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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/54130
Jodylou22 - Posted - 10/07/2020: 04:13:50
Hi all, I really hope you can help me.
My partner wants a mando so I want to get him one for Xmas - the only problem is that I know diddly squat about mandos other than they have strings!
All I can do is give you some examples of the music he likes and might want to play and hope for the best so here goes - he likes the following :
Kate Rushby,
Andy McKee,
Gillian Welch,
Gordon Giltrap,
The Levellers,
Show of hands,
Jacques Stotzem,
Jim moray,
Sarah McQuaid
I really hope this gives you all a good idea of what might suit him and thanks in advance ??
TSSN - Posted - 10/09/2020: 11:36:27
Yooper asks a good question. Even a low-end mando can deliver a lot of enjoyment with the right set up.
Yooper - Posted - 02/19/2021: 09:27:00
Get the best mandolin you can afford. It will play easier and sound better, which will make you want to play. Learning to play an instrument involves a fair amount of frustration, which does not need to be compounded by an instrument that is hard to play and sounds crummy.
Buying used will allow you to get a better quality instrument for the same money. But buy from a reputable shop, or take someone along who knows mandolins. Get an A-style rather than an F-style; better to put money into quality construction than curly ornaments.
You can get a pretty decent instrument for $500 (Kentucky, Eastman). For $1000 or less you can get a really good instrument (vintage Gibson, vintage Martin A, A-style with very simple trim from Weber, for example). For $2000, especially on the used market, you can get a very good A-style. After that, the quality goes up slowly while price goes up fast, and you are mostly paying for ornaments and names (which I have done plenty of times).
Just my opinion.
