paul morris - Posted - 01/09/2014:  09:58:49

Southwest strings is the only one that sells them.   Come from ??   I can't find reviews on them.  Just wondering:  or wandering!

Ben Venuti - Posted - 01/09/2014:  19:52:51

Well, a little rule of thumb-----it's less than $5000? You can bet it's made in China! It looks like a lot of mandolins from over there. This place seems to be a violin family instrument dealer primarily selling low cost beginner student instruments. My guess is they get these from a manufacturer in China that will put any name on the headstock that you want. My guess is Delta Ridge is Southwest Strings personal brand and that is why they are the only one selling those mandolins that say "Delta Ridge" but they aren't by a long shot the only ones selling those mandolins.

TSSN - Posted - 01/10/2014:  03:27:47

I agree.  Aside from the fret markers, it looks like  a Kentucky KM630.

paul morris - Posted - 01/10/2014:  04:13:34

Thanks Ben. I'm beginning to wonder if all the different "name brands" that the public has to choose from aren't all made under the same roof. Kind of like water heaters: buy one from anywhere but all probably made on one assembly line with different brand names stamped on them. I play banjo but recently bought a tater bug (as the owner called it) mandolin at my local pawn shop for 30.00. It works, but how does a fella play it without it wanting to slide around all over the place? I bought a book with a cd to learn a little, but I really don't want to pick around on a neck and strings with a slippery bowl attached to it! I recently visited Steilberg Instruments in Louisville Ky and they carry Eastman Kentucky and Breedlove. I had the owner play all three brands at different price levels. I left bewildered! I had no problem buying my banjo 15 years ago. I called Kenny Cardin in Charlestown Indiana and had him build me one. I brought it home and "easy pickens". No problem. But trying to pick out a mandolin, to me anyways, is like going to the dog pound and trying to pick out a happy face that you HOPE you like and then after you get it home you start having second thoughts as to your choice making. I think I'm beginning to answer my own question. Don't buy a mandolin from a puppy mill, and you get what you pay for.

paul morris - Posted - 01/10/2014:  04:16:35

Thanks TSSN. But can any dealer call up where a Kentucky KM630 is made and have them put any old name on the head stock they want to?

ErikForGod - Posted - 01/10/2014:  05:00:20

Kentucky is part of the Saga instrument line....they are made in China..
By the way...I can't see the mandolin.....can you post a link? More than likely with a name like "Delta Ridge" it's definately from China or Asia......what the heck does "Delta Ridge" mean anyways? It's like combining two words that have absolutely nothing in common in my opinion....a bad marketing choice...the name sounds contrived. I think they could've picked a better name for the brand at least.

paul morris - Posted - 01/10/2014:  05:23:11

Go to Amazon.com and type in Delta Ridge mandolin. I compared the pic of the headstock from the Kentucky KM630 from Folkmusician.com and the pic on Amazon.com and I'm not experienced to judge. Interesting though. The Kentucky KM630 is 750.00. Delta Ridge is 400.00 Hmm. What do you guys think?

TSSN - Posted - 01/10/2014:  09:19:24

My only concern is that you would be buying it without playing it first.  You may get it and not like how it sounds.

As for the rest, I detest double standards.  The mandolin world seems to be that way sometimes:  "All mandolins from China are bad!!!  Oh wait, did you say Kentucky/Eastman/Northfield???"  My grandma taught me that you can't have your cake and eat it too.  I think some of the models from those makers work out just fine .

I travel a lot, and I visit music stores when I have time.  I play every mandolin I can get my hands on.  You need to go back to that store...

Edited by - TSSN on 01/10/2014 09:22:25

paul morris - Posted - 01/10/2014:  09:42:42

Yup....play first- then buy. I called South West Strings and they said they're discontinuing the delta ridge. Therefore no returns. Nough said! I've slept on it since being in Louisville and listening to the different brands being played. The Breedlove model has kind of got my attention. It's just a little over an hour to get there from my house, so I think I'll make a few more trips to listen and compare a few more times. I really like what I hear about Folkmusician's reputation. My gut is telling me not to get in any hurry until I've really made up my mind. Writing you guys and asking questions has really helped me. Keep the comments com'n! Thanks much..... Paul

Ben Venuti - Posted - 01/10/2014:  18:31:27

Made in China isn't necessarily bad. Northfield for example has a very good reputation. iphone, though manufactured by slaves, is a pretty good thing! You get a lot of bang for your buck but there are and there is no denying it a great deal of very dubious stuff ( I just got a shipment of Chinese marble that was so terribly bad I couldn't believe that it was worth shipping half way around the world and they can have it back 'cause I ain't paying for it!) also being manufactured in China so you have to look for quality and reputation when you make your purchase. Good reviews from trusted sources, hands on,ears on, face to face is the best as far as I'm concerned. I thought that thing resembled more like a Savannah myself than a Kentucky and I've seen that Savannah style with a bunch of different names on the headstock -including "The Gibson" and certainly with no affiliation with the real Gibson. Saga is big enough to operate their own facility so my guess is "No" I would not believe that their instruments are likely to be branded with other names. I think Saga ( Kentucky) makes a very playable mandolin and I think that is true for every price point that they offer. I have picked up some of the lowest end Kentucky mandolins in music shops and have always thought that it seemed like a really good mandolin for the money. I've run into some of their top of the line mandolins and thought they were cannons and were better than some elite class mandolins that I have played that were multiples more expensive..

Delta Ridge? That must be a levee-------

TSSN - Posted - 01/11/2014:  06:11:42

I think we're saying the same thing.  At any rate, I have been disappointed in the sound of a certain few Gibsons I have sampled, though admittedly there have been far fewer of those than other "lesser" makes/models mentioned above.  Then again, it may just be the personality flaw of a born skeptic---I usually refuse to bow down and revere anything just because people tell me that I should. 

A Delta Ridge mandolin might just be dandy.  Dunno.  I would still want to play it and hear it first.

Paul, please let us know how this turns out.

Edited by - TSSN on 01/11/2014 06:13:15

TI_USER - Posted - 01/11/2014:  15:39:31

I know for sure that Kentucky, Eastman, and J Bovier are made in their own factories.  Kentucky actually has two, one for the high end models (KM900 and above) and one for all lower models.  I believe many of the other "brands" are, indeed, made in a common factory.  Look at the lowest models of Rogue, Johnson, Savannah and many others and they are identical in almost every respect, except for the name on the headstock.  I wouldn't be surprised to find Delta Ridge in this category.  It has a heat pressed top, and I would never spend $400 on a pressed top.

ErikForGod - Posted - 01/12/2014:  18:10:50

Yeah in my opinion, if it has a pressed top and not a carved graduated solid top..then its good for kindling and nuthin else. By the way....Delta Ridge? I just cant resist...it just sound so cheesy! Somebody must have told them it sounded cool in english.....

i mean...I am with the guys on this one. Stick with the Eastman, The Loar, JBovier, Kentucky bunch...or hey, even a Northfield if you can afford one, and you will come away with a goodon.

Edited by - ErikForGod on 01/12/2014 18:14:33

paul morris - Posted - 01/22/2014:  18:34:11

WELL, I BOUGHT A MANDOLIN! I got a Rogue electric off Ebay with a nice hard shell case for about 78 bucks! I'm gonna wait until I've had some basic experience playing for a while as I shop around and play different ones so I'll know what I need and want as a keeper before get'n me a dandy one! This Rogue seems like a decent starter, Heck, I may even get a very very very small amp! ah,,,,probably not. I'm kinda glad I went this route. Later fellas!

TSSN - Posted - 01/23/2014:  03:57:55

Paul, great news.  You will find the right one.  Keep looking, keep pickin.

Edited by - TSSN on 01/23/2014 03:58:51