Mandolins?

[guitarfox]

Anyone here play them? I'm looking to upgrade from my entry level Harmony A-style and am looking for recommendations for the next step. I would love a Gibson F-5 but can't fit a $3k mandolin in my current budget, and I don't know much about the current offerings. TIA.

[ronworld]

I can heartily recomend the Eastman Mandolins . I have the MD615. If your in the US Elderly .com has a good selection. I was originally saving up for a Weber, but tried the Eastman and didnt bother!

http://www.elderly.com/brand/90N_eastman.html

[Wilko]

I play a bit.

IMHO, most surrent consumer grade mandolins sound like crap. They are all very thin and way too bright sounding. For more tone and bang for your buck, find oval hole style models. It's much easier to get a good tone from a cheap oval hole than a cheap f-hole.

Look for A-4, or F-4 styles and you'll be pleased.

I play a 1915 Gibson A-4 that is a serious cannon.

You can get these on ebay for 1000-1500 all day long and it's hard to find a better sounding instrument.

[Totally bored]

I play but I have a cheap POS. Works for what I do.

[Dr Fene]

What ronword said, he da mando man!!

[Mesotech]

I have a real cheap Mando (A style) and never could get on with it. Something about it being tuned upside down and really tight frets didn't sit right with me. The little kids love it though. It's their "little guitar" and it gets drug all around the house. I paid something like $40 for it new, so if they're happy with it then so am I.

[boobtube21]

I had an octave mandolin a while ago...sounded okay I guess but the color was kind of weird so I sent it back.

I was looking at Trinity College models. They seem decent but I don't really know what I'm looking at. Anyone have anything to say about those, good or bad?

It's hard to be able to try one out and see if you like it before buying it. The only stores I know of where you can try one around my neck of the woods are TrueTone music in Santa Monica and I forget the name of the other store, a couple blocks over also in SM.

[guitarfox]

I had an octave mandolin a while ago...sounded okay I guess but the color was kind of weird so I sent it back.

I was looking at Trinity College models. They seem decent but I don't really know what I'm looking at. Anyone have anything to say about those, good or bad?

It's hard to be able to try one out and see if you like it before buying it. The only stores I know of where you can try one around my neck of the woods are TrueTone music in Santa Monica and I forget the name of the other store, a couple blocks over also in SM.

Eastman lists McCabe's as a dealer for their mandolins and guitars. I work in El Segundo and might venture up there on a lunch to see what they have in stock. I've lived out here for almost 30 years and have never been to McCabe's, so I guess it's time. The Sam Ash and GCs in the South Bay don't have much of anything in mandolins.

[boobtube21]

McCabe's, thats the name of the other place, thank you.

Actually I just looked up McCabes and that's the one I've been to, never been to TrueTone but it looks interesting.

McCabes is cool, they have a lot of different instruments, stringed, percussion, etc. and let you play whatever you want. Grab a cup of coffee at the front door and take your time in there.

[NeoFauve]

I was looking at Trinity College models. They seem decent but I don't really know what I'm looking at. Anyone have anything to say about those, good or bad?

Their guitars are very nice (IMO) MIC or MIK solid wood stuff.
If the mandolins are made as well, they're worth checking out.

There's a store near me that specializes in vintage style and high-end import acoustics, several brands made my Saga.
I don't think the Trinity College guitars are made my Saga though.