Advice needed on cheap but half decent mandolins -now sorted

Teyeplayer

Now sorted with new mandolin pictures below. 

Many, many, many years ago I used to assault the airwaves and my parent’s ears with the shambolic screech of a poorly played violin. I then discovered guitar and the rest is history. Along the way, usually when sat around with friends or in a studio someone has pulled out a mandolin and muscle memory has kicked in. Thanks to sharing the same tuning as violin I’ve been able to deliver a quick blast of Drowsy Maggie or some such trad folk. Cue a gasp around the room and the misinformed belief that I know what I’m doing.
 

I’ve recently been recording with a friend again and a few tracks have needed that little extra something. Using what was a poorly playing £65 mandolin from 30 years ago we’ve found mandolin might just fill the gap. 

However, I’d like something that a) plays better, b) sounds/projects better. But where to start? Budget is LOW Low low, as I once again have things to pay off (will I ever learn). Browsing the various guitar shops, knowing where to start is like being a beginner all over again. 

Any advice from those in the know would be appreciated. Anything great sounding and playing on a budget? Recommendations appreciated.

drofluf

Rule of thumb is that you need to spend twice as much as you would on a cheap guitar to get something of a similar quality. 

You’ll get better value for money with an A style (onion shaped body) than an F style (the ones with a horn). 

More so than a cheap guitar it will need a setup. 

Have a look at the Hobgoblin range https://hobgoblin.com/fretted-amp-stringed/mandolins Ashbury, their house brand make some great value instruments. 

And be prepared to bleed when you change the strings. 

Teyeplayer

drofluf said:

Rule of thumb is that you need to spend twice as much as you would on a cheap guitar to get something of a similar quality. 

... 

More so than a cheap guitar it will need a setup. 

Valuable advice regarding setup and expectations. I’d been looking at the stock in Project music for this very reason as they come with a set up (and I’ve had great experience buying from them previously). 

Hobgoblin have always struck me as a little overpriced, although customer service may be better than some other similar stores? 

Elvis_Penberthy

PM'd you.

MartinB

If your repertoire is Irish/UK fiddle tunes rather than bluegrass stuff, a flat top model might be just fine. I'd try both flat tops and A-style archtop to see which one works for you.

There are Romanian made mandolins that you see everywhere under multiple names, the ones with the inlaid wood pickguards, and those can sound good but often need a lot of setup work and occasionally you get a duff neck angle that can't be set up well. Eastman have a flat top model now that should be a safe bet, but possibly stretching what "very low budget" means. 

Some of Hobgoblin's Ashbury models look nice for a celtic style flat top, though I haven't tried them, and they also have the Carvalho Portugese made mandolins which are decent. 

If you go archtop, A styles are better value and you want a solid top at the very least. 

Teyeplayer

All sorted, thanks for the suggestions. I went a little over budget, but got a lovely Brook built flat top mandolin as a result. 

Stratavarious

I put a K&K pickup in my Celtic mandolin.  Really nice live.

drofluf

Teyeplayer said:

All sorted, thanks for the suggestions. I went a little over budget, but got a lovely Brook built flat top mandolin as a result. 

A good decision. Any pictures?

Teyeplayer

drofluf said:

Teyeplayer said:

All sorted, thanks for the suggestions. I went a little over budget, but got a lovely Brook built flat top mandolin as a result. 

A good decision. Any pictures?

I’ve always fancied a Brook being a Dartmoor born lad. This has definitely more than satisfied the itch.

Teyeplayer

Stratavarious said:

I put a K&K pickup in my Celtic mandolin.  Really nice live.

Been looking at these (and the JJB equivalent). Will need to pick something up for it before too long.

drofluf

That’s gorgeous!  What’s the back wood?

Got a fixed bridge so no intonation issues which I found a pain. 

Teyeplayer

drofluf said:

That’s gorgeous!  What’s the back wood?

Got a fixed bridge so no intonation issues which I found a pain. 

Thanks, it’s a cracking bit of wood isn’t it. 

Think the back is walnut,  but I may be wrong.