Hi-- I’m a mandolin player on the side. I’ve got a fairly nice Kentucky A style, but those curlique F mandos really get to me. Does anyone here have a decent but inexpensive one they’d like to sell. I tried posting a Wanted on Mandolin Cafe, but it didn’t work (I’ll try again).
I’d be glad to do a trade/sale for a whistle or two, and I’d also be willing to trad the Kentucky. Thanks.
Eastman: (http://www.eastmanstrings.com/eastmanguitars/mandolins/mandolins.html) makes the best-respected of the asian mandolins, and Mid Missouri makes the best of the low end domestic mandos. I believe both make F styles, although because of the difficulty of making a sonically insignificant scroll, you will always get more instrument for your buck by sticking with A models.
I tried both a Kentucky and a Mid-Mo, setting on the latter. So far it’s been a joy to play. It’s very, very well made from good material. However, they don’t make a F style as far as I can tell.
Elderly’s has a Epiphone for $500. 00. New
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MM50.htm
There’s a Michael Kelly for $425 on the same page. They don’t have any inexpensive used (aka vintage) mandolins.
There’s a couple of interesting Washburns in the M. Cafe’s classifieds, in the $600 range (including case):
Add 12276 is pretty.
There’s also 11909.
I think any F cheaper than that is likely to be a wall ornament. But be sure to ask some of the M. Cafe cats before spending the $.
amen to both of the above. you pay more – in many cases a lot more – for the scroll. below a certain price point you’re not going to get much of an instrument.
mandolincafe is a great resource, but of course opinions on mandolins there are like those on whistles here 
i have an 80’s Washburn Jethro Burns like the brown-finish pic in Glauber’s post, i’m pretty sure it was made in Japan. it has a nice tone and plays well (mine needs some fretwork done pretty badly tho).
i just noticed Greg Boyd has an all-solid Rover set up by them with a HSC for $450.
http://gregboyd.com/mando.html
IIRC Rover is a sister brand to Kentucky, so it’s probably made in China. I’ve heard good things about Greg Boyd, though i’ve never bought from them. If you call them, they’ll probably be able to play the mando over the phone so you can hear it, and more or less get an idea of the tone.
EDIT: looks like Gruhn’s has them for $375 with a hard case, dunno if they set it up themselves. MC has a thread going on this, the reviews are mostly positive about the tone and playability, though the workmanship is apparently about what you’d expect for the price.
good luck.
It’s funny how being here a while has helped me navigate there.
I’m very new to this game. I have 2 mandolins: a Mid-Misouri and an Ovation (neither has a scroll). I’m very happy with both of them. The Ovation is very practical, plays beautifully acoustic or plugged in, but it’s not a traditional instrument, and the choices for strings are limited. So i’m glad i have the other one too. These are both flat-tops with round holes. I’d love to try an arch-top with f-holes, not necessarily a scroll. But i’m in no hurry. I don’t know what i’d do with more than 2 instruments anyway.
i’m sure my wife wonders why i have all these mandolins (6) too
really all i ever play nowadays is the Bitterroot or occasionally the Djangolin. i have a couple of nice mandolins that need fixing but i never seem to get around to it…
i think i’m done buying mandolins fer a while, but i’m always looking anyway 
Hi Paul,
When you’re ready to spend some real money on a mandolin, check out Audey Ratliff (http://www.ratliffmandolins.com/). My dad has two of his mandolins (an A-style and an F-style); they’re incredible instruments. Audey is also the one who’s going to make a mandolin out of some of that ironwood my dad has. Dad has known Audey for years (and used to work with Audey’s dad), and speaks very highly of him as a mando maker, player and all-around nice guy.
Cheers,
John
I’d never say in the mandolin Cafe, but to tell the truth I find sunburst paint jobs unlovely.