mo-boy - Posted - 02/13/2012:  08:49:18

Hey guys yes this is another one of those but i have been playing for 10 years and have a very cheap starter mandolin. I have recently picked up a gig with a band needing a mandolin player and and will now be playing live. My question is i now will be needing a mandolin with electronics and this is new to me .I have $500.00 to spend and have been looking at some Morgan Monroes F styles but just wanted to see what you guys recommend........Please help .

TSSN - Posted - 02/13/2012:  10:22:07

I was in Barnhouse's in Columbia, MO, over the weekend.  They had a nice Godin, but it was for more like $700, I think.  I didn't play it (I picked on the Weber they had instead). 

Anyway, I have bought there before, and you may be able to work with them on the price.  You would also save on shipping, and you could at least go up and have a look / listen / pick before you buy...

Good luck.

mo-boy - Posted - 02/13/2012:  10:47:16

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN

I was in Barnhouse's in Columbia, MO, over the weekend.  They had a nice Godin, but it was for more like $700, I think.  I didn't play it (I picked on the Weber they had instead). 

Anyway, I have bought there before, and you may be able to work with them on the price.  You would also save on shipping, and you could at least go up and have a look / listen / pick before you buy...

Good luck.

was it an F style

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TSSN - Posted - 02/13/2012:  11:41:39

I think it was this one here.

TI_USER - Posted - 02/13/2012:  11:58:46

The problem is that with a spending limit of $500, you are compromising on both the mandolin quality and the pick-up quality.  What is the mandolin you have now?  You might be better off getting a Fishman bridge with a piezo pick-up built in.  I have heard several Morgan Monroe mandolins and all of them were terrible sounding.  It's hard enough to get a good sounding mandolin for $500, much less one with a pick-up.  Why spend $500 and still not have anything much better than what you already have?

Here's a link to the Fishman at First Quality.

firstqualitymusic.com/p_FI-M20...Jack.aspx

You might even be able to just replace the bridge top so that you don't have to fit the new bridge to the mandolin.

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/13/2012:  13:28:10

If you have a limited amount of money to spend, don't go for an F-style mandolin.  A $500 A-style mandolin will be a much better instrument than a $500 F-style.

mo-boy - Posted - 02/13/2012:  14:21:08

quote:

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Originally posted by TI_USER

The problem is that with a spending limit of $500, you are compromising on both the mandolin quality and the pick-up quality.  What is the mandolin you have now?  You might be better off getting a Fishman bridge with a piezo pick-up built in.  I have heard several Morgan Monroe mandolins and all of them were terrible sounding.  It's hard enough to get a good sounding mandolin for $500, much less one with a pick-up.  Why spend $500 and still not have anything much better than what you already have?

Here's a link to the Fishman at First Quality.

firstqualitymusic.com/p_FI-M20...Jack.aspx

You might even be able to just replace the bridge top so that you don't have to fit the new bridge to the mandolin.

I can go over the 500.00 if needed

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TI_USER - Posted - 02/13/2012:  15:49:20

There are much better choices for a mandolin with a built-in pick-up than Morgan Monroe.  Most players with any kind of knowledge will tell you to stay away from Morgan Monroe.  Very pretty instruments with no sound quality.  When I get a chance, I'll look up so alternatives for you to ponder.

mo-boy - Posted - 02/13/2012:  15:52:50

quote:

---

Originally posted by TI_USER

There are much better choices for a mandolin with a built-in pick-up than Morgan Monroe.  Most players with any kind of knowledge will tell you to stay away from Morgan Monroe.  Very pretty instruments with no sound quality.  When I get a chance, I'll look up so alternatives for you to ponder.

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 Thanks i would appreciate it and im looking for an f style, im not stuck on Morgan Monroe and i can go over the 500.00 if need be but not by much

mo-boy - Posted - 02/13/2012:  16:08:31

I have been playing a cheap A style Savannah and there is no tone at all. The neck has no adjustment and you cant play down the neck in the higher positions because it only sounds good playing in the first position. Just drives me up a tree.

TI_USER - Posted - 02/13/2012:  20:39:39

Is there a reason why you're stuck on getting a F style mandolin?  When you're down in the $500 range, it's hard to get a decent sounding mandolin, period, much less a F style.  In that price range, you'll get a much better sounding mandolin with a A style.  The scroll and points add a lot to the cost and, in that price range, the sound is what suffers to keep it at that price.  I looked at Folkmusician.com, which has a fantastic reputation for quality set up.  That's by far the most important criteria for good playability and sound at the lower price range.  Of the mandolins they sell with a pickup included, this one from Gold Tone stands out to me.  They're licensed by Rigel, who makes some of the finest mandolin available.  The pickup used is excellent and Folkmusician will give it the best set up possible, which will make it play like a dream.  I read all the time on Mandolin Cafe about the quality of their work.  This will be a million times better in sound and playability than your Savannah.  It will definitely be better than any Morgan Monroe.  Here is a link.

folkmusician.com/Gold-Tone-Rig...GM-APLUS/

mo-boy - Posted - 02/14/2012:  17:12:17

so what will it end up costing me for what i have  described im looking for ? I relay want an F style.

mandovoodoo - Posted - 02/14/2012:  17:24:59

"The Loar" LM600, $747. That would be the cheapest I would do.

mandolin boy - Posted - 02/14/2012:  17:37:17

I would go for the loar

mo-boy - Posted - 02/14/2012:  17:42:58

I found a Loar Lm 520 for $499.00 that i can put a pickup in, Any experience with that model ?