Bought my first mandolin... and yeah it's a Rogue

[Reid1]

Hello. I'm new to the forum. Bit of background: I do play guitar, not the best but I sound OK in my kitchen and friends always want me to play at parties. Really though, for the most part I just like to play for fun at home within no one to hear other than myself.
At a party a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to try someone's mandolin. For the 15 minutes I fiddled with it I had a lot of fun and decided maybe an inexpensive mandolin would be fun to have around and to learn on. I did check out some of the mandolins at local music shops but even the most basic Epiphone was about $300 locally with tax (Canada).
Anyway I saw the Rogue on Musician's Friend for $49.99 and figured it I could not go wrong. Before pulling the trigger though I came into the Mandolin Cafe and read a LOT of threads on this mandolin. After reading them I decided to hold off and maybe look around for a better instrument.
The next day I went onto MF and then also checked out Musician 123. What did I see at 123 but the Rogue Mandolin Beginner's pack on for half price - $39.99 and free shipping. So that's a mandolin, gig bag, chord book, and Hal Martin book for about 10 bucks each and $10 less than the bargain mandolin was on it's own... Look, I'm sorry but that was just too cheap to pass up
I figure at worst I'll be able to get started with this mandolin and if it is truly bad I can us it as an emergency paddle in my boat. I can for the most part set it up and string it myself, as long as it is not too out of whack. I'm a bit lucky as well in that I have a very good shop nearby who can set it up for a very reasonable price, knowing that if I like the mandolin I'll be back to them for a real one within six months LOL! They've been down this road before on cheap guitars

[Mike Bunting]

Can't lose at that price. That'll get you going doing some kitchen picking, and no big loss if you get bored with it and if you love it, you'll have a better idea of what you want when you move up.

[TonyEarth]

don't worry, i've had a rogue for about 2 years (still consider myself a newbie), i think they're pretty good or decent for their price at least. but then again, its the only mandolin i've owned so maybe when compared to other high end mandolins its bad. i think for a beginner its good. i didn't even have it set up, just played it right out of the box. you can always get a better one later if you really like it i'm thinking of doing that after i get my electric.

[catmandu2]

congrats!

[allenhopkins]

...I can for the most part set it up and string it myself, as long as it is not too out of whack. I'm a bit lucky as well in that I have a very good shop nearby who can set it up for a very reasonable price, knowing that if I like the mandolin I'll be back to them for a real one within six months...

Well, you (or your friends at the shop) will undoubtedly have to do some set-up, but that's OK. I think little of Rogue instruments, but you're right: if you can get a mandolin and gig bag for less than the price of a good restaurant meal, why the heck not? If it's an absolutely unplayable total-P.O.S. "mandolin-shaped object," you're out the price of taking someone to a bad movie, then out for ice cream. And if you keep it for six months, learn two dozen chords and a decent tremolo, then get $25 as a trade-in on a solid-top Kentucky -- well, you couldn't have rented it for that little.

There is a place in the Great Mandolin Hierarchy for the bottom-feeders, the mandolins we buy to give our nine-year-old nephew who will probably play for six weeks then decide he's really a drummer, the ones we take winter camping, the ones we keep under the desk at the office to play on lunch hours, the ones we paint with silver Rust-Oleum, fill up to the soundhole with potting soil, and hang on the wall to hold a philodendron.* As long as we're realistic that we're not getting more than our $40 worth, everything's fine.

Get some decent strings, fer sure.

* And, I should add, the ones we loan our friends who "always wanted to try playing mandolin."

[Reid1]

Thanks Guys! I can't wait to get it. I had is shipped to a relative in the U.S. who is coming up to visit at Christmas so I won't see it for a few weeks.
I've bought my share of cheap guitars over the years so I have a pretty good idea of what a 'value' instrument is like. Honestly it can't possibly be any worse than my first used cheapie guitar and I got through that. At least this time I already have callouses!

[Reid1]

"And if you keep it for six months, learn two dozen chords and a decent tremolo, then get $25 as a trade-in on a solid-top Kentucky -- well, you couldn't have rented it for that little."

You're reading my mail... LOL! Actually, if it's at all playable and I like the mandolin enough to upgrade, I'll probably keep it as a beach mandolin. In fact I already planned ahead for that by ordering it in black... my ultimate really nice mandolin will be sunburst :-)

[Mattg]

You may outgrow it quickly but it's a good place to start. After you've played for awhile, you will come to understand what you want in a mandolin. This will help you with your next purchase. I think alot of folks took this same route. I know I did on both the mandolin and the guitar.

There are many guitar to mandolin converts. I'm one of them. While I still play the guitar, I consider the mandolin my main instrument.

Have fun!!!!!

[Darren Kern]

Thanks Guys! I can't wait to get it. I had is shipped to a relative in the U.S. who is coming up to visit at Christmas so I won't see it for a few weeks.
I've bought my share of cheap guitars over the years so I have a pretty good idea of what a 'value' instrument is like. Honestly it can't possibly be any worse than my first used cheapie guitar and I got through that. At least this time I already have callouses!

It has been my experience that a cheap mandolin is often much more playable than a cheap guitar. A cheap guitar often seems to have action closer to a dobro than a decent guitar

[Lee Callicutt]

Enjoy!

[mandobassman]

I have a Breedlove that I use as a main mando. Every time I get it out at home my 4-yr-old wants to "play" it. I decided to get him his own. I found a Rogue for $40 on Craigslist. It sounded pretty lousy and was badly in need of a set up, but after I adjusted things the best I could it still was almost unplayable. It didn't matter to him as he only wants to strum it right now anyway. A couple of weeks ago I found another Craigslist buy, a Johnson MA-100, for $30. When I got it home I realized that, despite it's different coloring, the 2 were identical in every way. Obviously, from the same factory, only the Johnson was somewhat cleaner in it's build. The edges of the F holes were smooth where the Rogue was sharp and ragged. After a little set up I found the Johnson to be much more playable than the Rogue and also not entirety horrible in sound. In fact, I think after I put on a set of flatwound strings to offset the thinness and brightness of the bronze strings, it might just sound OK. The point is as long as it is playable and it does not discourage you from wanting to play because it is too difficult, a cheapie can be a great way to get started and find out if the interest is there without a large investment. You can always step up to something better later.

[Reid1]

It has been my experience that a cheap mandolin is often much more playable than a cheap guitar. A cheap guitar often seems to have action closer to a dobro than a decent guitar

Well that's good news! I'll pop some decent strings on it, play around and see what comes out. I'm pretty sure I can get it reasonably playable.
Given that I was only half thinking about getting a mandolin, I doubt I would have actually even purchased one had this deal not been available. The price made it a true impulse buy. I still can't believe they can sell a mandolin, a case, two books and ship it for $39.99. It will be interesting to see what you get for that price LOL!

[Randi Gormley]

Just a little fyi when you get it -- the Rogue I own needed to have the nut cut down. I could play it out of the box (although it sounded really plinky) and that was fine for a couple of months until I realized I couldn't warehouse the pick between the strings and the neck, as I do on my "real" mandolins, without it falling out. The issue caused me to look for and eventually find a luthier in my area, which was another plus. I could see whether he was skilled by the work he did on the Rogue without worrying about any serious damage if he was unfamiliar with the instrument, and now the Rogue is what I take on vacation when I have no plans to play out of my room. Win all around. Enjoy yours!

[JeffD]

Mandolin Beginner's pack on for half price - $39.99 and free shipping. So that's a mandolin, gig bag, chord book, and Hal Martin book for about 10 bucks each and $10 less than the bargain mandolin was on it's own... Look, I'm sorry but that was just too cheap to pass up :

In six months you will spend that much or more on a pick!

[Malcolm G.]

Hi fellow Montrealer!

You just paid less for your 1st mandolin than many of us pay for a pick!

Enjoy it, fuss and fiddle with the set-up, experiment with it (I did on my first cheapo, and learned a ton!)

Then you pass it along to another newbie in better shape than you got it.

Then you commission one of our fine builders to make you the Holy Grail model (just kidding) - watch the classifieds - there are some great deals on there.

Salut!

[Malcolm G.]

Ya beat me Jeff!

[Reid1]

Lots of great advice folks. It is greatly appreciated! I can see already this is going to be a fantastic place for help. I'd reply to each of you individually, but I'm not that fast a typist!
Right... a pick and a tuner for a mandolin... I'll need to pick up those...

[Reid1]

Hi fellow Montrealer!

You just paid less for your 1st mandolin than many of us pay for a pick!

Enjoy it, fuss and fiddle with the set-up, experiment with it (I did on my first cheapo, and learned a ton!)

Then you pass it along to another newbie in better shape than you got it.

Then you commission one of our fine builders to make you the Holy Grail model (just kidding) - watch the classifieds - there are some great deals on there.

Salut!

Salut Malcolm! I'm actually a little more excited about getting the Rogue than I think I would be about a much nicer mandolin at this point. As you point out, I really think dinking around with a a cheapie mandolin to get it set up and sound at least playable will be a good learning experience. Should be a riot!

[Elliot Luber]

Hey, if it's your first mandolin, consider it a Gibson. Get in the game!

[Reid1]

Hey, if it's your first mandolin, consider it a Gibson. Get in the game!

If it makes you feel better my guitar is a Martin

[Earl Gamage]

If you like to tinker with instruments rather than sending it out for the famous "set up" the Rogue is fine. Not a real strong sound but certainly playable. Have fun.

[tatwell]

I bought one of these for a friend to learn on several years ago. I did tinker with it a bit to make it playable, I had to work on the nut as I recall, but all in all I was quite surprised as to how good it actually sounded. You can find enough information here to help you set it up, plus you can always ask and get help. I've often thought about getting one of their F models when they are on sale and make a beater out of it. Enjoy your mandolin and let us know how it goes.

[farmerjones]

Yeah, for another Rogue!
I got one in the camper, and
one in the reading room.
Never have to stress about traveling with them either.
Put on some J74 strangs and pick-a-way.
Remember you stand a better chance of a return on investment too.
All you need is fifty bucks for your first paying gig.

And ponder this: This lil Rogue was built, trucked, shipped, trucked again, wholesaled, advertized, and retailed, and none of the aforementioned did it for free. That's slicing the bologna awfully thin don't you think?

[jasona]

Congrats on the mandolin! What matters is having one in hand to start out. Enjoy!

[Kay Kirkpatrick]

The longer you can play your Rogue, the more awesome a Kentucky or Eastman or whatever will become when and if you finally get one. I played (and I use the term loosely) a Harmony off and on for nearly 30 years and loved it, thought it was great. Then one day walked into a music store and picked up an Eastman and couldn't believe the difference. If I'd never gone into that shop I'd still be playing and enjoying my Harmony. I still pick it up once and a while for a little ditty.