Pango Music Mandocello PMB-903 Review (Extended Version)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Eastman Mandocellos do come w/ cases but they're Guitar cases cause they're modeled after some of their Archtop Guitars.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Eastman makes Mandocellos modeled after some of their Archtop Guitars, for example the MDC-805 is modeled after the AR-805. Lloyd Loar pioneered this type of Mandocello.

[@jdsmusic233]

I do think the Eastman mandocellos are cool for what they are. I've never had the pleasure of trying one...maybe they even sound better than this. But, I just wanted that K4 style mandocello, and for the price, this does the job.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

It's modeled after a Gibson K4

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

This has an Allen Tailpiece which makes restringing a snap cause you just feed the strings through the holes & hook them onto those pins. You can even use Ball End Guitar strings too.

[@charlesmontgomery7002]

"I'm not a mandolin player" and then proceeds to rip on Old Dangerfield. Nice review, thanks!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

You might have to get some better tuners (sealed gear tuners) for it. Thomastik Infeld Precision Mandocello strings might work better

[@jdsmusic233]

Yep, I'm definitely hoping to get some new tuners at some point. Only trouble is I may have to redrill some of the holes on the back. Oh well!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Thomastik Flatwound Mandocello strings would help improve tuning stability.

[@jdsmusic233]

Would love to try them. They seem a bit expensive though, unfortunately

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jdsmusic233 They're not that expensive they've cut the price down w/ improvements in technology.

[@johnnephin1751]

Any more thoughts after owning it two years?

[@jdsmusic233]

I’m enjoying it still. It was good for the price I paid. Prices have gone up considerably since this though, and now these cost somewhere around 3k. For that price, I might consider other options, like Gold Tone or Eastman. I haven’t had this professionally set up, but it definitely could use it. If you want this style, and you find it for a decent price, it’s not a bad deal. I see there’s some on eBay for about 2k that are not necessarily from Pango, but it looks like they’re probably coming out of the same factory.

[@oscarbone1000]

Tune it up to 444 Hz they will have more sound

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Or get some Thomastik Flatwounds

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Or you could add a pickup to it