Woodshed Episode 80 - What to Look for When Buying a Mandolin

Hello Music Lovers and welcome back to the Woodshed.
This week is another by request episode! I had a woodshed patreon member ask me the question "I want a good mandolin but I don't wanna break the bank, what's that mean cost wise when shopping for a mandolin?"
So sit back, hang out a bit and lets talk mandolin shopping!
Subscribe to my channel to get more great guitar content like this
www.youtube.co...
Sign up for my newsletter to get the latest about my upcoming shows, music releases, and more...
www.andywoodmu...
Join my Patreon community and get exclusive access to additional videos, lessons, tabs, backing tracks, Axe FX III patches...
Patreon: www.patreon.co...

LESSONS & COURSES
-----------------
TrueFire Bluegrass Mandolin Master Class:
www.andywoodmu...
TrueFire Shapeshifter Master Class:
www.andywoodmu...
TrueFire Shapeshifter: Creative Applications course:
www.andywoodmu...
Troy Grady's Cracking the Code: Andy Wood Acoustic Interview:
www.andywoodmu...
Troy Grady's Cracking the Code: Andy Wood Interview
www.andywoodmu...
Troy Grady's Cracking the Code: Andy Wood Workshop:
www.andywoodmu...
Jam Play Modern Telecaster Country Guitar:
www.andywoodmu...
Jam Track Central Master Class:
www.andywoodmu...
Jam Track Central Shredneck Lesson Pack:
www.andywoodmu...
Jam Track Central Fallen Heroes Lesson Pack:
www.andywoodmu...
Jam Track Central Chelmsford Lesson Pack:
www.andywoodmu...
MY GEAR
-------
www.andywoodmu...
MUSIC
-----
JUNKTOWN
iTunes: www.andywoodmu...
Spotify: www.andywoodmu...
KENNEDY WOOD BAND
iTunes: www.andywoodmu...
Spotify: www.andywoodmu...
LIVE AT THE BIJOU
iTunes: www.andywoodmu...
Spotify: www.andywoodmu...
CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TRUTH AND A LIE
iTunes: www.andywoodmu...
Spotify: www.andywoodmu...
A DISCONCERTING AMALGAM
iTunes: www.andywoodmu...
Spotify: www.andywoodmu...
DFU - THE UNRELEASED SESSION
iTunes: www.andywoodmu...
SOCIAL MEDIA
------------
Instagram: / awoodshreds
Twitter: / andywoodmusic
Facebook: / awoodshreds
Website: www.andywoodmu...

[@CheddarKungPao]

Condolences on your grandfather, Andy. My grandma just passed away on Saturday. I learned only a couple years ago from her that she played mandolin when she was young. Blew my mind. Even people you've known your whole life can have surprises.

[@chrislestermusic]

I’m sorry about the loss of your grandpa. He clearly had a massive effect on you. What a wonderful legacy to leave behind. My first mandolin was cheap (I forget the brand). I used an Ovation mandolin on the first big record I played on (I’m a hack. Make no mistake. Ha!) Then I got a $700 Epiphone and last an Eastwood mandocaster. I’m just not good enough to justify spending a bunch of dough on one but man, I love hearing you play yours.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

This video could *NOT* have come along at a more serendipitous time for me. Thanks, Andy!!!

[@paulsprouse7239]

Your grandad is still with ye man x

[@andywoodmusic]

Always. ❤️ he’s in every note I play.

[@paulsprouse7239]

@@andywoodmusic you don't know how much your grandad father and you have helped my right hand brother, people don't really die, they just transform from one energy state to another, your my favourite musician on this KZbin, thank you mate x

[@ryanwylie2944]

Andy, a great man on Twitter once said "Andy Wood kicks so much ass that his foot probably smells like shit"--I don't play mandolin but since I discovered your music/videos a few weeks ago I will watch anything you post. My newborn daughter and I have been binging your content and we can't get enough. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your grandfather. Please find solace in the fact that because of him and your extraordinary talent, he will continue to impact the lives of millions of people he never met for years to come. I can't thank you, and indirectly him, for all the joy your music has brought me. I feel cheated that I only recently discovered you but I hope it brings a smile to your face to know that my little girl will grow up knowing who Andy Wood is! I just hope she picks guitar and not mando... Keep shredding!

[@masculinespeaks]

Damn, gunna make me cry with your grandads mandolin story

[@tofersiefken]

My "beginner mandolin" is a Kentucky KM-630, all solid woods (no laminates), good intonation, decent action, F-style that I picked up new at my local guitar shop for somewhere between $350 - $500 (I don't remember exactly) about 10 years ago. No complaints, nice sunburst gloss finish, bound body, neck and headstock and it sounds very nice. Not too bright or "metallic", not muffled, sufficient low end for a mandolin. No pick-up but still cuts through acoustically when playing with guitars. I'm not a professional nor even a serious performer really, just a hobbyist, but I wouldn't hesitate to take it to the open mic night at my favorite bar and just mic it. I've played a lot worse sounding mandolins from other companies at a similar price point. I've got nothing bad to say about my Kentucky at all. Edit: (I just looked up my Kentucky KM-630 all solid on the internet and saw them ranging from $700 - $1150 on different sites. Things have changed over the past 10 years apparently.)

[@mikegager]

Yeah like everything prices have gone up on mandolins a lot lately

[@jubnx2781]

Andy should have way more views I don’t understand why he doesn’t get recommended by the Algorithm

[@jonahtran1]

I heard the opening chuck/chords to "the fox" by nickel creek twice in 8 minutes. wish you'd have kept going with it! Love that song

[@neueregal2535]

The last time I talked to John Monteleone was back around 2003 - he told me $36,000 and a 3 year wait. I can only imagine what the lead time and costs is now. I know back in 1984 Emory Lester had him build one for $15,000 was a blacktop traditional F5 Loar body style (not the Grisman Grand Artist style). I got a chance to play it when Emory came back from Islip to pick it up from John - mazing sounding mando!!!!!! .. can't even describe the tone it was so rich and rang forever - every note was even throughout the entire neck - and it was still "green" - can only imagine what it sounds like now after it settled in. I bought a Kentucky KM-DAWG in 1983 for $1500. KM-DAWGS are close replicas of Monteleone's Grand Artist. Monteleone even travelled to Japan to work with the luthiers working for Kentucky namely Elichi Sumi. Kentucky only made 49 of the KM-Dawgs (and if one come sup they sell FAST) and maybe one or two KM-DAWG Mandolas. Sumi has had his own luthiers shop since the late 90's and continues to make the KM-DAWG models. Sadly, my first KM-DAWG was stolen in 1992. I bought another Kentucky KM-DAWG in 2016 for $4,000. Some other amazing luthiers are Gilchrist Mandolins and Northfield Mandolins (Mike Marshall and Emory Lester are both playing Northfields now). Northfield also has several different lines of mandolins. For beginner mandolins - the Eastman MD315 is a nice mandolin and sounds great - only complaint I have with the one I bought is the tuners are garbage but they are easily replaced with some Waverly tuners. Also, the Kentucky KM-606 is great beginner mando - both are below $1,000. try out several types of mandolins also - A- Models, F Models with F holes F models with oval holes. Body shape makes a lot of difference in the tone the instrument produces. F model oval holes have a much more bass tone vs the F hole F-Models more mid-range punchy sounding. A models have a different tone as well.

[@WryGrass100]

Some very good advice here. I'm up against a $300 limit. That's about the most that my crowd wants to pay. So, I'm holding on to some really nice $1000 to $2500 instruments. I'll have to go on-line to sell 'em I suppose. BTW, the first mandolin you played 'miked' very good--a keeper.

[@erictimothyanderson7469]

What about things to consider when buy a "campfire" mandolin?

[@andywoodmusic]

Establish a budget first, and in my opinion I’d say $400-500 will get a great playable campfire instrument that will hold tune etc

[@TypingHazard]

Definitely did not hear my $15 garage sale Rogue RM-100A on this list. lol

[@scottemmonsmusic6001]

I am not a bluegrass player really, my mandolin 1908 Gibson F4 (and K4 Mandocello) 1917 Gibson Pancake (got from Heart, used to be Nancy's) and a couple of high end Breedloves. Have a few cheap octave Mandolins and a Bazouki or 2. My first was an old Washburn bowl back in the 70s.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

I get it. Yep, a $600 Kentucky is a perfectly good mandolin, but you'll always be wanting for a Flatiron, or Weber, or any number of instruments that won't leave you wanting for something pro level.

[@stevemc6694]

Great stuff. I was just watching an interview you did about diminished chicken picking lines. Perhaps one time you can dive deeper in a woodshed post.

[@mikegager]

Keep in mind that 1000-1500 is likely for a F style mandolin. You can typically get an A style for 1/2 that price. Eastman and kentucky make great a style mandolins in the 500-800 price range

[@andywoodmusic]

sure thing- I just kinda have to have an F. Thats how bill did it, thats how sam does it and by god thats how im gonna do it! LOL

[@mikegager]

@@andywoodmusic absolutely! LOL

[@ryanoneal8480]

@@andywoodmusic 🤣🤣 fucking cringe.

[@j-c-moore]

What is the name of the song in the opening...love it!

[@andywoodmusic]

Bury me beneath the willow

[@alexburton4113]

I love your playing, I'm just going to disagree that you have to pay that much just start out. As long as you are able to put your hands on it before you buy it you should know what to expect. You probably shouldn't buy a $200 one online, but I have to say I absolutely love my $200 epiphone A style mandolin. Like I said, I enjoy listening to you play anyways though and keep up the good content!

[@akrmfk]

Mandolin>uke, yes Im biased because JPJ

[@JacobMcEvoy]

My first loan was to buy an instrument too!!

[@rainblaze.]

Anyone know the name of the first tune?

[@nicklebac6753]

Ricky skaggs and jimmy page

[@7thString84]

That's really an expensive hobby and an even more expensive JOB! But you have to pay for precision and quality (control). There's no way around it. Btw... my Ibanez AZ (Prestige) was close to 2k. I think, there is no AZ for 1000 dollars. Just saying. ;)

[@dougkirsten]

too much yick yack. get to the point!