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Thread: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

  1. #1
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    Default Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    My 34 year old daughter sings in a progressive Bluegrass, Americana, alt-country band, and has recently gotten serious about playing mandolin. She got a Kentucky mandolin years ago, and a guitar, but neither one "took" until she started the band a year ago.

    When I say serious, I mean Collings MT2 serious! She got it a month ago, is taking lessons, and practicing as much as she can.

    I would like to get her a $50 or less mando-centric Christmas gift, and would love some suggestions. I know, I can look in the classifieds and search the internet (which I'm doing), but I thought someone here might have a brilliant idea.

    She has a strap and a tuner, but I'm considering upgrading one of them.

    Let me hear from you, and happy Holidays!

    Riley
    Riley

    Kentucky KM-250

    Guitars:
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    The Loar LH-250
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  2. #2
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Fancy picks are always cool. Blue Chip, Red Bear and D'Addario Chris Thile models are just a few names.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  4. #3

    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Tone guard?
    Song books?
    $50 could go towards lessons?
    PIcks as suggested above are good.

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  6. #4
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    A tad over budget but this....

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/179812#179812

    I was thinking of the string winder.

    NFI
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  8. #5
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    https://shop.bluechippick.net/products/CT55.html

    You could get her a Blue Chip ct55 (or other style depending on what she likes) with her name engraved on it. I still have fond memories of the Christmas day when I received mine.

    I also really like Lakota leathers straps.

    https://www.lakotaleathers.com/

  9. #6
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    I’m with Zach. A Dudenbostal string wonder would be cool, too!

  10. #7
    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    I'd go with a wooden string winder for mandolin - plenty of nice looking ones and is a must for all mandolinist. I know The Mandolin Store sells some, but you can search for a lot of varieties - all under $50. Especially as she plays out more, having one of these can be a lifesaver when a string pops at a gig.

    Other ideas:

    ToneGard if she doesn't have one - though that's around $70 - $80

    An assortment of picks if she hasn't found "hers" yet. Get a bunch of different types and thicknesses so she can try a few varieties.

    Books can be good if she's in to that - I've been loving the Dawg books I recently got. They all have 2 sections - one with standard notation and tab and one with just standard notation.

    The Amazing Slower Downer - not mandolin specific but is ~$50 and is probably the best music tool I have. I've owned the software for at least 9 years and have moved it on to new computers without additional costs. It's an amazing tool.
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  11. #8
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Peterson Stroboclip tuner.
    Or 5 different sets of good strings, so she can see how her nice mando can change its voice.
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  12. #9

    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Gift card to a small business like a strings place where she can pick out what she wants.

  13. #10
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by rfloyd View Post
    She has a strap and a tuner, but I'm considering upgrading one of them.
    Quote Originally Posted by Zach Wilson View Post
    I also really like Lakota leathers straps.

    https://www.lakotaleathers.com/
    I agree! I have one of their braided flat straps that I love. It's really comfortable, and it looks great.
    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  14. #11

    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Strings!!!

  15. #12
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    An armrest? Whether you need one is a bit subjective, but the inlaid ones from Hill County Stringworks are very nice and definitely worthy of being given as a Christmas present...

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  17. #13
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    I gave a friend a personalized little wooden pick tray last Christmas for his guitar picks, with an assortment of new picks wrapped inside. Found it on Etsy for about $25. I think it was actually advertised just as a small wooden bowl but it works great.

  18. #14

    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Banjo Ben, and Northfield have a nice variety of mando-centric stuff. I would think a gift certificate would be welcome.
    Girouard Concert A5
    Girouard Custom A4
    Nordwall Cittern
    Barbi Mandola
    Crump OM-1s Octave
    www.singletonstreet.com

  19. #15

    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    My suggestion would be a set of classic Bluegrass recordings, perhaps the "Bill Monroe - Anthology" 2 disc set. Listening to and copying the old tunes helped me the most.

  20. #16
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    The M-cafe Baseball cap?

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  21. #17
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Something I used to do for friends, is find a local leather worker, and have a personalized strap made with the person's name embossed.

    Likely to exceed your budget limit, but I've often had a feeling of warmth, playing with a friend who's using a personal strap I've given them.

    I have a guitar strap that someone had made for me, and I use it all the time.
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  22. #18
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Arm rest - ~$25
    Tone Guard - ~$75
    Mandolin Stand - $25-$150+
    Wooden mando-size string winder - ~$50
    Lakota Leathers strap - ~$50
    American Mandolin Method Volume 1 & 2 by Brian Wicklund - ~$50
    Eastman MD-514 (F body, Sitka & maple, oval hole)
    Klos Carbon Fiber (on order)

    And still saving my nickels & dimes & bottle caps & breakfast cereal box tops for my lifetime mandolin.

  23. #19
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Maybe some sort of gift/voucher from David Grisman's label Acoustic Disc?

    https://acousticdisc.com/

    So much amazing and generally essential listening mandolin-based music there, from many performers (though all of Grisman's own music is essential listening in my view).

    And good luck to her! It's great that she's so keen.
    David A. Gordon

  24. #20
    Registered User Doug Edwards's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

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  25. #21
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Doug, is that an arm rest and two pick bowls?

    I need to get a nice pick bowl. I currently use a cat food dish, and it ticks off the cat.
    Eastman MD-514 (F body, Sitka & maple, oval hole)
    Klos Carbon Fiber (on order)

    And still saving my nickels & dimes & bottle caps & breakfast cereal box tops for my lifetime mandolin.

  26. #22

    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    +1 on a Blue Chip CT-55- she has a great mandolin, a Blue Chip will bring out it's full potential sound
    As a stage musician, a good stand is essential for someone who switches off on instruments- it's way too easy for instruments to get knocked off a cheap stand, here's an option:
    https://www.amazon.com/Hercules-UKS1...ruments&sr=1-2

  27. #23
    Playing on the porch
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Two things come to mind. 1. Buying something from the Mandolin Cafe store. There, I've done my duty.

    Another thought would be to buy her something she might not buy herself. I'm a big fan of strings, but I suspect many folks would not want to shell out roughly $50 for a set of mandolin strings that might not produce the sound they want. I really like Thomastik Infeld M154 mandolin strings, but I am admittedly an old violinist who is always looking for something that brings out those qualities. I buy my TI strings from Elderly Instruments in Michigan. Other places carry them as well.

    There, my two cents, or $50.

    Happy Holidays!
    ---
    2021 Ellis F5 Special #564 mandolin
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    1907 Foltz violin

  28. #24
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Edwards View Post
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    I got one of your pick boxes last year from my DH. I love it! I have eight picks in it, and I think it could hold a couple more.

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  30. #25
    Registered User Doug Edwards's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin Gift Suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
    Doug, is that an arm rest and two pick bowls?

    I need to get a nice pick bowl. I currently use a cat food dish, and it ticks off the cat.
    Yes. I’m trying to visualize a cat bowl.

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