Sure looks like a deal to me. I got my N5S, which is *great*, last winter, used off Reverb and that's what I paid with taxes and shipping. I don't need another, or I'd be on the phone to my fiddler friend who's up in CO playing some gigs right now and see if he could swing a side trip to Boulder...
2018 Kentucky KM-950, 2017 Ellis A5 Deluxe
I saw this one on Reverb earlier and am considering it. That crack in the soundboard does give me pause though...
At this point basically weighing the F-style Northfield with the crack... an A-Style Northfield in fairly mint condition for a similar price.... and also have my eye on this Ratliff that's been posted for awhile. Was watching some videos on his youtube channel which definitely help sell that one https://reverb.com/item/56073845-rat...y-boy-mandolin
Arsenal:
Turkey Creek #63 | Gibson F-5 MSC | Martin D-18 GE | Eastman E20D-tc
I inquired with the seller on this one because it piqued my interest as well. He provided me with a lot of pictures, and the crack in the soundboard was the main reason I decided to pass. He had receipts and tickets from the person who repaired it, so ideally it should be structurally sound, but visually its quite jarring. Can't beat the price though.
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/192221#192221
Paul Scheider worked for Gibson before heading out on his own to build Summit mandolins. This would be one of his fancier models with the full binding.
This one. Get this one.
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/192246#192246
You can't get there from here.
I came here to post this as well.
I have a sale set up to go already, or I'd have bought this on the spot.
This would be a good 'un as well:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/192247#192247
2018 Girouard Concert oval A
2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
1969 Martin 00-18
my Youtube channel
Agree with both the Girouard and Flatiron suggestions. Had a Flatiron like that and it was a great instrument. Comfortable neck and very punchy sound.
There are a number of really good deals out there right now for folks that are looking. Might be the best I've seen in a few years.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
I think the best bang for the buck is the professional Eastman MD615. Solid woods , hand carved F style. Same build quality as a Gibson F5. For about $1700. . Go online and read about them. I just bought a Eastman DT30D guitar for $2200 and every bit as good as a Martin HD28. Think better.
I think a lot of people do not realize how good Eastman instruments are. All hand made. The guitars are extremely popular. If you go to you tube there are many comparisons to the HD 28 and the Eastman E20D . I just played the E10D at San Diego Summergrass and it was one of the best guitars I have ever played. I have a Weber fern but if I was just starting out I would get the Eastman MD 615. Also , mandolins are a crap shoot , at a huge guitar store I played a $10,000 Weber anniversary model and it sounded weak and thin. Then I played a plain $3400 Weber F type and it sounded twice as good.
You are right. The mD 515 is about the same. All handmade with solid woods and great attention to detail. I like both mandolins. Eastman is a big deal. Their guitars are now some of the best in the world. No kidding.
The current MD6xx models come with a K&K pickup pre-installed and have block inlay and a pickguard. Otherwise I think you can consider them essentially the same as the MD5xx models, though, even there, individual instruments might vary widely even if the model# is the same.
2018 Kentucky KM-950, 2017 Ellis A5 Deluxe
This one just hit the marketplace. https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/192473#192473
Ane of course this hits right after I bought the one with the repaired crack top (to be fair im pretty stoked with this one's tone and setup)
Arsenal:
Turkey Creek #63 | Gibson F-5 MSC | Martin D-18 GE | Eastman E20D-tc
Very good deal on that NF5S!
Girouard Concert A5
Girouard Custom A4
Nordwall Cittern
Barbi Mandola
Crump OM-1s Octave
www.singletonstreet.com
Northfield MA new is around $2500 new. They are excellent.
Collings MT used to be the go-to for the 2k market, but now they are $3500 new.
Living’ in the Mitten
That was about my budget, too. I decided to order a two-point from Larry Muth:
https://muthmandolins.com/prices-orders.html
I owned an E20D-TC for a year before I traded up for a Martin. The build quality was immaculate but the tone was not an HD28, good, but not a Martin voice. The wound strings were too muddy for flatpicking IMO. Also, Eastman has now switched over from a dovetail neck joint to Bourgeois' bolt on design and from nitro finish to the catalyzed finish Bourgeois uses- I would think these changes would influence to voicing further away from a Martin voice if that's what you're seeking at a lower price.
The 515 is an exceptional deal. A LOT of sound for that amount of money. The one I worked on and set up was a very loud mandolin. Perhaps lacking in the subtleties of a pricier mandolin but tons of volume and punch compared to anything else in that price range. Be prepared to upgrade the tuners (not expensive) because the stock ones are a bear to use. Also, the ones I've seen come with the old style narrow gauge (~0.052" wide) frets which take grooves pretty quickly. If you play it for years you'll likely need a refret.
I have to totally disagree with you here. But in a good way. I own a 2002 Weber Absaroka F-hole. Signed by Bruce Weber. The 2 to 3 K price tag is about 1 K to high. To compare and oval hole versus and F-hole would be in the ear of the player . In my opinion a Weber Absaroka is an excellent choice . I've also owned a Flatiron F-5 Artist. Although ya can compare the Absaroka with the Flatiron. I find the Absaroka a very fine instrument.
Wondering if the OP got a mandolin. If so what?
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Bookmarks