Fatty Lumpkin - Posted - 02/07/2014:  16:52:25

Greetings one and all. I am new to the world of Mandolin (Never touched one before, I have played the guitar for 8 years, but don't know if that helps really), but I want to start! I've done minimal research and need advice.

1st. I'm looking into buying a mandolin, my budget is low ($150-$250 I'm a student in college...) and saw some starter packs at themandolinhut.com that looked promising, but still, I'm ignorant. Any suggestions?

2nd. Recommended style? A or F? Is there another?

3rd. Is my budget simply too low right now to buy a decent instrument and should I save up a bit more and wait?

4th. Any good suggestions for curriculum or lesson guides on how to play?

If you can answer any or all of these questions I would be extremely grateful. Thank you very much!!

abinigia - Posted - 02/07/2014:  17:01:40

You'll get more for your budget with an A style. The sound quality can but equally good between F and A models. If you want to play bluegrass you probably want F holes and and carved top. Your budget isn't necessarily too low but you will need to show anything you're tempted to buy to someone who knows. You can certainly throw your money away otherwise.

Most of what you are asking can't be answered until we know what style you want to play. What players have you listened to that you'd like to sound like?

TSSN - Posted - 02/07/2014:  20:20:24

All good points.

1) A kit is probably not a bad way to start.  You will need a case or gig bag at some point.

2) You will get more for your money by going with an A, and buying it used.  But abinigia is right, it would help to know what you want to play (bluegrass, Celtic, etc).

3) I think your budget will allow you to get something playable to start on.  BUT---fair warning--if you take a shine to this little instrument, you will want to trade up eventually.  You aren't getting married here (though some mandos are keepers), so it's ok to think on trading down the road.

4) I am partial to Butch Baldassari's instructional materials.

Good luck.

Edited by - TSSN on 02/07/2014 20:21:01

mandoteacher - Posted - 02/08/2014:  06:53:49

My advice (28 years teaching, 47 years playing) is to find a good local teacher that you can see every week for an hour, or a group mandolin class if you can find one. You didn't say what college you go to, but I recommend you call around to all the music stores in the area and ask for teacher recommendations. I advertise on Craigslist, so you should look there for mandolin teachers also. See if you can find a real mandolin teacher, not a guitarist who can show you a couple things.

Once you have a good teacher, you can ask them about an instrument. Some shops will rent you a cheap mandolin which you can use to apply to the purchase of a good one when you're ready. I advise you to put $100 a month into a savings account until you're ready to buy something in the $1,000 - $1,500 range. Sure you can get something cheaper now, but it's better to wait and get something decent when you know more about the instrument, and when you can afford it. A Weber, an Eastman, for example.

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 02/11/2014:  13:04:08

If you have played the guitar for 8 years, you are not likely to give up on playing the mandolin. Someone who has never played any string instrument might give up a week after making his/her purchase. Too many beginners start with an instrument that is hard to get any decent sounds from. A frustrating way to learn. All things equal, the better the instrument, the better you will sound, and the less likely you will reject the experiment as a bad idea. Here is where my suggestion comes in--A quality instrument, with a recognized name, and a scary price tag...will be worth the same if you decide later to give it up, or move up a notch. A cheap instrument, not known for its quality will be yours forever, and you will be frustrated by not sounding as you think you should, and as others you emulate sound. As suggested above, if you get an Eastman, Weber or a high end Kentucky, that's what it will (likely) be worth five years from now; maybe more. A $100. instrument, albeit pretty, unless purchased from someone who doesn't know better, will quickly be a disappointment, and selling it will be harder than it is worth. Just sayin'.