Best Mandolin under 1500

[Josh Levine]

I feel like you would need to play those to see if you like them. I haven't played too many of those Gibsons. I think there can be good ones and not so good ones. Guitar Center used to have a really generous return policy and reasonable shipping. If that is still the case you could have it shipped out and play it and if it doesn’t float your boat return it to a Guitar Center store and just pay the outbound shipping. Always good to call and talk to a sales associate about the instrument at the specific store and get there opinion, although sometimes they don’t know all that much about mandolins.

[Don Grieser]

Here's a video of a June mando FWIW. I'd be inclined to give it a try since Guitar Center has a good return policy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZ0t4PA7Lw

[Chance]

I feel like you would need to play those to see if you like them. I haven't played too many of those Gibsons. I think there can be good ones and not so good ones. Guitar Center used to have a really generous return policy and reasonable shipping. If that is still the case you could have it shipped out and play it and if it doesn’t float your boat return it to a Guitar Center store and just pay the outbound shipping. Always good to call and talk to a sales associate about the instrument at the specific store and get there opinion, although sometimes they don’t know all that much about mandolins.

Here's a video of a June mando FWIW. I'd be inclined to give it a try since Guitar Center has a good return policy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZ0t4PA7Lw

They still have a 45 day return policy so I don’t think there is too much risk involved in giving it a try.

[Chance]

I pulled the trigger on the June if it doesn’t seem to be to my liking I’ll return it.

[Don Grieser]

Congrats. Let us know how it works out. Be prepared to put new strings on it and check with Guitar Center if it needs truss rod adjustments or bridge adjustments so you don't void their return policy. Do you have a luthier or experienced player close by who can look it over for you? It would be good for you to hear it from the listener's perspective too. You could also get in touch with the builder. http://www.junemandolinsandguitars.com/ He's been building since 2001 so I think you'll be pleased with the mandolin.

[Chance]

Congrats. Let us know how it works out. Be prepared to put new strings on it and check with Guitar Center if it needs truss rod adjustments or bridge adjustments so you don't void their return policy. Do you have a luthier or experienced player close by who can look it over for you? It would be good for you to hear it from the listener's perspective too. You could also get in touch with the builder. http://www.junemandolinsandguitars.com/ He's been building since 2001 so I think you'll be pleased with the mandolin.

Good point I’ll check with them on that.

I do have a shop I use for my guitars I think they’ll be solid with the mandolin as well.

I will let you guys know how it goes.

[pops1]

Good point I’ll check with them on that.

I do have a shop I use for my guitars I think they’ll be solid with the mandolin as well.

I will let you guys know how it goes.

A lot of guitar repair folks have no clue when it comes to mandolin, it's not a little guitar and setup is different. Check that they actually are familiar with mandolins.

[Chance]

A lot of guitar repair folks have no clue when it comes to mandolin, it's not a little guitar and setup is different. Check that they actually are familiar with mandolins.

They do mandolin repairs and carry Collings and Eastman so I’m pretty confident they’ll be alright.

[Eric Platt]

Have seen good reviews of June mandolins. Think you made a fine choice. Would have told you to avoid the Gibson A50. Not that they are bad instruments, but that there are better deals to be had unless you have to have something with Gibson on the headstock.

[Chance]

Have seen good reviews of June mandolins. Think you made a fine choice. Would have told you to avoid the Gibson A50. Not that they are bad instruments, but that there are better deals to be had unless you have to have something with Gibson on the headstock.

I definitely don’t need a Gibson. I’m excited to get the June and try it out.

[Charles E.]

Any updates, did you get the June?

[Chance]

Any updates, did you get the June?

It’s supposed to arrive at GC tomorrow

[Dave Hanson]

My first Gibson was an A40 it was seriously a pile of junk, I sent it back to where I bought it and was refunded with abject apologies, the dealer saying he could'nt understand how such a poor conditioned instrument was sent out of the shop.

Incidently I bought several instruments from this dealer and the subsequent service was great and all the other mandolins I bought, from then were in top class condition.


Dave H

[Chance]

I just picked it up looks nice definitely needs new strings I will take it in to get it setup properly!

[Charles E.]

Looks nice!

[b4idie]

Be sure to let us know [after setup] how it sounds [and any other details].

[pops1]

Nice score, yes looking forward to hearing how it sounds.

[Chance]

Be sure to let us know [after setup] how it sounds [and any other details].

I’m planning to take it in Saturday hopefully they can get to it fairly quickly. Even with dead strings it sounds better than my fender ever did so I’m excited for how it will sound with new strings.

[Don Grieser]

It may be just fine as is. Use a 1.5mm pick as a feeler gauge to check the action at the 12th fret. It should just barely clear the strings--it shouldn't stick in the strings. Adjust the bridge up or down as needed. Sight down the neck from the peghead to see if the neck has excessive relief. Is it difficult to fret the strings at the first fret? Put new strings on now and enjoy it until they can get to it. Then you'll have some idea of what problems you want to make sure they address in the setup.

[CES]

Congrats! I wish I’d made it over to Walter’s shop when he was in Campobello, SC…

[Don Grieser]

Return that one to GC and grab this one. https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/201682#201682

[Chance]

Return that one to GC and grab this one. https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/201682#201682

This sucks I’m a sucker for gear. I think I’ll stick with the one I got but it’s awfully tempting haha!

[Chance]

It may be just fine as is. Use a 1.5mm pick as a feeler gauge to check the action at the 12th fret. It should just barely clear the strings--it shouldn't stick in the strings. Adjust the bridge up or down as needed. Sight down the neck from the peghead to see if the neck has excessive relief. Is it difficult to fret the strings at the first fret? Put new strings on now and enjoy it until they can get to it. Then you'll have some idea of what problems you want to make sure they address in the setup.

Ok I’ll give that a try tomorrow before I bring it in. The action doesn’t seem to bad from what I’ve seen on mandolins.

[Jim Garber]

Return that one to GC and grab this one. https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/201682#201682

How do you know that one is better? Or are you just kidding?

[michaelsondavid81]

There are so many good options under your budget! I have been playing McNeela Premium F-Style Mandolin which is reasonable and the best option if you want to upgrade your sound also ideal for playing folk, country, blues and, of course, traditional Irish music.