$700 mandolin advice
 

Hi folks. I need to help someone give a mandolin as a gift. Her budget is $700. Can anyone here offer a recommendation? Thanks in advance. EDIT: she wants to purchase NEW, not used or vintage, thx.

Hi Maury! I bought one of these a couple years ago and I’m very impressed with it. I’ve had a couple folks prefer it over their Gibson’s, etc. solid wood and comes with a hard shell case.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M108SW

I haven't shopped for a mandolin in a long while, but when I was shopping I was impressed with the Eastmans. I am certain a good one can be had within her budget. If I were on the search and $700 was my budget, the Eastmans would be the first I would look at.

I can only recommend what I have played. Of course there are some great vintage instruments that are also available. As a gift, I suppose she is looking to purchase a new one...?

That looks nice too!

Thank you, she wants to buy "new".

It’s the mandolin on this song I did with a buddy last year.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3fArb...Q66Dfhk_ahSu8Q

I would say the Kentucky KM150 all solid woods, up to a KM505 Master Model - both real nice mandos for well below her price point. Both A styles, F styles are more $ for same quality of the A styles above. They will need a set up like bridge fit / nut slot filing, could need fret leveling. You can do that right Maury? ;)

+1 on Eastman. Eastman MD305. Not just good - it spanks the pants off of most stuff under 1K.

Eastman is a good mando also, but when I played them, I liked the deeper tone of the Kentucky better. Eastman's that i've played seemed to have a treble bordering on the tinny side. Bass strings were better on Kentucky. They are both well thought of over at the Mandolin Cafe forum, lots of threads topics on them.

I think you'll find that Eastman is hard to beat at any price, but at the $700 price point they have virtually no competition. BTW, I think this thread should be located in the "Other Stringed Instruments" section as opposed to the General section.

Standard advice over on the mando forums.

If buying used, get a Mid-Missouri/Big Muddy

If buying new, get the Kentucky.
(Eastman is a solid 2nd choice)

Should fit the bill nicely... Eastman MD505 Mandolin

Here is an Eastman, in Meadowood Music shop (Pa): http://www.meadowoodmusic.com/_p/prd...style-mandolin
I haven't seen an Eastman, but I've heard a lot of good things about them.

Trinity College is around that price, with a hardshell case - again, I haven't had one, but I've got their Irish Bouzouki on order.....

There is an "other stringed instruments" forum on this website that might reach a few different mando aficionados....

Get an A style, F hole, from either Eastman or Kentucky. Just make sure the dealer does a complete set up. The Mandolin Store in AZ. carries these and sets them up. Elderly does as well. Might suggest Kentucky, some of the Eastman A's have some goofy cosmetics.

Depending on the exchange rate, you might consider a Canadian made Sawchyn. These actually sound good and play well. Very nicely made in the style of the Gibson Army-Navy or the Flatiron pancake models.

http://www.folkwaymusic.com/new-inst...mandolin-0517/

Flow chart:

Do you play bluegrass?

No. Go to Big Muddy Mandolins and have Mike build an M2, M11, or M4, depending on your budget. Done. You have your "for life" mandolin.

Yes. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Start with either a Kentucky KM 150 or an Eastman 505, spend the rest of the budget on setup and prepare to spend the rest of your life upgrading.