mandolin shopping tips

So I’ve been using my ancient, fret-worn beetle back mando to pick out tunes (for the fiddle) a lot lately and I’m starting to really like the sound of the mando itself as more than a step on my fiddling journey.

This puts me in the market for a new mandolin - mine is A) battered, and B) difficult to play due to the un-ergonomic nature of the beetle back design. I know nothing about mandolins, though. Anyone have any tips on what to watch out for, what some reputable but affordable brands might be?

I’ve noticed there are quite a few completely different body shapes and am curious to know if certain designs are intended for certain styles. I want to spend about 500 bucks (CAD). Suggestions? (C’mon, Will, you play mando, doncha?)

Seem’s like the “F” styles are popular with the bluegrass crowd. Most Irish players I’ve seen use the “A” style. The “F” style kind of has a fancy twirl cut where as the “A” style is more like your tater bug only it has a flat or much less oval back. Do they sound different? I could not tell you. They sound pretty much the same to me.

If you have time check out pawn shops, estate sales, yard sales, things like that.. I picked up a 1927 Gibson “A” style Jr in excellent shape for $25. Sometimes folks just don’t know what they have.

I’ve heard you can’t go wrong with a Flatiron when it comes to economy and a good instrument.

Happy hunting!

I forgot to add these web sites. Or just type in Mandolin in your search engine. (You’ve probably already done that)

http://www.gibson.com

http://lonehand.com/gibson_mandolin.htm

Tear drop is a better discription of an “A” style.

FOV, I just went through this myself. The mandolin does have a charm of it’s own but as you know it tends to get swallowed up in a session.
But you do want an A style and a round hole model. And for 500 CND your best shot would be to look for a Flatiron on Ebay. Every couple of weeks
one pops up there and goes for 300-400 US. There are a couple of models all of which are flatback maples as I recall. Make sure to get one made in Montana before the plant was bought and move east. I played a Flatiron Cadet last week and it is a nice mandolin.

This is really weird. I was one of the original grunts making Flatiron mandolins in Bozeman, Montana, back in the early to mid 1980’s. It was a small crew then-- about 5 or 6 of us--and we each tried our hands at every step of the production process. But we also specialized a bit. I did necks--laminating the stock, shaping the neck, applying the peghead veneer, fingerboard, frets, and inlays. I also shaped body sides, sanded, buffed the finish, and did final set up. Each instrument was basically handmade back then, with a minimum of relying on jigs and assembly line techniques.

Although we took pride in the time and attention we put into each instrument, and used really high quality materials, I’m a little stunned to see all these recommendations for them. They are pretty simple mandolins--nothing fancy. If the action is set up right, they are easy to play and should ring out with decent tone and volume.

So, yeah, find an early model Flatiron. Or a used Ibanez copy of any Gibson model. I’ve owned some nice mandolins, but now the only one in the quiver is an A style Ibanez with f-holes. It sounds fine, plays easily, is loud enough to play in a group, and it cost me $125 at a garage sale. (Not exactly the deal Tiny got with his Gibson, but still much cheaper than retail.)

If you’re hoping to blend in visually with ITM musicians, I’d say go with the A style. Stay away from the tater bug or round back models--too clumsy to hold, and they don’t project well. The F-style mando’s seem to carry better (in volume) than a A styles, but the bluegrass look may not be welcome among purists (if they accept a mandolin at all).

And I’d stay away from the cheaper Washburns.

Also, you can get surprisingly good tone out of most inexpensive mandolins if you use an extra heavy gauge pick and play on the rounded top corners instead of the point. Or buy a Grisman pick--super heavy gauge with three rounded corners (instead of the pointy “aline head” looking standard). I’ve seen them in the Elderly Instruments catalog. Most mando pickers I know “smother” the pick with their thumb and index finger, letting just enough pick edge stick out toward the strings to get a clear tone but not so much that it gets “slappy” sounding.

Ooops…That’s “alien” head.

Will, is there ANYthing you haven’t done? *grin* Usually people are asking ME that -- how nice to have the tables turned!

Zina

You da man Will, I suggested Flatirons because they sound nice and are reasonably available on ebay and meet Fiddler’s price limits.
I could also have mentioned Martins, hey I just did, which have a fiddle like scale and sound nice as well but tend to be older and therefore subject to more problems. Also Martins cost a bit more.
And yes lots of traditionals take a dim view of F holes. In my limited experience, round holes sound better to the player than f holes and so are more satisfying. The f holes project the sound on others better. Or is that more better?

Crusty, your $20 will be in the mail. It was worth it to have you post that three times! 😉

Zina, one thing I haven’t done (yet) is sweat 5 pounds into a dress, at least not in public. *snort*

To add to what Will described, when Gibson moved the Flatiron production, some of the makers started their own business, and they make Weber mandolins. The company is called Sound To Earth, and the web site is:
http://www.soundtoearth.com/
Read the “About STE” section for history of the company and transition from Flatiron to Weber.
One thing they mention is, "Our line is already the most diverse in the industry and we will continue to explore every facet of acoustic design and construction to improve our instruments in the future.
Some examples of our ability to be innovative include: the “Brekke Bridge”, a one piece tailpiece design, and a unique pickguard mounting system. All of these innovations will improve the quality or playability of any instrument."
They also restore and repair mandolins.

I work with a mandolin player (Irish trad) and my son plays mandolin (Irish trad) so I hear alot of discussion regarding the instrument. Weber mandolins seem to be recommended the most. “A” style for this genre.

Alice Flynn (in Bozeman, Montana)

I own a Weber and they certainly are good. If you’re looking for a new mandolin, try a Mid Missouri, which gets a good name on the CoMando mandolin discussion list when it comes to lower priced instruments. Older (pre-Gibson) Flatiron are very good but sellers tend to know that and to be honest I would worry about hidden defects in anything by them or Weber or Rigel in the under $500 range, even second hand. Have a look at Mandolin Cafe (www.mandolincafe.com) and/or sign on to CoMando (you can do it through and Mandolin Cafe) and ask the same question there - you’ll get more good advice than you know what to do with.

Alastair

On the mandolin cafe website (www.mandolincafe.com), there is a list of builders, a celtic mando discussion page, and tons of tunes in TAB for mandolin.

Personally, I think Scottish and Irish built mandos fit completely into the style of ITM. American made instruments tend to have lower sustain and sound less robust (boy…I’m gonna catch it for saying this) and they are horrendously overpriced and over-finished (YA DON’T NEED PEARL INLAYS TO PLAY NICE MUSIC)..so, check around for good deals on imports…and, if you find an American instrument that you like…forget what Isaid.

After all…you’ve gotta play the thing.

Andy

Wow, you guys are informative. I appreciate all the help. I guess I’ll be keeping my eye out for a Weber or 80’s Flatiron (because then Will might have touched it…)

Blush. Yeah, and you’ll know it by it’s flaws.

Actually Kerri, something occurred to me that I’d almost forgotten about. When we first started making the Flatirons, we cut a round sound hole in the top to match the old A style Gibson’s that we were modelling after. I made my own Flatiron while working there (one of the perks), and did an oval sound hole. I think they made that a production option. It sure looked better than the perfect circle.

I also went thru this last year, but unfortunatly I live on planet earth and most Gibsons cost well over $25. However my webber A style with beautiful inlay and binding was under $1000 on Ebay--worth every penny. I must admit, early 80 flatiorns can sound louder than just about any other mando for the money. F holes--round holes, it ain’t that easy to catagorize--despite what we all say. Good luck, and if you’re married check out the page on earning session points before buying that needed instrument.

Yoo Hoo, Fiddler on Vermouth, There’s an 80’s Flatiron on ebay now. It’s dirt cheap but apparently damaged at one time and “professionally repaired”. Maybe Will could coach you on the right questions to ask.. You never know.

Oops, missed that boat, I suppose. I’ve been preoccupied lately and haven’t been paying attention to the posts! Plus I’ve run out of money so I must delay my mando-shopping plans til after the famine. (Oh, the glory of temp work!) Thanks for keeping an eye out for me crusty!

I’ve just got a 1980 Flatiron 2K it sounds amazing, if you find one grab it.

Dave H