This video is permanently linked at the top of the mandolin subreddit. Every new player asking for good starter instruments gets directed to this video. What an accomplishment, David!
As I'm watching this, I can't help but be filled with this thought of "Wow, so this is the world I'm getting into. This is so freaking cool." So excited to get mine!
I've been more than pleased with my Kentucky KM 150. I didn't start playing mandolin until my 50s, and it's solid enough to give me confidence while letting me know if something sounds off, it's me and not the instrument. (Meaning, "I need to work on that a bit more...")
@@PlavitPOi90not especially, but as a general rule, as the model number gets higher, build quality usually improves, even if only slightly... but with a good, proper setup, either of those will sound just fine...you can count on Kentucky to produce fairly consistent instruments, even in the less expensive models...good brand...
Yes I bought a vangoa myself and I was disappointed there was no truss rod as well.. I actually bent the neck with pressure on both ends on one side and in the middle on the other and it straightened out pretty well. (I wouldn't recommend trying that if you don't have any luthier skills) I think it's a good purchase if you're not sure you want to play the mandolin if you can play this for 6 months or a year, then you get yourself a better one. In about a few months I'm going to get myself another one probably a Kentucky now that I saw this video. But I felt I had to earn it by playing the vanGoa for a year. It's still fairly nice for a really cheap amount of money. Everything is so cheap these days it's amazing what they can give you for that price! Even though it is a 2 out of 10 mandolin I have no regrets for buying it, it's still more than what I expected.
I spent an entire afternoon at a music store that had about 25 mandolins in stock. I also found that expensive does not always mean good. Though I wasn't looking at beginner level stuff. Their cheapest were these Eastman 305s, and at the high end they had several vintage Gibsons, including one genuine Loar. I played them all and one particular Eastman 515 sounded the best. Now, not *all* their 515s were better -- just one in particular. Even when compared head to head with the old Gibson Loar. Go figure.
Agreed if you have the opportunity to try many in a shop and close your eyes while playing Don't let the brand name sway you.... let the feel, playability and sound do that
I was literally biting my nails as you got to the top 2...and jumping of joy when the Kentucky won your countdown. I love my Florentine Kentucky KM650, my first and only mando. Thank you for your videos David, and for sharing your musicality with everyone. You are a great player!
After seeing this, I have much more respect for a Kentucky ! I have one I picked up from a junk store ! Seems a girl passing thru town needed money, and sold it to this store that sold strange items ! Found it by a fluke, as it wasn't displayed, instead offered when we requested if they had one for sell ! Not sure of the model ? But couldn't believe the price on the 150 ! Wow....! Addendum : I think I paid $100.00 !
I bought a Kentucky KM-150 a couple years after a lot of research and was happy to hear that it still holds it's own against most of it's other competitors. Thanks for your extensive comparison and thoughts on mandolins in this price range!
No real surprises - you get what you pay for and you need to pay $200 (or £200 in UK) for a reasonable beginner instrument. But I would disagree that any mandolin is better than no mandolin - I think a bad mandolin is worse than no mandolin. The cheapest model isn't a mandolin at all - it's a Mandolin Shaped Object ;-) I've also learned from experience not to buy direct mail order. I've got a music shop I use and I think it's worth the extra they charge to get their excellent technician to set up the instrument and make it playable. I can understand why the string tension is reduced and the bridge removed for transport, but I don't think the average beginner would be able to place the bridge and do a set up to get the action and intonation right. They'll just place the bridge randomly and put up with the bad noises it makes.
I got an Ibanez for a steal and quite like it. Im by no means a dedicated mandolin player, but it works just fine when guitar is getting stale and I need some inspiration.
I found this very interesting - the differences were quite apparent between the plywood and solid wood tops. To my tin ear, the differences between the solid wood instruments and those with laminated back and sides was less dramatic. Having a KM-150, I was quite happy with your ranking, although I think the rank of the top three is a pretty subjective matter. Nice video, David. Thank you.
Thank you so much for doing this video! I bought the Vangoa last fall because that's all I could afford at the time. It's been great in a lot of ways especially for $120, but then it fell off the chair (totally my fault) and spilt the whole top. I still play it, so I stay on top of practicing even though it doesn't sound great and now looking to buy a nicer instrument next month. This video was a wealth of help!
Excellent video David, You put a lot of effort into your productions and it shows. The fact that you're not selling these, purchased all of them, set them up for a fair comparison is impressive. Now what are you going to do? Start a beginner mandolin orchestra? Thanks for a great video.
5:12 - This is exactly the problem I had with a "not-so-cheap" Tradition (made in Korea) mandolin I bought about 30 years ago at a music store. I could never get it perfectly in tune, all the way up the fretboard. One chord would sound perfect, and the next would be out of tune. Tune that out of tune chord up to perfection, and then the first chord was out of tune. I still played it, but it wasn't so enjoyable.
My grandfather made mandolins my whole life. I spent 32 years listening to him play bluegrass. He hand crafted dozens of f style mandolins. This year, I decided to honor his memory by picking up a cheap mandolin to learn so I didn't have to learn on one he made. I went out and played a ton of mandolins across a couple of states before I landed on the Ibenez m510-ovs. I really like it so far. I got it used for 100, and someone had already done the setup. I'm happy with it.
I’ve been teaching mando at Elderly Instruments since 1979, so I’ve played and been exposed to the full range of mandos. I concur re: the Kentucky solid top model. I routinely help beginners as they choose an instrument, and tend to steer them towards the KY, and if it’s beyond their $s comfort point, the laminate KY is a good compromise. 👍🏼
Elderly is a great shop to buy from as well. They include a setup with the purchase. That is so valuable! I recommend spending just a bit more to go with the Kentucky KM-250 to get some nice upgrades vs the KM-150. And sometimes you can even find the KM-250 for less than the KM-150.
Thanks for the excellent info! Happy to see that the Recording King I purchased at a local guitar store a few months ago did well in your ratings; the list $ was $266.99, but I paid about half that! Time to take advantage of the long New England winter ahead, & learn to play it, with the assistance of your videos & maybe an IRL teacher...
I have two Eastmans....a 304 and a 305. I will say they open up very nicely after a couple years......the 304 has pretty decent volume and the 305 has a real nice woody tone..
I bought a 1960’s A model Martin, with an oval sound hole. It was around 700 bucks. It sings but something was off. I had a friend help me tweak it now it is great! Next step is to give it a pick-up.
I have the Eastman and while I'm not into Bluegrass I play quite a bit of Brazilian Choro on it. Mine sounds fuller and more complex than your recording so many factors may be at play here. It's kind of scary how well it sings. It makes me smile every time I play it. Great reviews by the way. Thanks.
Like another comment.... I wish that this video was available when I purchased my second mandolin on TH-cam. My first mandolin was a second hand Hoffner from Germany. It was not a fancy instrument, but was very easy to play, and it sounded great. I sold it to a girl that I met at the Kerrville Music festival. She was playing a budget instrument, and commented on how much better my mandolin sounded than hers. She asked to play mine, and again commented how much easier it was to play my instrument. After about 25 years I was retired, and had plenty of free time, and decided to get another mandolin. I think must have bought one just like the girl had that bought my first mandolin. I gave it to my grandson. Now he has it hanging on the wall of his bedroom as a decoration!
I don’t play any stringed instrument and not played anything since I was in high school band. But, in my mid 30s the mandolin is intriguing me and I am thinking about picking one up to tinker with.
Good video for helping new mandolin players. About 10 years ago I wanted to start playing mandolin. I did some research and got an Epiphone MM-20. It only cost about $120 and it is a great instrument. It is well built, stays in tune and really projects. I believe this model has been discontinued but the MM-30 is likely as good.
Great comparison, David! If one is based in mainland Europe it's hard to get access to such variety of mandolins without additional shipping costs. However, in Europe people often use Thomann as the biggest and main music instrument store. That's where I bought my first Harley Benton mandolin for roughly $60. That was my first encounter of any mandolin ever and I must say it does a great job for such price. It's twice cheaper than your cheapest mandolin there, but sounds much better in my opinion. Also, I haven't noticed such intonation problems and there is a truss rod. It taught me that I really enjoy mandolin and led to buying a Loar LM 590 as a next step.
Didn't watch this first but ended up getting the Eastman 304 (oval hole) over the Kentucky after playing them together. Really love it. Eastman also has some sort of finish on their fretboards that stain your fingers, which is worth a mention? Never experienced it before on any other instrument, but my Eastman mandolin and guitar both stain my fingers. Anyway my starter mando was that Ibanez and the all-solid Eastman (and Kentucky) are a world of difference.
Great comparison! When I was starting, the Kentucky KM-505 was a popular choice. My local mandolin store didn't have the KM-505 at the time, but he did have the KM-550 which is what I ended up buying and still play to this day.
Thanks for the excellent video! For pure sound, I would have put the Washburn up with the Eastman and The Kentucky, certainly above the Loar. I thought the Recording King had a thinner chop than the Washburn as well, and not only was the Washburn loudest, it also seemed to occasionally have more complexity than even the Eastman and the Kentucky. I totally agree the Washburn is not great to look at, and maybe some would disapprove of the size of the neck, but compared to the price of the Kentucky or Eastman, it seems to me at least to make the best sound for the price.
My ranking from my hands' own experience is #1 Kentucky, #2 Loar, #3 Eastman. In the examples I've played, the Kentucky and Loar sounded almost identical, but the Kentucky was much more playable with a nicer finish. The Eastman was the best playing, but was too bright for my taste.
The Loar is great for the price and for starting out. But I upgraded to an MD315 and the jump in sound to me was huge. Loar is fantastic for the money though.
Haven't watched the video, but getting an A style with a solid top and good tuning machines is a great starting point. You don't break the bank and with consistent playing and practice you'll outgrow it in a couple years. Then move to all solid wood.
Holy mackerel! I can’t wait to see the next video. My mando teacher suggested an upgrade from Washburn to Kentucky. So I guess you guys both agree. After hearing this comparison I do too. Having some issues with strings. XT was good. Elixir Mediums not so much. May try heavy next and hope they get in tune and stay in tune. Thanks for putting this comparison out!
I've been a guitar player for 30 years and have always wanted to learn mandolin. Great video and great information, I'm still not sure which way to go.
When I first started, I ended up getting a The Loar LM-310F, which is an F-style. And you always pay a premium for an F body versus and A body. The LM-310F is much more expensive than the LM-110 but similar in price to the Kentucky KM-150 which it compares favorably with but perhaps a little below it in build quality but still excellent. The LM-310F projects well with chops and chords, it's a bit quiet when picking and can be difficult to hear when doing melody lines against a full size acoustic guitar doing rhythm chords. Needs more volume. My first mandolin was the absolute cheapest thing I could find. I struggled for months to learn to play on an instrument that was not really set up well. I worked on it myself and got it sort of playable but the difference between a $80 mandolin and a $200 mandolin is massive. And I recommend not going too cheap even if you're just learning. If you are fortunate enough to have a music store that can setup a new mandolin that will be worth it if you're a beginner. A lot of the guitar shops in my area are pretty comfortable with mandolins, and if you bring your own strings they'll help you set it up. Guitar center even managed to put together a set of strings from their store brand stock, as long as they know the diameter of each string they can figure it out.
Great production. This video is invaluable to folks looking for a first mandolin. One interesting question: how much variability exists among a single brand? I’m not recommending you do this, but if you compared ten Kentucky’s to ten Eastman’s I wonder whether your findings would be the same.
I got my old schutz marke for 20 bucks at a second hand shop. Yeah, the back was falling off, so I had to remove it, straighten out the bracing so the curve wasn't so extreme, glue it back on, fill the cracks with sawdust and reattach the seam in the front, aside from the normal revival stuff like relacquering and polishing the metal bits.
The harley benton hdma-100 is a nice option. The price and construction is great. It also has a 9-3/8" radiused fretboard. Usually found on more expensive mandolins.
I started my mandolin journey with a vangoa in 2020, then upgraded to a loar 310f before the end of the year. Its probably just familiarity bias, but even without looking I could hear that clean, sweet sound, and I am glad of my choice. Just a week ago I got a gold tone f-10 ten strimg mandolin for 800$. Might be interesting enough to make a video about, especially since it is the only remotely budget 10 string option.
I bought the Eastman MD305, 4 years ago and I’ve been very happy with it. I bought mine from Banjo Ben’s and it included a free complete setup which has held true since I’ve owned it. At the time I bought it the price was $499. Money well spent, but I do think the Kentucky sounded best in this comparison. Good video.
I don’t own a Kentucky but I have always been curious about them. I do own an Eastman. I am pleased to hear your recommendation about Kentucky. I just may have to pick one up.
I bought the Ibanez 510 about a year ago and the plastic nut at the top of the fretboard just gave out. One of the E strings cut through it. Im getting a bone nut put on it for an additional $70. Overall, the tuners aren't great, but the mandolin has served me very well especially for the price. Ive even gotten compliments from professionals about it.
Before you did your ranking, i thought the Kentucky sounded the best. My first mandolin was one i bought on Facebook marketplace for $20. It came with a nice hard case and sounds great. Then i found one for $10 that was missing a string. I replaced the strings and it sounds pretty good, but not as good as my $20 one. I’m just learning and i love how the mandolin sounds. Very fun, thanks for the very informative video.
Bought a $60 musician friend deal of the day Rouge A style mandolin. Set it up myself, it plays and sounds good especially for the price. I think I got lucky and got a good one.
@@charlesbolton8471try a bean blossom or a johnson... pretty cheap... never able to tune the johnson at all... I don't know what I'm doing... what a mess... lol
I own 2 Rogue mandolins...I've been pleased with them for learning & such, been playing mando for about 7 months now, just purchased a Recording King black gloss...looking forward to the upgrade!
When I started playing mandolin two years ago I went with the Eastman MD305. Kentucky KM-150 is hard to get a hold of in Europe and to import one from north America would be more expensive than an Eastman (shipping, taxes, customs duties and so on). The Loar LM-110 at that time was either out of stock or had a delivery time of around ten weeks at the online stores that I found. So I went with the Eastman and I haven't looked back since.
Nice work on this video! Just finished setting up the Ibanez for my 10 year old son using your "How to setup a Mandolin" video. Certainly didn't expect it to win here, but it looks nice (which is really important to him) and it'll be great for getting him started. If he sticks with it, that Kentucky might be next.
I have an Eastman MD 315 (F Style) and a Kentucky kKM 270 (Oval Hole). Love em both. I like the sound out of the Kentucky more. But I have a passion for Folk, Celtic and Irish mandolin. Especially Irish Jigs. I hope to upgrade one day, but, yeah, the next level starts around $2000 to $3000 on up!! Excellent video David!! Thanks!!
When you know you made the right choice of instrument to learn how to play because even the lower quality instruments sound nice. The Eastman sounds amazing. I also didn't know the bridge was adjustable, I have a blue ADM Mandolin I got off Amazon using some birthday money and it sounds decent for a beginner mandolin (Very close of the Recording King in sound) but some of the strings don't hold their tuning well. I'll see if adjusting the bridge helps with that since the keys seem fine, thank you for pointing that out.
I agree with what you have said, although price being a consideration, I would probably go for the Loar. Plus my fingers are too big for Mandolin and I'm hoping that the wider finger board might be able to accommodate me. Plus I love the look. Volume wise, it sounds loud enough for us students. I have a $99 model which my fingers are too big for so any of these instruments would be a big upgrade, if I could play it and the Loar is the most likely because of the finger board.
Cool video. Thanks for this. I’ve only played bluegrass, nothing fancy, in years past with my Dad. (Actually my stepdad but he earned that title.) He bought me my first guitar. He had a mandolin and I learned a few chords and would strum along with him when I visited. Blue grass and old country. Good times. I would throw in some southern rock sometimes. now many years later I just ordered a used Kentucky for $300. Thanks again for the info . This will be great!
I watch lots of "beginner's guide to purchasing -- " videos and this was by far the best one I've ever seen! It was so comprehensive, you thought of everything! Really glad I found this before getting one....and also really torn now LOL
I got the Washburn my older brother helped me put the bridge in and it broke the e string and i had to wait awhile to play it fully and also mine the string guard or whatever on the bottom would not hardly come off it so to start with we put strings on crappy it was a beginner nightmare though mine has good tone and i paid 130 for it now it is waay more expensive.
The one-piece tailpiece of the Eastman is actually its biggest shortcoming: it's aluminium, and it gets easily cut by the E strings. The hooks just pop off, it's an extremely common problem with eastmans even at higher price points. I had to replace it with a cheap, bent sheet steel one like those of the cheapest instruments.
I’m really glad you made this. I get asked about best budget mandolins a few times a year and it’s great I can now send people this. I usually have the same conclusions - get a second hand Eastman or Kentucky and allocate another $100ish to get it set up properly.
I think the cheap one is branded Rocket in the uk. Definitely sounds like. Had it ages , just tune the best i can and go with it. Hurts my fingers though, unlike my guitars, banjo and uke.
Hi David, Thank you for the video! It is great getting to see and especially hear all the mandolins. I have a question: Where would you recommend we go to shop for mandolins? They are such a niche product. I happened upon a few ukulele videos, one of which told us why you shouldn’t go to a guitar store to look for your instrument (ukuleles, in the case of the person putting the video out - but mandolins would be the same: that is, most guitar shops would have a limited selection of mandolins/ukuleles, etc. and would not care for them that well. They would get dusty being on the shelf and wouldn’t be touched until the next time someone comes in - specifically asking about them; in addition, if you were to buy one from them, they wouldn’t know what to do with it - how to set it up - like a mandolin/ukulele, etc.) Are there shops which specialize in mandolins which you could recommend, for someone like me who wants to get started learning mandolin, as I really enjoy their sound (I started learning guitar, taking lessons for 2 months - but I just had no motivation to continue with it). For example, in England, there is the Southern Ukulele Shop, which specializes specifically in ukuleles (that’s one thing I happened upon in the video). Thanks!
I have an Ibanez, needed a lot of bridge work and the neck has a twist in it. But Uncle Ike's in Dubuque set it up for me, and it's fun to play with. Good video.
I just got my Vangoa "left-handed " mandolin, and it is really nice. I had to move the tail-piece over a quarter of an inch, to center it on the body. Other than that, didn't have much of an option when you're a lefty. Nice video!
Nice Job on this accessment David! You are spot on. If a buyer has the extra funds available, I personally would choose the Eastman for the playabity and neck shape. Beginners may struggle with adapting their left hand to the unfamiliar regiment of coordinating the fretboard during practice. A more optimal shape and playabity may be the most important attribute for a beginner.
Gotta say, I was consistently surprised by the sound of the Washburn. I started out on the F style version of the Loar one, but nowadays I use a kentucky KM-1000 which is just fantastic
Another advantage to Kentucky, in addition to being some of the best values, is that they are popular and there are many available second hand where an F sells for around the price of a brand new A. Probably good enough for most of us who will never become professionals.
Assuming there aren’t any major structural flaws I would say so. The sound tends to open up as the wood ages and with a good set up the playability will make practicing much more rewarding. Depending how old the instrument is, the wood may also be better quality to start with.
Wonderful review David - thank you. This will be a real help to starting mandolin players in selecting that first mandolin. I will definitely refer players to this video to help with that 1st instrument pick - trying to buy an instrument well before knowing what you don’t know.
Superb Video, thank you so much and I agree with the outcome for the top three. I live in England and for some reason the Kentucky's up to about £800.00 don't come with a case/ bag. Take care. David.
Unless I find a good deal on a used Kentucky or Eastman, I believe I will go with the Loar. I've seen other reviewers talk about what a value it is. Volume aside, the tone was on par with the more expensive ones.
I bought an unbranded 40 dollar mandolin on ebay. Brand new made in China. I didnt know if I'd even like the instrument, and they're all very expensive compared to other instruments. I really like it, but its probably not set up correctly. It doesn't sound very good but I wouldn't know where to start to try and fix that. Im not worried about playing professionally. But id like to play well. So it works for figuring out fingering and stuff right? Maybe someday ill find a used one in my price range. I can't hammer-ons or pull-offs on it. They just bareky make any noise at all. Even with a thicker pick. My family picks on me because I have a number of cheap instruments I just like to pick at. But most of them sound ok. I can sorta play the banjo, and the bass guitar.
This video is permanently linked at the top of the mandolin subreddit. Every new player asking for good starter instruments gets directed to this video. What an accomplishment, David!
You make the cheap ones sound good
As I'm watching this, I can't help but be filled with this thought of "Wow, so this is the world I'm getting into. This is so freaking cool."
So excited to get mine!
Wish this existed when I was shopping. This is the only video needed, instead of having to watch 90 comparison videos. Nice work!
For folks living in Europe, Harley Benton sells one for about €90,-. Perfect for anyone wanting to give it a try, sounds fine.
I liked the sound of the Loar best.
Not the loudest but the sweetest
I bought a loar as my first starter mandolin pretty good place to start it's a very decent instrument
Me too. Bargain.
It's a great mando for the price, play mine all the time
I've been more than pleased with my Kentucky KM 150. I didn't start playing mandolin until my 50s, and it's solid enough to give me confidence while letting me know if something sounds off, it's me and not the instrument. (Meaning, "I need to work on that a bit more...")
Thank you for the post. Is there a significant difference between KM 150 and KM 156? I like the looks of the latter much more
@@PlavitPOi90not especially, but as a general rule, as the model number gets higher, build quality usually improves, even if only slightly... but with a good, proper setup, either of those will sound just fine...you can count on Kentucky to produce fairly consistent instruments, even in the less expensive models...good brand...
Don't think I'll be upgrading my Vangoa soon because I don't have much money, but this will be very helpful for other first-time mandolin players!
Yes I bought a vangoa myself and I was disappointed there was no truss rod as well.. I actually bent the neck with pressure on both ends on one side and in the middle on the other and it straightened out pretty well. (I wouldn't recommend trying that if you don't have any luthier skills) I think it's a good purchase if you're not sure you want to play the mandolin if you can play this for 6 months or a year, then you get yourself a better one. In about a few months I'm going to get myself another one probably a Kentucky now that I saw this video. But I felt I had to earn it by playing the vanGoa for a year. It's still fairly nice for a really cheap amount of money. Everything is so cheap these days it's amazing what they can give you for that price! Even though it is a 2 out of 10 mandolin I have no regrets for buying it, it's still more than what I expected.
I spent an entire afternoon at a music store that had about 25 mandolins in stock. I also found that expensive does not always mean good. Though I wasn't looking at beginner level stuff. Their cheapest were these Eastman 305s, and at the high end they had several vintage Gibsons, including one genuine Loar. I played them all and one particular Eastman 515 sounded the best. Now, not *all* their 515s were better -- just one in particular. Even when compared head to head with the old Gibson Loar. Go figure.
Great story here!
Agreed if you have the opportunity to try many in a shop and close your eyes while playing Don't let the brand name sway you.... let the feel, playability and sound do that
Started with the Vangoa and upgraded within a couple months to an Eastman 415BK. I call the Vangoa a MSO (Mandolin Shaped Object)
I was literally biting my nails as you got to the top 2...and jumping of joy when the Kentucky won your countdown. I love my Florentine Kentucky KM650, my first and only mando.
Thank you for your videos David, and for sharing your musicality with everyone. You are a great player!
After seeing this, I have much more respect for a Kentucky !
I have one I picked up from a junk store !
Seems a girl passing thru town needed money, and sold it to this store that sold strange items !
Found it by a fluke, as it wasn't displayed, instead offered when we requested if they had one for sell !
Not sure of the model ?
But couldn't believe the price on the 150 !
Wow....!
Addendum : I think I paid $100.00 !
I bought a Kentucky KM-150 a couple years after a lot of research and was happy to hear that it still holds it's own against most of it's other competitors. Thanks for your extensive comparison and thoughts on mandolins in this price range!
Ended up with the loar honey creek. Found one with a coupon code for 270 shipped. Can’t wait to start tinkering!
No real surprises - you get what you pay for and you need to pay $200 (or £200 in UK) for a reasonable beginner instrument. But I would disagree that any mandolin is better than no mandolin - I think a bad mandolin is worse than no mandolin. The cheapest model isn't a mandolin at all - it's a Mandolin Shaped Object ;-)
I've also learned from experience not to buy direct mail order. I've got a music shop I use and I think it's worth the extra they charge to get their excellent technician to set up the instrument and make it playable. I can understand why the string tension is reduced and the bridge removed for transport, but I don't think the average beginner would be able to place the bridge and do a set up to get the action and intonation right. They'll just place the bridge randomly and put up with the bad noises it makes.
I got an Ibanez for a steal and quite like it. Im by no means a dedicated mandolin player, but it works just fine when guitar is getting stale and I need some inspiration.
I found this very interesting - the differences were quite apparent between the plywood and solid wood tops. To my tin ear, the differences between the solid wood instruments and those with laminated back and sides was less dramatic. Having a KM-150, I was quite happy with your ranking, although I think the rank of the top three is a pretty subjective matter. Nice video, David. Thank you.
Thank you so much for doing this video! I bought the Vangoa last fall because that's all I could afford at the time. It's been great in a lot of ways especially for $120, but then it fell off the chair (totally my fault) and spilt the whole top. I still play it, so I stay on top of practicing even though it doesn't sound great and now looking to buy a nicer instrument next month. This video was a wealth of help!
Excellent video David, You put a lot of effort into your productions and it shows.
The fact that you're not selling these, purchased all of them, set them up for a fair comparison is impressive.
Now what are you going to do? Start a beginner mandolin orchestra?
Thanks for a great video.
5:12 - This is exactly the problem I had with a "not-so-cheap" Tradition (made in Korea) mandolin I bought about 30 years ago at a music store. I could never get it perfectly in tune, all the way up the fretboard. One chord would sound perfect, and the next would be out of tune. Tune that out of tune chord up to perfection, and then the first chord was out of tune. I still played it, but it wasn't so enjoyable.
My grandfather made mandolins my whole life. I spent 32 years listening to him play bluegrass. He hand crafted dozens of f style mandolins. This year, I decided to honor his memory by picking up a cheap mandolin to learn so I didn't have to learn on one he made. I went out and played a ton of mandolins across a couple of states before I landed on the Ibenez m510-ovs. I really like it so far. I got it used for 100, and someone had already done the setup. I'm happy with it.
I’ve been teaching mando at Elderly Instruments since 1979, so I’ve played and been exposed to the full range of mandos. I concur re: the Kentucky solid top model. I routinely help beginners as they choose an instrument, and tend to steer them towards the KY, and if it’s beyond their $s comfort point, the laminate KY is a good compromise. 👍🏼
Elderly is a great shop to buy from as well. They include a setup with the purchase. That is so valuable! I recommend spending just a bit more to go with the Kentucky KM-250 to get some nice upgrades vs the KM-150. And sometimes you can even find the KM-250 for less than the KM-150.
Loar honey creek?
On the Vangoa.
Thanks much. As a guitarist, it's not always obvious what to look for in a Mando.
Thanks for the excellent info! Happy to see that the Recording King I purchased at a local guitar store a few months ago did well in your ratings; the list $ was $266.99, but I paid about half that! Time to take advantage of the long New England winter ahead, & learn to play it, with the assistance of your videos & maybe an IRL teacher...
Been a few reviews of it on mandolin cafe saying it was amazing for price
Great job David! This will be one of the most helpful videos out there for a lot of newer players
Thanks for the endorsement of my choice of the Eastman md 305. Always enjoy your videos and hope to see you back in the UK/Northern Ireland soon
I have two Eastmans....a 304 and a 305. I will say they open up very nicely after a couple years......the 304 has pretty decent volume and the 305 has a real nice woody tone..
I bought a 1960’s A model Martin, with an oval sound hole. It was around 700 bucks. It sings but something was off. I had a friend help me tweak it now it is great! Next step is to give it a pick-up.
I have the Eastman and while I'm not into Bluegrass I play quite a bit of Brazilian Choro on it. Mine sounds fuller and more complex than your recording so many factors may be at play here. It's kind of scary how well it sings. It makes me smile every time I play it. Great reviews by the way. Thanks.
Like another comment.... I wish that this video was available when I purchased my second mandolin on TH-cam.
My first mandolin was a second hand Hoffner from Germany. It was not a fancy instrument, but was very easy to play, and it sounded great.
I sold it to a girl that I met at the Kerrville Music festival. She was playing a budget instrument, and commented on how much better my mandolin sounded than hers. She asked to play mine, and again commented how much easier it was to play my instrument.
After about 25 years I was retired, and had plenty of free time, and decided to get another mandolin. I think must have bought one just like the girl had that bought my first mandolin. I gave it to my grandson. Now he has it hanging on the wall of his bedroom as a decoration!
This is hands down the best comparison of instruments i have seen. Thanks for that!
I don’t play any stringed instrument and not played anything since I was in high school band. But, in my mid 30s the mandolin is intriguing me and I am thinking about picking one up to tinker with.
Good video for helping new mandolin players. About 10 years ago I wanted to start playing mandolin. I did some research and got an Epiphone MM-20. It only cost about $120 and it is a great instrument. It is well built, stays in tune and really projects. I believe this model has been discontinued but the MM-30 is likely as good.
Great comparison, David!
If one is based in mainland Europe it's hard to get access to such variety of mandolins without additional shipping costs. However, in Europe people often use Thomann as the biggest and main music instrument store. That's where I bought my first Harley Benton mandolin for roughly $60.
That was my first encounter of any mandolin ever and I must say it does a great job for such price. It's twice cheaper than your cheapest mandolin there, but sounds much better in my opinion. Also, I haven't noticed such intonation problems and there is a truss rod. It taught me that I really enjoy mandolin and led to buying a Loar LM 590 as a next step.
Didn't watch this first but ended up getting the Eastman 304 (oval hole) over the Kentucky after playing them together. Really love it. Eastman also has some sort of finish on their fretboards that stain your fingers, which is worth a mention? Never experienced it before on any other instrument, but my Eastman mandolin and guitar both stain my fingers. Anyway my starter mando was that Ibanez and the all-solid Eastman (and Kentucky) are a world of difference.
Great comparison! When I was starting, the Kentucky KM-505 was a popular choice. My local mandolin store didn't have the KM-505 at the time, but he did have the KM-550 which is what I ended up buying and still play to this day.
Thanks for the excellent video! For pure sound, I would have put the Washburn up with the Eastman and The Kentucky, certainly above the Loar. I thought the Recording King had a thinner chop than the Washburn as well, and not only was the Washburn loudest, it also seemed to occasionally have more complexity than even the Eastman and the Kentucky. I totally agree the Washburn is not great to look at, and maybe some would disapprove of the size of the neck, but compared to the price of the Kentucky or Eastman, it seems to me at least to make the best sound for the price.
My ranking from my hands' own experience is #1 Kentucky, #2 Loar, #3 Eastman. In the examples I've played, the Kentucky and Loar sounded almost identical, but the Kentucky was much more playable with a nicer finish. The Eastman was the best playing, but was too bright for my taste.
The Loar is great for the price and for starting out. But I upgraded to an MD315 and the jump in sound to me was huge.
Loar is fantastic for the money though.
Haven't watched the video, but getting an A style with a solid top and good tuning machines is a great starting point. You don't break the bank and with consistent playing and practice you'll outgrow it in a couple years. Then move to all solid wood.
Got a Kentucky, love it. Will stay in tune forever.
Holy mackerel! I can’t wait to see the next video. My mando teacher suggested an upgrade from Washburn to Kentucky. So I guess you guys both agree. After hearing this comparison I do too. Having some issues with strings. XT was good. Elixir Mediums not so much. May try heavy next and hope they get in tune and stay in tune. Thanks for putting this comparison out!
I've been a guitar player for 30 years and have always wanted to learn mandolin. Great video and great information, I'm still not sure which way to go.
When I first started, I ended up getting a The Loar LM-310F, which is an F-style. And you always pay a premium for an F body versus and A body. The LM-310F is much more expensive than the LM-110 but similar in price to the Kentucky KM-150 which it compares favorably with but perhaps a little below it in build quality but still excellent. The LM-310F projects well with chops and chords, it's a bit quiet when picking and can be difficult to hear when doing melody lines against a full size acoustic guitar doing rhythm chords. Needs more volume.
My first mandolin was the absolute cheapest thing I could find. I struggled for months to learn to play on an instrument that was not really set up well. I worked on it myself and got it sort of playable but the difference between a $80 mandolin and a $200 mandolin is massive. And I recommend not going too cheap even if you're just learning. If you are fortunate enough to have a music store that can setup a new mandolin that will be worth it if you're a beginner. A lot of the guitar shops in my area are pretty comfortable with mandolins, and if you bring your own strings they'll help you set it up. Guitar center even managed to put together a set of strings from their store brand stock, as long as they know the diameter of each string they can figure it out.
Thank you SO much! I am a beginner beginner. I had a Rogue. Then got an Ibanez. I did not like playing it. I'm going to give the Kentucky a try!
Great production. This video is invaluable to folks looking for a first mandolin. One interesting question: how much variability exists among a single brand? I’m not recommending you do this, but if you compared ten Kentucky’s to ten Eastman’s I wonder whether your findings would be the same.
I got my old schutz marke for 20 bucks at a second hand shop. Yeah, the back was falling off, so I had to remove it, straighten out the bracing so the curve wasn't so extreme, glue it back on, fill the cracks with sawdust and reattach the seam in the front, aside from the normal revival stuff like relacquering and polishing the metal bits.
Wonderful review, David! I couldn't ask for a more in-depth and well-presented beginners buyers guide. Many thanks!
The harley benton hdma-100 is a nice option. The price and construction is great. It also has a 9-3/8" radiused fretboard. Usually found on more expensive mandolins.
I started my mandolin journey with a vangoa in 2020, then upgraded to a loar 310f before the end of the year. Its probably just familiarity bias, but even without looking I could hear that clean, sweet sound, and I am glad of my choice.
Just a week ago I got a gold tone f-10 ten strimg mandolin for 800$. Might be interesting enough to make a video about, especially since it is the only remotely budget 10 string option.
I bought the Eastman MD305, 4 years ago and I’ve been very happy with it. I bought mine from Banjo Ben’s and it included a free complete setup which has held true since I’ve owned it. At the time I bought it the price was $499. Money well spent, but I do think the Kentucky sounded best in this comparison. Good video.
I don’t own a Kentucky but I have always been curious about them. I do own an Eastman. I am pleased to hear your recommendation about Kentucky. I just may have to pick one up.
I bought the Ibanez 510 about a year ago and the plastic nut at the top of the fretboard just gave out. One of the E strings cut through it. Im getting a bone nut put on it for an additional $70. Overall, the tuners aren't great, but the mandolin has served me very well especially for the price. Ive even gotten compliments from professionals about it.
Before you did your ranking, i thought the Kentucky sounded the best. My first mandolin was one i bought on Facebook marketplace for $20. It came with a nice hard case and sounds great. Then i found one for $10 that was missing a string. I replaced the strings and it sounds pretty good, but not as good as my $20 one. I’m just learning and i love how the mandolin sounds. Very fun, thanks for the very informative video.
I bought a Dean F-style mandolin on FB marketplace and it's MINT. For like $125 dollars...there's good stuff out there if you look closely.
Bought a $60 musician friend deal of the day Rouge A style mandolin. Set it up myself, it plays and sounds good especially for the price. I think I got lucky and got a good one.
Greetings fellow Rogue enjoyer
I don’t know if you got lucky or if I was unlucky, but my Rogue isn’t any good at all.
@@charlesbolton8471try a bean blossom or a johnson... pretty cheap... never able to tune the johnson at all... I don't know what I'm doing... what a mess... lol
I own 2 Rogue mandolins...I've been pleased with them for learning & such, been playing mando for about 7 months now, just purchased a Recording King black gloss...looking forward to the upgrade!
When I started playing mandolin two years ago I went with the Eastman MD305. Kentucky KM-150 is hard to get a hold of in Europe and to import one from north America would be more expensive than an Eastman (shipping, taxes, customs duties and so on). The Loar LM-110 at that time was either out of stock or had a delivery time of around ten weeks at the online stores that I found. So I went with the Eastman and I haven't looked back since.
Nice work on this video! Just finished setting up the Ibanez for my 10 year old son using your "How to setup a Mandolin" video. Certainly didn't expect it to win here, but it looks nice (which is really important to him) and it'll be great for getting him started. If he sticks with it, that Kentucky might be next.
This is the most helpful video I've seen yet on shopping for a first mandolin. Thanks!!
I have an Eastman MD 315 (F Style) and a Kentucky kKM 270 (Oval Hole). Love em both. I like the sound out of the Kentucky more. But I have a passion for Folk, Celtic and Irish mandolin. Especially Irish Jigs. I hope to upgrade one day, but, yeah, the next level starts around $2000 to $3000 on up!! Excellent video David!! Thanks!!
1st. Kentucky - 2nd. Eastman - 3rd. Washburn
I’m a lefty so I had 3 choices lmao. Stag M20 ain’t bad love that little thing.
I love my Harley Benton! 49 €. It took a bit of set up but it works and sounds surprisingly good.
started with a HB too, the slightly more expensive option, but still a good but about €125
Love mine too. Paid UK£50.
Thanks for the video. I could tell the Kentucky sounded the best to my ear from the first sequence.
When you know you made the right choice of instrument to learn how to play because even the lower quality instruments sound nice. The Eastman sounds amazing.
I also didn't know the bridge was adjustable, I have a blue ADM Mandolin I got off Amazon using some birthday money and it sounds decent for a beginner mandolin (Very close of the Recording King in sound) but some of the strings don't hold their tuning well. I'll see if adjusting the bridge helps with that since the keys seem fine, thank you for pointing that out.
I played a less expensive Inanez Mando with a P/u in a band 6 nights a week, served me well, easy to play and sounded ok e with a good eq.
Nice. I guess I got a great deal on my Kentucky KM150. Found it on OfferUp for $50! It’s definitely a keeper.
That definitely was a great deal, good for you!
I agree with what you have said, although price being a consideration, I would probably go for the Loar. Plus my fingers are too big for Mandolin and I'm hoping that the wider finger board might be able to accommodate me. Plus I love the look. Volume wise, it sounds loud enough for us students. I have a $99 model which my fingers are too big for so any of these instruments would be a big upgrade, if I could play it and the Loar is the most likely because of the finger board.
Cool video. Thanks for this. I’ve only played bluegrass, nothing fancy, in years past with my Dad. (Actually my stepdad but he earned that title.)
He bought me my first guitar. He had a mandolin and I learned a few chords and would strum along with him when I visited. Blue grass and old country. Good times.
I would throw in some southern rock sometimes.
now many years later I just ordered a used Kentucky for $300.
Thanks again for the info . This will be great!
I watch lots of "beginner's guide to purchasing -- " videos and this was by far the best one I've ever seen! It was so comprehensive, you thought of everything! Really glad I found this before getting one....and also really torn now LOL
Many thanks from a bass and uke player - with a violent and sudden craving for the Irish Bouzouki and mandolin…
I got the Washburn my older brother helped me put the bridge in and it broke the e string and i had to wait awhile to play it fully and also mine the string guard or whatever on the bottom would not hardly come off it so to start with we put strings on crappy it was a beginner nightmare though mine has good tone and i paid 130 for it now it is waay more expensive.
The one-piece tailpiece of the Eastman is actually its biggest shortcoming: it's aluminium, and it gets easily cut by the E strings. The hooks just pop off, it's an extremely common problem with eastmans even at higher price points. I had to replace it with a cheap, bent sheet steel one like those of the cheapest instruments.
I’m really glad you made this. I get asked about best budget mandolins a few times a year and it’s great I can now send people this. I usually have the same conclusions - get a second hand Eastman or Kentucky and allocate another $100ish to get it set up properly.
I think the cheap one is branded Rocket in the uk. Definitely sounds like. Had it ages , just tune the best i can and go with it. Hurts my fingers though, unlike my guitars, banjo and uke.
Any mando in your hands sounds terrific !! ;^ ) thanks for the cool demo.
Hi David,
Thank you for the video!
It is great getting to see and especially hear all the mandolins.
I have a question:
Where would you recommend we go to shop for mandolins? They are such a niche product. I happened upon a few ukulele videos, one of which told us why you shouldn’t go to a guitar store to look for your instrument (ukuleles, in the case of the person putting the video out - but mandolins would be the same: that is, most guitar shops would have a limited selection of mandolins/ukuleles, etc. and would not care for them that well. They would get dusty being on the shelf and wouldn’t be touched until the next time someone comes in - specifically asking about them; in addition, if you were to buy one from them, they wouldn’t know what to do with it - how to set it up - like a mandolin/ukulele, etc.)
Are there shops which specialize in mandolins which you could recommend, for someone like me who wants to get started learning mandolin, as I really enjoy their sound (I started learning guitar, taking lessons for 2 months - but I just had no motivation to continue with it). For example, in England, there is the Southern Ukulele Shop, which specializes specifically in ukuleles (that’s one thing I happened upon in the video).
Thanks!
I have an Ibanez, needed a lot of bridge work and the neck has a twist in it. But Uncle Ike's in Dubuque set it up for me, and it's fun to play with. Good video.
Great comparison video!! The only drawback is you make them all sound pretty good….and a few of them are no good!
Found a Carlos Robelli on my trash route, after research the hardcase i bought for it costs almost as much as the mandolin haha. But sounds nice.
Yeah, I bought an Ibanez electric acoustic mandolin and it needs lots of work. I'll look into your other video about it to get it done!
I just got my Vangoa "left-handed " mandolin, and it is really nice. I had to move the tail-piece over a quarter of an inch, to center it on the body. Other than that, didn't have much of an option when you're a lefty. Nice video!
Nice Job on this accessment David! You are spot on. If a buyer has the extra funds available, I personally would choose the Eastman for the playabity and neck shape. Beginners may struggle with adapting their left hand to the unfamiliar regiment of coordinating the fretboard during practice. A more optimal shape and playabity may be the most important attribute for a beginner.
Bravo David! What a well researched and helpful video! Come see Marci and me in Cedar Key sometime!!
Gotta say, I was consistently surprised by the sound of the Washburn. I started out on the F style version of the Loar one, but nowadays I use a kentucky KM-1000 which is just fantastic
Thanks for making such an informative video. I'm thinking of getting my first mandolin and I'm glad I watched it before going for a Vangoa!
Another advantage to Kentucky, in addition to being some of the best values, is that they are popular and there are many available second hand where an F sells for around the price of a brand new A. Probably good enough for most of us who will never become professionals.
What about used mandolins? Is it worth buying a “slightly worn”, but higher model, over a new “beginner/intermediate” one?
Assuming there aren’t any major structural flaws I would say so. The sound tends to open up as the wood ages and with a good set up the playability will make practicing much more rewarding. Depending how old the instrument is, the wood may also be better quality to start with.
Wonderful review David - thank you. This will be a real help to starting mandolin players in selecting that first mandolin. I will definitely refer players to this video to help with that 1st instrument pick - trying to buy an instrument well before knowing what you don’t know.
Cool video
The Washburn M1S was the fist mandolin I got like ~10 years ago. Still plays very well but it's a bit quiet and flat in tone.
So glad I bought the Kentucky Km150 4 years ago, very happy with it! David Your video makes me feel even better about my purchase, Thank you!
Superb Video, thank you so much and I agree with the outcome for the top three. I live in England and for some reason the Kentucky's up to about £800.00 don't come with a case/ bag. Take care. David.
Thanks
Hi I love your review. I have a question, what do you think of the Mitchell Mandolin?
Important ! A lot of lower priced mandolins have very sharp fret ends that cut hands and fingers. Worth mentioning if you encountered them.
Unless I find a good deal on a used Kentucky or Eastman, I believe I will go with the Loar. I've seen other reviewers talk about what a value it is. Volume aside, the tone was on par with the more expensive ones.
Loars are great and don't need a lot of setup
Thanks a bunch for this super helpful as I am going to get a mandolin today and needed some true review of these starters
I bought an unbranded 40 dollar mandolin on ebay. Brand new made in China. I didnt know if I'd even like the instrument, and they're all very expensive compared to other instruments. I really like it, but its probably not set up correctly. It doesn't sound very good but I wouldn't know where to start to try and fix that. Im not worried about playing professionally. But id like to play well. So it works for figuring out fingering and stuff right? Maybe someday ill find a used one in my price range. I can't hammer-ons or pull-offs on it. They just bareky make any noise at all. Even with a thicker pick. My family picks on me because I have a number of cheap instruments I just like to pick at. But most of them sound ok. I can sorta play the banjo, and the bass guitar.
Great video, have the recording king, good mandolin, would love to see a comparison of oval holes, if you have any wall space left.