Hora Octave Mandolin

[Almost Heaven]

Does anyone have an opinion on Hora Octave Mandolins made in Romania?

[poul hansen]

I have not played it much but it is very well built, just like the other Hora instruments, there is nothing to put a finger on.

I think they are the best value for money just now.

It sounds good as well but that is difficult to judge as I have only ever played this one.

I bought my mandola directly from the factory, no problems, just a few emails, as they don't have an online store as such.

I bought the mandolin from Thomann.

[Frolicks]

I should mention that was the first OM I ever put my hands on. But when that happened, about 1,5 years back, I had played plucked string instruments of different kinds for around 30 years. That’s just to inform you, that while I’m no OM specialist, I know what to look out for about an instrument.

To answer your question: I agree with Poul, it’s certainly excellent worth for your money. Very well built, no obvious flaws. After changing the stock strings, it had a really full boomy sound. Action was a little high for my liking, but then, it was my first OM. Maybe I just wasn’t used to it. I tightened the trussrod a nuance, and if I’d kept it, I’d certainly lowered the one-piece wooden bridge a tad. Reason I didn’t keep it: it just didn’t have the sound I was looking for. I went for the Eastman OM, which was it (and still is) for me. I prefer the more nasal sound. Although I also upgraded to a more guitar-bodied (well, kind of…) OM from Yair Stern (www.ystern.ca) recently. Completely different price class than the Hora, of course.
To summarize: you probably can’t go wrong on the Hora, I’d guess. Got mine from Thomann, too (https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann...olin_m1087.htm). They also have the same model with a pickup.