Mandolins

Not bad for a beginner

By Bobby Lloyd from Mebane, NC on 2/15/2011 10:15:47 PM

I've had this mandolin for about 4 years now. It's still in good condition and hasn't broken on me since I got it. If you're just starting mandolin, (and I still consider myself a beginner) I would definitely suggest getting something less expensive like this until you really get the hang of the playing style. It's definitely not as nice as a higher dollar Epiphone or Gibson but it is decent. The one thing I really don't like about mine is how high the action is, and the quality of pitch as you move up the frets. You can tune all the strings perfectly but some chords never sound as good once you lay your fingers down. The high action just makes it harder to play as well. So if you're into the fast Celtic or bluegrass stuff, you may want to look for something with better playability. But as far as tone and sound go, this mandolin does the job just fine. It projects nice and loudly. I've used it just playing acoustic jams with my friends and also at church, where it was miked. It sounds great under a condenser. It's probably a good idea to get a case eventually. The bag is okay but not really temperature resistant at all. Everything else in the pack is alright, especially the book. I would get some higher quality strings though once you use the replacement ones included. If you're a newbie like I still am, give this mando a shot. It's a great value and the pack materials are really helpful.