Purchasing Your Second Mandolin Upgrading From Your First

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 11:53:03 -0600

Mickey,

I want to buy a new mandolin. I have a flat Flatiron from the pre-Gibson days that I cherish (I bought it new in 1983). I play mostly guitar, but enjoy the different, lyrical character of the mandolin. After not playing for a while, I have started again, and I'm earning money now--a least a steady income. So, I want to purchase a little finer instrument. I play mostly alone, as a hobbyist, or with one other hobby-level musician. But, I do have an appreciation for quality instruments and think of them as something to hold on to. As a non-professional who will not own a gallery full on instruments, I want a mandolin that is versatile in music styles and playing situations...that is my question for you...what are the features that would make one particular mandolin more versatile that another?

Many thanks,

Ray

Greetings Ray,

The features that differentiate mando to mando, and qualify one over another as versatile follows:

1. Choice of Soundholes:
F Soundholes: adds to a bright crisp tone...more versatile...great for bluegrass, jazz, fiddle tunes, country, etc.
Oval Soundholes: adds to a more open resonant tone...great for Celtic styles.

2. Choice of Woods for back and sides:
Maple: has more projection and crispness of tone...great for bluegrass...and other styles.
Mahogany: more warmth...more mellowness...great for a variety of styles...

3. Body Shape:
F Style: Set the standard within bluegrass settings...great for a variety of styles...more body cavity for sound to travel within...
A Style: Traditional and old-time settings...great for a variety of styles...

4. Type of Bracing:
Tone Bar: Desirable for bluegrass settings...tight and projecting...opens up over time...
X Bracing: More versatile in tonal range...great for a variety of styles...

Hope the above gives you some overview on the many construction characteristics available...

Be sure to get back with me if you have a specific question regarding the above...

Mickey

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 10:31:39 -0500
Subject: New Mandolin

Hey Mickey,
I've been playing mandolin for just about 2 years now, I have a Tyler
Mountain F model, and I'm looking to upgrade. First of all the tone in the
Tyler Mountain isn't quite what I'm looking for, it lacks the bassy chop of
the gibsons and other high end mandos I've played. Being a college student,
however, I don't exactly have the money to buy an F-5 L. What would you
recommend? I really like the small, fast necks and shape of the new gibson
necks as well. I'm thinking about a KM-1000, but would I be better off
looking for a small luthier, or another one you carry?
Chris

Greetings Chris,

Glad to assist if I can:

I haven't really played a Tyler Mountain and therefore cannot pass judgment on how they compare...evidently, you've done your own comparisons...there's no doubt that a well-made solid wood instrument should at the very least have a good chop...with a decent low end. However, even on the high end, I've found that this can be untrue...it pays to do your research.

Both the F-5Ls we currently have in stock do have a solid bluegrass chop with an overall fat sound...these are great value when you compare them with independent makes which are priced at 3-4 times more...

The KM-1000 may or may not be the choice...they're nicely crafted and have an amazing aesthetic appeal...we're eagerly awaiting our first China model to see what kind of improvements have been made...

You might also consider trying a Morgan Monroe MMS-3 at the lowest price with the best value...I've played a few so far and all of them had a decent throaty bluegrass chop...

If you can afford a little more mando, you might consider a Weber Hyalite, a Breedlove Quartz or a Rigel A+ Natural...all of which are made in the US...all priced at around 1k and less...

Always remember, with us you have a full 100% trade-up value...therefore, you can start with a MMS-3 and eventually graduate to a Weber Yellowstone or a Rigel A+ Deluxe...or a Breedlove Premier model...

Hope this helps...Mickey