A first mandolin

[writeremc]

Good morning, I am looking for guidance about what to look for in a first mandolin. I would like to get my partner one as a gift. He is a musician and has played mandolins a handful of times.

I've seen a few secondhand mandolins for sale, but after doing some research, I realized those were not necessarily the way to go - a Hondo was listed in my area, as was a Johnson a model MA-100.

Though I am not looking to spend $500+ on a first mandolin, could anyone provide information about what to be looking for in this instance? Are there true mandolins that are not extremely expensive that can serve as good starters? Any insights will be much appreciated!

[keith.rogers]

You'll have better odds of getting something that plays well by shopping at some of the sponsors here, or shops known for their acoustic instrument setups done.

Around here, Kentucky and Eastman seem to get the most "nods" for entry instruments, but they do start around that $500 number. A well set-up instrument of another brand can be fine for a first instrument, IMO, but, again, look at some of the listings at sponsor sites to see what brands are there. If it's a brand sold only at Amazon, Walmart, etc., then I'd skip those.

[allenhopkins]

For about half of your $500, you can get a student level instrument like the Rover RM-50. It has a solid wood top (a plus), which is machine-carved rather than heat-pressed (another plus). If you get it from a store like Elderly Instruments, they do a shop set-up which eliminates the need for you to get the instrument professionally set up (bridge height & location, nut checked, neck checked and truss rod adjusted if necessary, etc.). Mandolins need more adjustment and tweaking -- or at least more pro checking of how they come from the factory -- than guitars, as a general rule; function of the un-fixed adjustable bridge, mainly.

I note Elderly is sold out of RM-50's at present, but says they can be "special ordered" and gives a phone number. Not as nice an instrument as, say, a Kentucky KM-150 or an Eastman MD305, but around half the price.

[rcc56]

.. duplicate post

[rcc56]

Some of the Johnsons that I have seen were pretty awful. Rover might be a better choice if your budget is very limited.
Or, since he already plays a little bit, you could give him a gift certificate or go shopping with him and let him make a choice.

[jaycat]

I second Allen's advice. I started on a Rover RM-50 and it was a nifty little mando for the money. Here's one cheap, perhaps not set-up, but at that price you could afford to pay for one.

[JEStanek]

I wrote this advice over a decade ago and I believe the advice is still good. Your first mandolin needn't cost a fortune. Where you get it is more important that which model you get. For a new player, set up is the absolute key. Talks of tone and projection are a bit silly at that point.an all plywood thick finished mandolin will still sound like a mandolin to most listeners.

Buying a first instrument from a shop that will set it up properly so its ready to play out of the box is the most important. Plus, those shops often have return policies of there is anything structurally wrong with the instrument.

Jamie

[writeremc]

Thanks everyone for weighing in here. I really appreciate the guidance and insights. I hope to share where I land with this gift.

[Jim Garber]

It is nice to buy someone a pricey present but you do mention that he is a musician. I wonder in that case it might be more sensible to give him a hand-made gift certificate toward a mandolin. I would guess that a bottom of the line beginners mandolin might not work too well for a person who has a $2000-4000 guitar, say and has been playing for multiple years. Just my two cents. If he wasn’t a musician I might say go ahead with the low priced mandolin but I am afraid he might be stuck with a wall hanger. Maybe better to take him shopping and contribute to the final price.

[pheffernan]

Thanks everyone for weighing in here. I really appreciate the guidance and insights. I hope to share where I land with this gift.

I’ve always thought that a flattop makes a fine first mandolin that still has a role with the addition of a second or even third one:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/184254#184254

[Jim Garber]

I’ve always thought that a flattop makes a fine first mandolin that still has a role with the addition of a second or even third one:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/184254#184254

I agree. I just got a 39 year old Flatiron and it plays wonderfully. Good recommendation.