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So what exactly can you buy? It seems like there are an unlimited number of mandolins out there to chose from, how do you make a choice? Whether or not you are buying your first mandolin, it is important to make sure you know of all the options out there. If you are buying your first mandolin, make sure to check out Getting Started to make sure you are buying a quality instrument that will suit your needs. This Section of the site is broken down into the following hierarchy:
What To Buy While it may seem that there are thousands of mandolins in hundreds of styles to choose from, that is most certainly not the case. The way I see it, there are really only three different categories of mandolins available. You can buy an imported factory built mandolin, an American factory made mandolin, or talk to a luthier (someone who builds musical instruments) and have him or her build you a handmade mandolin to your specifications. Factory Import Mandolins The most plentiful and often most inexpensive option is to buy an imported factory mandolin that has been assembled outside of the United States. These mandolins are usually built in China, Korea, or Japan, and are then imported into the United States to be sold by American retail stores. Many people have the preconception that these mandolins are useless pieces of junk. That is not true in the slightest. Unless the mandolin has structural issues, any problem encountered in these instruments can usually be remedied by a proper set up. The truth is that, due partially to technology, imported mandolins are not of suspect quality any more if you know what to buy and where to buy them. The big names in foreign mandolins are Eastman, Kentucky, Johnson, Michael Kelly, and Fender. These mandolins are all built in a similar fashion, though from what I have read Eastman mandolins have more time and personal care invested in to each individual instrument. In general, however, foreign imports are built primarily by machine with less fancy wood, less attention to detail, and less attention to the sound of each individual instrument than is preferable. Each mandolin is carved to the same specification as the next and many are made from laminated wood rather than the much preferred solid timber. In the world of musical instruments, individuality is what makes a pile of strings and wood turn into something that can really sing. Each piece of wood has its own tonal properties and a skilled luthier can carve and shape the wood to bring out its best qualities. Factories are neither equipped for nor interested in taking the enormous time, energy, and money it takes to optimize each of the many instruments it sees leave for retailers. Factory mandolins are designed to create an economically feasible option for the beginner to intermediate level musician and musicians on a budget. The instruments coming from China were built in China because, as is true with the general theory behind outsourcing, it is cheaper to mass produce such commodities outside the United States. Again, this does not mean that all foreign made factory instruments are inferior to other options, it just proves the universal truth that you get what you pay for. American Factory Mandolins If you are looking to take the next step up the ladder of instrument quality, design, and unfortunately price, you will probably be in the market for an American made factory mandolin. There are only a few companies in America that mass produce mandolins. Gibson, Collings, Weber, Breedlove, and Tacoma are about the limit of mandolin factories in the country. For new instruments, prices range from about a grand to as much as $23,000 for the highest end Gibson Master Model. The idea behind american instrument factories is essentially the same as that of the foreign factories. While the materials are often of higher quality, the rough shaping of the wood is done by a machine. However, unlike with foreign factories, each individual instrument from factories like Gibson and Weber is given a higher amount of care and precision. More time is given to bringing out the best qualities of the wood, the overall fit and finish of the instrument is better, and there is a higher level of quality control. Custom or Hand Built Mandolins If you are ready to invest in the next step up from your foreign factory mandolin but don't like the options presented to you by the limited number of American factory produced instruments, a custom mandolin may be just what the doctor ordered. There are hundreds of small shop instrument luthiers across the country (and many more across the world) that will build you the mandolin of your dreams. These luthiers are usually one man operations building from their home or their personal workshops. Take a look at the Mandolin Cafe Builders Index to get a feel for just how many people there are out there willing to make you a mandolin. One extremely nice aspect of buying a custom mandolin is that you get to talk with the person who is building your instrument and let them know exactly what you are looking for. While many luthiers stick to traditional styles and materials, there are a number of builders out there who would build you a banana shaped mandolin out of pinecones if that was what you really wanted (I personally would not recommend it). Most luthiers are very knowledgeable about different types of wood and different ways of carving and constructing instruments and if there is a particular look or sound you want your mandolin to have they will often be happy to oblige. Custom built mandolins have the greatest amount of attention given to each instrument as most luthiers only work on a maximum of five instruments at a time. Each instrument is expertly carved and finished to the highest ability of the luthier. While each luthier's theories about their instruments and proficiency at what they do will differ from one to the next, the prices they charge will reflect accurately. Custom instruments can be had from about $700 to $30,000. Many of the more popular builder have waiting lists that can stretch from anywhere from a few months to over 10 years. When buying a custom instrument, one should keep in mind that these are not factory instruments, and are not ready before hand. Until you talk to the luthier, your mandolin does not exist and you will have to wait for your mandolin to be built which could take months or even as long as a year from when the first steps are taken. |
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