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Post by langford on Aug 30, 2023 19:31:26 GMT -5
I've been interested in mandolins lately, and my appetite was whetted further after heading to Massey Hall last Friday night for a Steve Earle show. I was especially taken with some gospel tunes he performed on mandolin. My question is: where does one begin understanding what available? Are there differences between the styles? What are the budget considerations? Is it difficult to learn or play a mandolin? I'd be interested to hear stories from other who've experimented with them. TIA.
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Bopper
Wholenote
Motor City USA
Posts: 507
Age: 72
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Post by Bopper on Aug 31, 2023 9:35:42 GMT -5
Full disclosure: I have a c.100 year old bowl-back mando that was my great-aunt Corinne's, but I've never really tried playing it, so I have no real knowledge.
And Elderly has lots of mandolins, at all prices, so just browsing their stock may help, too. |
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Post by LesTele on Aug 31, 2023 14:23:47 GMT -5
My first instrument was the violin - late sixties. I started playing guitar in the mid-seventies - mostly teaching myself and being in bands.
I then went through a four or five year period in the early nineties of playing in folk sessions. I could play most fiddle tunes and if I didn’t know the tune I would switch to guitar. The mandolin combined picking and fingering - no bow involved.
I have three mandolins. My first is a basic Epiphone - nice slim violin-adjacent neck. Not expensive but I still play it out. Second is an Epiphone Mandobird . I replaced the pickup with a British pickup that cost almost as much as the Mandobird. Third one is a Crafter - Ovation-style plastic back that’s electro.
I had the advantage of being able to play fiddle tunes immediately due to the violin background. I also love being able to play chords and that’s carried over to the tenor banjo and bouzouki.
It’s difficult to say what you should buy. Are you looking to play in a band and require an electro? I have been impressed with the Fender line of bluegrass instruments - great pickups.
If it’s just to see how you get on, buy an entry-level A style.
It’s not guitar but it’s fun.
Let us know how you go.
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 1, 2023 18:51:57 GMT -5
I bought one just out of curiosity. I had no experience at all. They tune like a violin except strings are paired (called courses, that may not be spelled right).
I had a local guy do the set up and then learned songs from YouTube lessons.
It is fun, it is different, it is not a guitar.
Enjoy!
Edited to add A styles tend to be a little cheaper than F style so that might well mean you could get a better player cheaper if you get an A.
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Post by langford on Sept 1, 2023 20:24:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments, guys. These are helpful. Especially appreciate the endorsement for Ephiphone, as their models seem to fit with my hopes, budget-wise. I have no particular idea/style for how I'd use it. The sound is just around in my head pretty consistently these days.
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Post by LesTele on Sept 2, 2023 11:31:23 GMT -5
Not sure what Steve was playing when you saw him but you will easily get to grips with the mandolin on Copperhead Road.
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Post by langford on Sept 2, 2023 20:03:26 GMT -5
Not sure what Steve was playing when you saw him but you will easily get to grips with the mandolin on Copperhead Road. He played a lot of stuff. Opened with Pogues/Shane McGowan cover and things just kind of took off from. The gospel bits were a real highlight for me. I'm not a spiritual person, myself, but I really like the music. |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Sept 6, 2023 8:20:11 GMT -5
I bought a cheap Rogue from Musician's Friend a number of years back. My intention wasn't necessarily to become proficient with the instrument as much as it was to have it available for recording. It's functional but doesn't inspire me to pick it up beyond that use.
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Post by langford on Sept 8, 2023 8:41:44 GMT -5
You've pretty much described my intentions, Auf (although my recording skills are nowhere near yours). There's a second-hand Eastman for sale nearby. Unfortunately, I'm staring down some big dental bills this fall. So, short of a windfall, I'm going to have to wait until next year before finding a way to scratch this itch.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Sept 9, 2023 14:26:00 GMT -5
Yeah, any of the brands that have sensible options for guitars should be okay on mandolins as well. The absolute cheapest might not have truss rods or have goofy neck angles. The cheap F-style mandos sometimes have issues of rise on the fingerboard extension, less of an issue with an A-style.
Tonally, in the mid price points the biggest difference is often volume. If you want to play along side other acoustic instruments and cut through the mix that is when you have to have a really good one that can project. It doesn't sound like that is your intention with picking one up, though.
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 13, 2023 21:28:04 GMT -5
Some of the cheaper ones do not ring out well as you get high on the neck (past the middle).
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Post by LesTele on Sept 14, 2023 14:02:13 GMT -5
Some of the cheaper ones do not ring out well as you get high on the neck (past the middle). If you are experimenting you will get nowhere near the dusty end of a mandolin very quickly. You will be playing first position melodies and the equivalent of cowboy chords. if you master that sort of stuff, the entry level mando will have done its job. if it doesn’t intonate up to the octave when it arrives - send it back. |
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 14, 2023 14:59:46 GMT -5
Les, I agree with everything you say but I was not speaking of intonation as much as clarity. A clear, ringing note in the higher register.
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Post by LesTele on Sept 15, 2023 15:05:53 GMT -5
My point was that if you are just experimenting with an instrument, you won’t be all over the frets, towards the dusty end.
You are playing in a different tuning. You will probably use chord shapes diagrams to begin with, because it’s alien, just to get you started.
Then you’ll work out tunes,.
Getting to play well in higher positions will take time. In the meantime, get a cheap mando and scratch your itch.
If you have the mando bug eventually - get an instrument that rings out.
It will cost you.
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 15, 2023 19:20:15 GMT -5
I agree with everything you say but I personally cannot resist riffing all over. The exploring is great fun and inspiring. Also useful when playing with others. But, hey I got a a low-end to learn on.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Sept 16, 2023 15:35:22 GMT -5
I'm not sure what they're going for, but the USA made Breedlove mandolins often sound amazing, and project like CRAZY. They're a bit of a different animal than a traditional style, but still pretty cool. I mention it because there's a chance the used ones are a bargain if you're trying to get a good one with lots of clarity.
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Post by LesTele on Sept 19, 2023 13:10:11 GMT -5
Good luck with bargain Breedloves. Rare as hens teeth in the UK.
I played a couple of US-made models years ago and if I ever decided to go for a high end mandolin, they would be at the top of my list.
They are high end.
I bought a Breedlove 12 string on the back of my research into the mandolins.
It’s a wonderful instrument - not US made, but affordable.
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twangmeister
Wholenote
Posts: 349
Formerly Known As: Twangmeister
Age: 72 and fading fast.....
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Post by twangmeister on Feb 17, 2024 12:21:41 GMT -5
I have a Hondo (remember them?) made in S. Korea which I picked up at an Air Force BX in Korea in 1989. Probably made by Samick. I also had a Harmony electric mandolin bought at the BX made by Samick. One tuner on the Hondo failed after 30+ years. I no longer have the Harmony. The Samick is very loud but loses a little volume at the high end of the fretboard. A great buy at $28 and change new.
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Post by insanecooker on Feb 20, 2024 12:53:37 GMT -5
For an honestly priced US-made non-traditional mandolin I think it's hard to go wrong with Big Muddy.
That said, i ended up buying one of his nicest models (1 of 3 made with Zebrawood backs), so to leave out I got a Seagull S8 that is a bit of a travel mandolin (super contact, but full scale) that I just leave on a stand all the time. Canadian-made, even less traditional, and going for a good discount now at MF.
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