful.
    If I had a $2000 budget, I'd be looking for a used A5 from an independent builder or small shop:

    https://www.denverfolklore.com/shop/...-x57158415.htm

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/171061#171061
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

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  6. #5
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Apr 2016
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    Portland, OR
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    735

    Default Re: Want to get back to it.

    A $2K budget opens up a whole world of possibilities.

    If you are good with an A style, then:
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/171061#171061

    If you need an F, maybe a Ratliff Country Boy like this one at Elderly:
    https://www.elderly.com/collections/...-mandolin-case

    You'll find that Cafe members love spending other people's money....
    "Keep your hat on, we may end up miles from here..." - Kurt Vonnegut

  7. #6

    Default Re: Want to get back to it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kevin Winn View Post
    A $2K budget opens up a whole world of possibilities.

    If you are good with an A style, then:
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/171061#171061

    If you need an F, maybe a Ratliff Country Boy like this one at Elderly:
    https://www.elderly.com/collections/...-mandolin-case

    You'll find that Cafe members love spending other people's money....
    Great suggestion but Elderly does not have one in stock. Ratliff Country boys have gone up quite a bit since then. The A5's are currently $1750 and the F5's are $2250.
    http://ratliffmandolins.com/new/specsandprices/

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