Re: Seeking Advice for Next Mandolin
Originally Posted by
Litsinger
I currently have a Kentucky KM-160 which has been a great starter mandolin. My only real complaint with it is that the neck is a bit tight for me as I am a native guitar player and I am coming to the mandolin as my second instrument...
I am looking to upgrade a step or two up and would prefer something with a wider neck and preferably domestically made.
As to style and sound I play a wide variety of music so I am open to options that don't necessarily fit the bluegrass sound or look - so A's and ovals are o.k. by me.
I also play in electrified settings, so something with a pick-up or able to readily accept one is a bonus.
In your price range, you could get an Eastman 614 or 615 --- which include a pick-up --- or 814 or 815, which are supposed to be a better build, but don't come with a pick-up. However, people probably haven't been mentioning them because they aren't domestically made, and they all have a narrow (1 3/32") neck.
The pre-1922 Gibson A's are really hit-and-miss in terms of tone. An ad and photos can show you the condition of one, but they aren't going be able to tell whether that specific A is one with the magic and mojo. If you're willing to cover the shipping costs on a gamble, you might buy one that's in decent condition, with a 48-hour trial period.
I always thought that the Oregon-made Breedlove Quartzes were a great mandolin in their price range, back in the day. My first mandolin was a 1992 Kentucky KM250SC, and when I decided to upgrade in 2007, I bought a Quartz OF, which I liked way better than the Eastmans at that price point that I was playing in the store. A few years later, I upgraded to a Quartz FF that I bought through the Café Classifieds, which I thought had a similar tone to the OF, but with more oomph to it.
Since you're okay with ovals and you play in electrified settings, you might check into whether you or your local luthier will have an easier time installing a pick-up (probably a K&K Mini) through an oval hole than through an f-hole. That could be the tiebreaker for you with hole shape.
I've never played a Pomeroy or a Morris, so I can't comment on how they compare with the old Gibson A's or the Breedloves. If you search through Café threads, you'll find lots of people thrilled with both Pomeroys and Morrises, in addition to the ones who have replied to your post.
The good news is that whatever you decide to buy, if for whatever reason you aren't thrilled with it, you'll be able to sell it to someone else here for most of what you paid for it.
Whatever you decide to buy, though, play it solidly for at least 1/2-hour before making a final judgment about it, because a mandolin that's being sold often hasn't been played much recently, so it will need some time to wake up.
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