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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.mandohangout.com/archive/26566
teletodd - Posted - 02/18/2012: 05:19:39
Are they all solid wood or laminate? Any difference between ones made in Korea or the newer ones from china?
ccravens - Posted - 02/18/2012: 06:00:36
I would guess laminate. Korean (as also with the Kentucky line) are generally more sought-after, but in an Asian instrument, all of that can be relative, IMO. Quality control and consistency would not be their hallmarks.
I would never buy and Epi sight unseen or unplayed. You're rolling the dice. For every person that may come on saying "mine is great," I'll wager there are double those that are dogs, especially in the set-up department.
I'll give his advice until the day I die: If you are looking for an inexpensive, Asian-made, starter mando, consistency and quality will always be a problem. That's why it would be best, if you are going to buy an Asian mando, to purchase from a reputable store that does GREAT SET-UP WORK as well.
Somewhere like the Dennis at the Mandolin Store, with his line of Kentucky's and others, and Steve Perry at Gianna's with their line of Eastman's and others. Buying an Asian mandolin off of the internet, sight-unseen, from an individual dealer, with no set-up, is a huge gamble that most people don't have the money to make.
themandolinstore.com/Scripts/default.asp
mojohand40 - Posted - 02/20/2012: 14:19:46
I have an old MM30, from around 1997 that is a solid top, but I'm thinking laminate sides and back. I don't know where is was made, I don't remember if it is a Korea or China manufacture....I'm thinking China. I imagine the MM50 is the same, as in solid top, laminate back and sides. (which doesn't necessarily mean it will sound and play bad..)
My epi ain't a bad mando, sounds better then when I first got it, and I keep it around as a spare, or one to take on vacations and such. I played jams with it years ago and it holds its own. I see that now in days you can get 'em for under 200 bucks! That's a good deal if they are still made as well, I think I paid like 250 back in 97 for mine.
But, I agree with ccravens, above, if you can, you want to play it first as some of the cheap ones are really bad, but occasionally a good one sneaks through. If you can afford more mando, get a Eastman or a good Kentucky or a Loar, you can get a loar LM-520 for under 500 bucks, and if you have to buy online, get it from a good, known dealer who does set ups.
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