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Thread: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful list)

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    Default US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful list)

    Hey all, I initially was going to make a Google drive and a shared excel file for this since its a commonly asked question, but figured I could just put what I have currently into a post. So the ever present question or inquiry of wanting a solid US made instrument (usually asking for an F-style) for under (insert your price). Given the question is usually coming in for someone stepping up from their first lower end Kentucky, The Loar or other, I'll keep it hovering around the $1500 mid range mark and put info I have for both A and F style where applicable. I have no financial interest here, just know that some of the threads are older and just today I have found another new to me builder or two to include on the list. Very exciting!

    Rag Mandolins - Upstate NY. Roy's mandolins hover around the $1500 mark for an F style mandolin. I have spoken to a handful of owners and they sing the praises of tone and playability over "fanciness", as they have been lauded as being a bit more rustic in finish. https://ragmandolins.com/

    Morris - Oregon. Flat top A's around $650. Carved A's $950. I haven't seen an F style come from Sonny in a while, but I'd venture to guess if you reached out they would be around the $1500 mark. No website, but he keeps mighty busy and his mandolins are always showing up in the classifieds. Always seen positive input on these instruments and their simplicity, highlight playability over flash.

    Ratliff - Tennessee. Audey has made a large large number of instruments! The Country Boys have less "bling" but the A's start at 1500 and Fs at 2k. Then going up from there on the more dressed to impress mandolins. Highly regarded around these parts. http://ratliffmandolins.com/new/index.php

    Mia - Arkansas. This one just popped up in some searches for me today. Interesting finishing choices. Very folksy and whimsical. A's, F's, octaves. F styles for $950 without a pickup. ~1100 with. A style octave for 1400. A style "celtic" *(oval hole) for 700. Bright colors. https://www.clarindasmusic.com/

    Boeh - Minnesota. I saw a used A style Boeh go in the classifieds a few months back for a deep discount. I think it was sub 1k. Steve's website has been down for a while, but I feel like he is worth mentioning because the fit and finish work looks like an instrument far more than what I have seen for prices listed in the past.

    Dubova - Virginia. I love to watch Michael's videos demo-ing his instruments. Super helpful and always entertaining to see the progress. He too has a lot of really interesting designs. Varying style sound holes, some rad looking electric mandolins, interesting color choices for finishing work. He frequently uses really beautiful wood for his backs. I think he had a recent price increase due to material costs and popularity, but still is within the more affordable domestic instrument. He sells on Etsy and I don't often see his instruments come up in discussion here, which is surprising to me. A styles around 1350. https://dubovainstruments.wordpress.com/

    Cross - Tennessee Ok, Cross mandos are just above the threshold, but I though they would be worth mentioning anyway. 2k. https://crossmandolins.com/

    Heron Creek Mandolins Maryland. Really nice looking fit and finish on these. Similarly to the Boeh. 1600 for F styles as far as I can tell.

    What else you guys seeing out there for US made instruments around this range?

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    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Northfield Calhoun comes to mind.
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
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    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    I'm not sure about current pricing but I think Ken Ratcliff (cafe user name kyken), Silverangel mandolins, will build a fully carved A style for around $1500. Disclosure: I am a fan of his work (I own an A and an F style) and consider him a friend.

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Big Muddy Mandolins & Mandolas in Rocheport, Missouri: https://www.bigmuddymandolin.com/
    Price range: $380-1100 plus case, accessories
    ---
    Bruce
    Fairview, TX

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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Not USA made but our neighbor to the north makes a very nice mandolin...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/174601#174601

    NFI

    For flat tops in the USA I would also mention Crystal Forest mandolins.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Old Guy Mike Scott's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Uh, how about Silverangel econo or used A's. oops-already posted
    Thanks

    Several mandolins of varying quality-any one of which deserves a better player than I am.......

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    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    I hope maybe you got this one as its already sold pending payment...https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/174651#174651

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Per recent thread, some Flatirons and some Gibson A-9's. Also Silverangel,

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...atiron-A-value
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    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis


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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Girouard Concert A5
    Girouard Custom A4
    Nordwall Cittern
    Barbi Mandola
    Crump OM-1s Octave
    www.singletonstreet.com

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Another vote for Ken Ratcliff Silverangel A.
    Girouard A
    Silverangel A
    Eastman 615

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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Quote Originally Posted by bwnunnally View Post
    Big Muddy Mandolins & Mandolas in Rocheport, Missouri: https://www.bigmuddymandolin.com/
    Price range: $380-1100 plus case, accessories
    That was the first thing that popped in my head when i saw the title of this thread. These mandolins are great and have every chance of being one's forever mandolin, even possibly one's only forever mandolin.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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    funny....

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    My mandolins are all hand made in my shop (one man) using materials from local mills and suppliers.. They are made from LOAR style prints as close as possible.. My A style mandos start at $1000 and F style mandolins start at $1500.. All of my mandolins are made the same skill that I can muster....
    kterry

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    What I play
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    +1 for RAG mandolins

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Excellent suggestions and input everyone. For the sake of this I was going for "new" instruments...used is an entirely different rabbit hole. Can't believe I forgot Big Muddy and other pancake/ A-N styles in my initial list (Red Line, Crystal Forest, the Calhoun). Good call there! Happy pickin' folks.

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    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    some press on the mandolincafe regarding https://troublesomecreekguitars.com Their line includes a flat-top mandolin.

    f-d
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Very cool looking Blues Hardware mandos, available at Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments in Missoula.
    2010 Campanella A-5
    1923 Gibson A2

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Quote Originally Posted by fatt-dad View Post
    some press on the mandolincafe regarding https://troublesomecreekguitars.com Their line includes a flat-top mandolin.

    f-d
    Oh wow. Those HM series look a lot like the Waterloo by Collings flat tops. Beautiful!

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    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    I am anxious to get some of those Troublesome Creek instruments in my hands to try out. It is a great idea and I know some of the people involved. I really hope it works out well for them. If the mandolins are at least decent I hope to get one.

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    Registered User Steve 2E's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Rucker View Post
    I am anxious to get some of those Troublesome Creek instruments in my hands to try out. It is a great idea and I know some of the people involved. I really hope it works out well for them. If the mandolins are at least decent I hope to get one.
    As fatt-dad said to me in this thread:https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ublesome-Creek

    "Go for it!"

    I'm glad I did, thanks f-d!

    I'll add Red Valley to the list.http://www.redvalleymandolins.com
    Last edited by Steve 2E; Aug-11-2021 at 4:29pm.

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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Phil Shipplett:

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    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: US Made Mandolins "around $1500" (a...hopefully...helpful lis

    Quote Originally Posted by buckhorn View Post
    My mandolins are all hand made in my shop (one man) using materials from local mills and suppliers.. They are made from LOAR style prints as close as possible.. My A style mandos start at $1000 and F style mandolins start at $1500.. All of my mandolins are made the same skill that I can muster....
    I recently saw someone in the parking lot at a concert in NH picking one of your F style mandos. It looked and sounded great, so i made a point of getting a look at the headstock to see whose it was.

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