Hi folks.
Been away for a while, but still playing my Kentucky 150S from time to time.
I got it pretty cheap and didn't take real good care of it, so it's looking rough -- some of the binding has peeled off the sides of the neck. Still sounds and plays pretty good, though.
My wife has given me the gift of a new mandolin for our 10th anniversary! I'm ready to get a nicer instrument. So I'm going to start looking, playing, trying 'em out.
It looks to me that I can get a low-end US-made instrument, used, at this price point, like a Gibson A9 or matte-finish A-model Weber. Maybe a Breedlove...
OR, I could get one of those Eastmans, maybe a "The Loar"; I really like the looks of the 615 in "natural" finish... watched one of those go on Ebay pretty reasonably recently. I like the looks of the F models a bit more than the A's, but I also think I might prefer a non-Chinese model. At least in guitars, I'd prefer a plain $900 Martin to a super-fancy $900 import. On the other hand, these Eastman models might change my thinking...
Some of the models have radiused fingerboards, some not... I think I really need to try em out and see what I like.
Basically, I don't know what I want, and I'm going to try some stuff out... What do you think?
I know I want an arched top. I'm pretty sure I want f-holes over oval. Maybe.
I like to play fiddle tunes on the mandolin, but I don't go to bluegrass jams. I don't play with others much. But when I play with another guitarist, it's nicer to pick the mandolin than to have dueling guitars.
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