KD Banjer - Posted - 09/30/2019:  07:23:53

Hi Everyone,

My and wife and I just returned last night from 5 days of IBMA (I'll start a separate thread about my experience at IBMA).

One benefit from the IBMA experience is that my wife now really gets bluegrass . :) . and she understands why I am passionate about it.

A second benefit is that my wife wants to learn and play mandolin (she is a pretty good classical piano player).

Are there some good sounding (and easy to play) beginning/intermediate mandolins that you would recommend?

I was browsing the internet, and I see that Kentucky makes some highly rated beginning mandolins.

I would like to spend $500 or less (for new or used).

Thank you for your ideas and help.

Richard Hauser - Posted - 09/30/2019:  07:33:08

IMHO Eastman makes reasonably priced excellent instruments. Guitars, mandolins, and fiddles.

KD Banjer - Posted - 09/30/2019:  07:34:29

Here are some models that I have read are good:

- Kentucky KM-256 ($489 new)

- Kentucky KM-150 A-style ($429 new)

- Eastman MD315 F-Style ($699 new)

- Roots Collection G9310 New Yorker Supreme ($200 used).

- Kentucky KM-650 Standard F-Style ($900 on Banjo Ben Clark)

I am leaning towards one of the Kentucky models, and perhaps an F style.

KD Banjer - Posted - 09/30/2019:  07:36:10

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Hauser

IMHO Eastman makes reasonably priced excellent instruments. Guitars, mandolins, and fiddles.

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Thanks, Richard.

I do love Eastman's guitars.

I think that I'll stop by Picker's Supply here in Fredericksburg (VA) and try an Eastman and some other mandolin models (even though I can only play chords on a mandolin).

dmiller - Posted - 09/30/2019:  08:10:28

I've had two Kentucky mandolins in the past.   Excellent top of the shelf instruments for beginners, or just a second instrument to have around the house.  Great intonation/ low action/ solid wood top/ tight tuners/ and a very reasonable price for either the A or the F model.  My two Kentucky mandos were both the A model and (as things go with instruments), I let them slip away in trades for something else.  They hold their own in a jam and I wish I had at least one of them back.  I've not played an Eastman so I can't comment on them - - but I can highly recommend the Kentucky as a beginner/intermediate instrument.  Good luck and have fun shopping! 

KD Banjer - Posted - 09/30/2019:  09:13:32

quote:

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Originally posted by dmiller

I've had two Kentucky mandolins in the past.   Excellent top of the shelf instruments for beginners, or just a second instrument to have around the house.  Great intonation/ low action/ solid wood top/ tight tuners/ and a very reasonable price for either the A or the F model.  My two Kentucky mandos were both the A model and (as things go with instruments), I let them slip away in trades for something else.  They hold their own in a jam and I wish I had at least one of them back.  I've not played an Eastman so I can't comment on them - - but I can highly recommend the Kentucky as a beginner/intermediate instrument.  Good luck and have fun shopping! 

 

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Thanks for sharing your experience and great feedback on the Kentucky models.

A related question... How does a Gibson F-9 compare to those Kentucky mandolin models? (I have a feeling that it might be like comparing Gibsons with Recording King banjos).

jjonzee - Posted - 09/30/2019:  09:19:28

I had kinda the same experience. I played banjo and my wife liked the mandolin. I bought a Kentucky A model...KM-250. Good sound, easy to play.

KD Banjer - Posted - 09/30/2019:  09:50:12

quote:

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Originally posted by jjonzee

I had kinda the same experience. I played banjo and my wife liked the mandolin. I bought a Kentucky A model...KM-250. Good sound, easy to play.

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Thanks for the Kentucky recommendation, Jeff.

Yes... My wife has smaller thinner hands, and since playing guitar was hard for her (to learn), she thinks that the thinner fretboard of a mandolin would be easier for her.

JMalmsteen - Posted - 10/10/2019:  17:11:31

My first mandolin was a Kentucky. I would recommend one of those. I bought mine from Stan at Mandolin Brothers. RIP.

Dragonslayer - Posted - 10/11/2019:  02:47:02

I have a Kentucky KM150 and it's great. I would definitely recommend one for a great beginner instrument. Just be sure to buy from a store that will set it up. You said your wife has small hands, so wherever you buy from, ask that they set it up with very low action to play easily. Some stores that will set up for free include, the mandolin store, BanjoBenClark's store, elderly instruments, and fiddlers green. There's others too. The Gibson F9 is definitely a leap above a Kentucky, very much like comparing a Gibson to a recording king.
I've heard that the Eastman mandolins are very good, and the one I played (515) was great, but only slightly better than my KM150. They do have smaller necks in general, so that might be a plus. And you'll get more mandolin for your money if you buy an A style, so keep that in mind.
Hope this helps

Brett - Posted - 10/12/2019:  07:44:52

Regardless what you buy, you pay more for curly que and points on a body, as it’s more labor. You get more bang for the buck with an a-model. That was relayed to me by Ricky Rorex, one of the finest mandolin players and Winfield winner. He should know, I am no mandolinist (much). I have an import Breedlove, kinda like a modified f shape, which is decent in the $500 range I guess. I’ve tried eastmans, they really are great bangs for the buck, and at times, I wish I’d bought an a model Eastman rather than my quasi f shape Breedlove.
When you’re practicing alone, the lack of enough bass response from an inexpensive f model shows. Easier to get more bass out of an a model.

DC5 - Posted - 10/12/2019:  11:37:10

FWIW, Banjo Ben Clark (no relation) is having a sale and they have the Kentucky KM150 A style for $399.95. They have other Mandos on sale too.

store.banjobenclark.com/collec...n-a-model

Brett - Posted - 10/28/2019:  09:42:10

Ok, I want to add new vote for Kentucky KM-252 a-model artist. I just took delivery of it, it’s nice wood, tone, very tasteful and sounds great in every respect. I wasn’t going to buy a new mandolin, but did have a 20% off coupon and it was on sale through Musicians Friend. All I had to do was tune it and set the intonation.
They have captured the Gibson a-model in and bottle and then some. A fine instrument and having $338 to my door is almost robbery. I might buy the similar one with oval hole when I sell off my old Washburn prewar oval hole mandolin. Going to likely sell my Breedlove, that I do like, but I prefer the more traditional feel of Kentucky neck than the Breedlove neck designed for guitar players. It’s a much more expensive mandolin, but the brand new Kentucky already sounds better. At about half the price.
Just an honest review....from a guy who enjoys a good instrument at garage sale money.

okbluegrassbanjopicker - Posted - 10/28/2019:  18:04:24

Loar LM-520. 

rcc56 - Posted - 10/28/2019:  19:45:47

I had an older Eastman 505 come through here on trade a while back. I sold it for $500, which was a fair market price. Sometimes I wish I had kept it-- it was good enough to gig with.

I have not been impressed with the Eastman 300 series. I think it's better to cough up the extra couple of hundred and get the better model, unless you're on a shoestring budget. By the way, a new 505 [an A model] costs the same as a new 315 [an F model]. For the same money, you get a better mandolin instead of a scroll body.

Dragonslayer - Posted - 10/29/2019:  12:32:49

I've heard a lot of Eastman reviews on mandolincafe that people preferred the 300 series over the 500 series because the satin finish allowed the instrument to resonate better. Worth considering at least

Doug Brock - Posted - 11/13/2019:  13:39:22

One data point on the Eastman MD315: I've had an MD505 for a few years and last year was craving a scroll. I played other F-style Eastmans further up the line and was ready to pay the extra bucks for the better hardware of the MD515 or MD615, but I just preferred the woodier sound of the MD315 and bought one. After a few months and playing lots of other mandolins at various stores, I decided the MD315 was a keeper and added K&K pickups and better tuners.

It's been a good mandolin and gets regular compliments at jams. (I think that the flat finish actually makes some people think it is an older expensive mandolin, lol.) I recently bought a step-up mandolin ($1700) but I'm still fine playing either it or the MD315. (The newer mandolin has richer middle and bass tone; the MD315 has better trebles and just cuts better.)

Edited by - Doug Brock on 11/13/2019 13:40:28