1 comments about Michael Kelly Legacy FS-E Mandolin with Fishman Pickup, Tobacco Sunburst.

1. Out of the box, the instrument sounded great. The playability was OK. The nut had to be filed down and the bridge had to be adjusted to get the action down to an acceptable level. The overall acoustic sound was above average.
   
   The bridge is a piece of junk. Multiple pegs broke on the bridge and I replaced it within 2 months with an allen tailpiece from stewmac ($120), which not only increased the durability and looks of the instrument, but made it so it resonated a little better too! Also, when I sent the bridge back to michael kelly, I never even received a response from them. No letter, no replacement, nothing.
   
   The electronics are poor. Fishman is a great name, but after multiple conversations with Michael Kelly & Fishman, I could not troubleshoot the extremely low output I am getting from the mandolin when plugged in. Honestly, both companies couldn't tell me much about the pickup & electronics except for that it was designed specifically for MK. It has an active preamp and EQ, and I've tried running it through another active preamp & active DI, but we just can't get it up par. Mandolins are a hard sound to reproduce anyway, but the output sounds thin, even when you crank it. My buddy tested one at a local music store and had the same results.
   
   The fretboard is on the smaller side. This can be a little tough to get use to, but it still has great playability. I was pleased with the radiused fretboard and I think most players would appreciate it.
   
   Overall, the instrument has great craftmanship (very beautiful), good acoustic sound, poor electronics and some cheaper hardware (tailpiece). For the money this is a good purchase, but if you plan on playing it live, be sure to incorporate an open mic to blend your acoustic sound with the thin, low-ouput pickup sound.

No comments about Michael Kelly Legacy Deluxe Mandolin, Satin Antique Fade.

No comments about Dean Bluegrass F Style Mandolin Vintage Sunburst.

No comments about Kentucky KM-380S Artist A-Model Mandolin.

2 comments about M1 Mandolin Kit.

1. This instrument is made in Indonesia or, at least, the one I got was. It arrived in good condition and was packed well.
   
   Other than that, there is not much to reccomend it at the price you will be paying for it. It probably would be a fine deal at eighty bucks but that is as far as it goes.
   
   The instrument has an old timey look to it that is appealing and the bridge seems to be okay. Of all the fairly inexpensive mandolins I have purchased, however, it is the only one that will not play with the bridge in the lowest position. At this position all I got was rattles and other odd noises.
   
   The strings themselves are rather heavy duty and acceptable though I think the mandolin would product a better tone if it had new strings put on it.
   
   The gig bag is fairly well made and fairly well padded but is only a zippered bag with no side pocket for picks and stuff.
   
   I got a little Mel Bay 'pocket' music book with the kit but this book was for the banjo and therefore useless. The pitch pipe was junk but I have no use for it anyway. Get yourself a Korg or Musician's Friend tuner and save on all the strings you can bust using pitch pipes or a piano.
   
   If you are going to plunk down two hundred bucks you would do better to get the Dean Tennessee A mandolin. This Korean made instrument is a notch above most of the Chinese mandolins I bought. I even bought two Dean's since I think they may increase in value in time.
   
   As good a choice and cheaper would just be to get the inexpensive fifty dollar Rogue model or one of the higher priced Rogue instruments and then buy a bag or case from a company like Musician's Friend.
   
   Bottom line: okay instrument but too high price.



2. I bought this mandolin (but not from Amazon) for about seventy dollars, including the shipment, from an eBay auction house. It has a bright tone, but not a particularly resonant one. The intonation and bridge height required adjustment (and the bridge /is/ adjustable), but other than that it played well out of the box, without needing to adjust the action at the nut. The gig bag is barely adequate ... no padding, a weak zipper, no pockets.
   
   My only real beef with this was with the packaging ... although the box showed an instrument with a truss rod cover, and the instrument came with an allen wrench for adjusting a truss rod, the mando in the box had no truss rod. So, in a way, I felt that I didn't get what I ordered. But for $70, I felt I got my money's worth.
   
   It's still on the string set I got with it, but I'm keen to see whether putting a decent set of strings on it will make much of a difference.

1 comments about Bargain Mandolin.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RYWFS7CRAZNY0 Introduction to the Bargain Mandolin, discussion about shortcomings, fit and finish, setup, and playing demonstration of the sound.

No comments about Carlo Robelli TM002 Mandolin (Sunburst).

No comments about Baritone Ukulele.

1 comments about Epiphone Electric EFMB Mandobird IV, Vintage Sunburst.

1. ...add a 4-string Mandobird to the mix. Epiphone's edgy looking Thunderbird throwback mandolin is perfect for the fretboard enthusiast in your life. While it's clearly not a replacement for a good acoustic 8-string, it's definitely a heckuva lot of fun to pick with in a blues or electric set. Throw in your choice of effects to flavor, you'll be good to go.
   
   Pros: good pegs + only 4 strings = easy to keep in tune; lightweight but solid body won't weigh you down but seems pretty durable; lots of novelty points when people think it's a mini-guitar and you tell them it's actually an electric mandolin
   
   Cons: a little pop on the low string, but nothing a DI box doesn't take care of; cheap nut makes for slightly higher action on the high string, but nothing a quick setup won't fix
   
   Final score of 9/10 because it's about the least expensive, coolest looking, solid-sounding electric mando that I've come across.

2 comments about Epiphone Mandobird-VIII, Vintage Sunburst.

1. This instrument should be of interest to both mandolin and electric guitar players, as it is a cross between both. Finally an affordable mandolin that you can practice quietly without a person in the next room hearing you. It should also be of interest to violin and fiddle players as it is tuned the same way as a violin and should be fairly easy for someone who plays either the violin or guitar to learn. I also highly recommend MusiciansFriend the vendor that sold this instrument to me through Amazon. An amazing bargain and an amazing instrument. Get one, you won't be sorry.



2. This is an exceptional value for a quality instrument. The choice of wood gives a good resonant tone even without being plugged in, and the beatuifully finished frets and neck make it a real pleasure to play. Like many mandolins, the intonation neeeded a little work, but the easy adjustment on the bridge meant that this was no problem. Perhaps a more expensive instrument might have individually adjustable saddles, which is the only improvement I would ask for. The machines are smooth and positive, with no detectable slack, and the tuning holds very well (another problem with most mandolins!) Plugged in the tone is ecellent and the pickup gives a faithful bright tone. Not only that, but the look and sunburst finish make this an instrument that any folk rocker would be proud to take on stage with them. Get one. You won't regret it.