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Although I guess it’s desirable, most models for that much money that I’ve seen have a truss rod and the other features you mentioned. And for just a hundred dollars more or so you have a whole new level of instruments to choose from, so, if you’re going to keep at it, why are you buying a beginner’s instrument?ĭon’t be too concerned with an adjustable truss rod, neck joint, etc. For Irish music get the open hole.Ĭarved top, back and sides are absolutely necessary if you’re paying that much money. Especially the older ones can turn out to be total junk.Īn oval sound hole will give you more volume, the F-hole instruments might give you more tone if is everything is solid wood.
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If it’s your first mandolin and you don’t quite know what you’re looking at then stick with a dealer over an auction from a private seller who does not necessarily specialize in musical instruments. For that price, you can probably get a better instrument used if you spend the time looking around the net and calling to see if the shops will ship. If you’re buying for $1000, do you want something new or used? If you’re willing to buy a quality used instrument, then you’ve just quadrupled your possibilities. I saw some inexpensive ones that looked ("looked") like good buys, but I could be wrong. I hope it will be but I do love the sound of a mandolin so it won’t influence my decision to pick one up. "Is it easier to play melody on mandolin?" "What features should I look for in a quality mandolin?"Ĭarved top/back? Adjustable truss rod? Oval hole or F-holes? Woods? Bracing? Radiused fingerboard? Fingerboard width? Considerations for big fingers? Dove-tail neck joint? And finally, Rover, Breedlove, Mid-Missouri, Johnson, Michael Kelly, Eastman, Kentucky, and Troubadour. Please exclude ABSOLUTE beginners’ instruments from this list that means NO LAMINATES, etc. My price range is under $1000 USD (830 Euro, 570 GBP). "What’s the best beginner’s mandolin out there?" I’ve tried my hand at tenor banjo and didn’t like the tone as much as I like mandolin, so the question is: I’ve always loved playing backup on guitar, so maybe I’ll just stick to that…I have a Crump bouzouki on order, but I don’t plan to play melody on it at least not a whole lot. I’ve been trying DADGAD flatpicking (Irish tunes, of course) for months and I’m really tired of the stretches, etc. The original hard shell case is included.I’ve just about resigned myself to futility when it comes to playing melody on guitar. It’s a very resonant instrument with a warm, rich and developed voice and a good amount of projection. The inlays are Mother of Pearl, including block position markers, The Flatiron script logo and Chalice headstock inlay.Ĭlosely based on the original designs, this Flatiron F5 custom is in good condition with light fret wear and light finish wear, though there is natural lacquer checking. The bridge and bound fingerboard are Ebony. This would have been part of the last set of Flatirons built in Belgrade.įeaturing a carved Spruce top, carved Flame Maple back, with Flame Maple also used for the sides and neck. Here we’re looking at a Flatiron F5 Custom in Blackburst, built in Belgrade, Montana during 1996 and signed by Bruce Weber. Now, because of overlap with Gibson’s re-launched their own mandolin line, Flatiron mandolins are not made in the USA. Many employees did not want to make that move, and this resulted in companies like Weber Mandolins. Later, Flatiron moved from Bozeman to nearby Belgrade but in 1996 moved the brand to Nashville.
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In the end, Gibson purchased Flatiron rather than drive it out of business. In 1986, Gibson came under new ownership and as an early step, sent cease and desist letters to companies like Flatiron. Production of classic designs took off, and Flatiron became a respected brand. The first Flatiron catalog appeared in 1979. Loar built on Orville Gibson’s groundbreaking blending of violin, mandolin and guitar design concepts that produced the first archtop fretted instruments.įlatiron was started by Chuck Morrison, and in 1978 purchased by Steve Carson, who soon hired Ren Ferguson. The Flatiron F5 was a take on one of the most influential mandolin designs, the Gibson F5, designed by Lloyd Loar and introduced in 1922.