View Single Post
  #2  
Old 02-27-2017, 11:11 AM
fatt-dad fatt-dad is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 2,253
Default

Just a frame of reference. . .

Many of the "cheap" mandolins are laminated with the arch, "pressed" into place. They are not "real" arched top instruments (i.e., no carving was involved). Sure, they have f-holes or an oval hole. Sure, they may be an f-model or an a-model.

Eastman, "The Loar," J.Bovier are examples of Asian-made, "starter" instruments with hand-carved arches and solid wood construction. For me, that would be the minimum standard. I'm sure the secondary market would show these in the sub-$500 range.

The simple fact is that arched top instruments cost more than flat-top instruments. There is a gauge that the cost of a mandolin is 2X the cost of a flat-top guitar. So, you buy a $200 mandolin and it's like the entry level quality of a $100 dollar guitar.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

f-d
__________________
'30 L-1, '73 FG-180, '98 914-C, '06 000-15S, '08 000-28NB, '11 GA3-12, '14 OM28A
Reply With Quote