alegria - Posted - 05/08/2019:  02:27:44

I am thinking about buying a mandolin again and would like some advice.

I see three valid options atm.

1. Buy a new Loar 110 solid spruce top
2. Wait for a Loar 520 solid spruce top and solid mapple bottom to go at second hand
3. Buy a used kentucky km 140 from ebay

These options would cost about the same. Option 1 would give me instant gratification, option 2 is the safest in the long run. Option 3 is a gamble, because it will be difficult to make complaints if the instrument has major faults.

What do you guys think?

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 05/08/2019:  07:30:46

Well .... I have always preferred Kentucky to The Loar instruments. At your extrapolated price point you are going to be purchasing a bottom line student grade instrument. In mandolins "all solid woods" makes a great difference in tone. THe thickness of the finish does also. That is one of the reasons I don't like THe Loar instruments. Playability may be addressed .... check out Rob Meldrum's free to download set up book on The Mandolin Cafe site. And start saving more money ... if you do find a serious interest in mandolin you will be looking to upgrade in a year or so. Play on! R/

KYSLOWFINGERS - Posted - 05/09/2019:  10:12:44

I agree with UsuallyPickin on the price point and Rob Meldrum setup guide, but I'll go one better, order a $50 Rogue from GC or MF. Follow Rob's free setup guide, it will be just as good or better than your 3 options, and you'll only have $50 invested. You can figure out if you want to pursue the mandolin, then save up for a decent intermediate. I have a Rogue I got on Christmas sale for $39, it's probably equal to the Kentucky 140, I've owned a couple of the Kentuckys, different models, and in my opinion better than the Loars. I've never owned a Loar, but have picked them up in GC. Just my two cents