So for a mandolin that’s of equal quality to a $500 dollar guitar you could easily spend $1500 if not more. Mandolins, like many other folk instruments, don’t have this luxury. Because so many guitars are sold, guitar and bass manufacturers can make a substantial profit on slim margins. You see, both guitars and basses benefit from something called economy of scale.
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So if you’re primarily a guitar or bass player, you’re in for a bit of rude awakening. What Mandolin Is Right For Me? And How Much Should I Spend? It doesn’t serve much of a purpose besides looking pretty however, it can add quite a bit of cost to an instrument. Scroll: On a mandolin, the scroll is the bit of wood that wraps around itself on the top of the mandolin. This arch generally acts as a way to make the mandolin louder, focusing the energy from the strings outward as opposed to letting them bounce around the body of the instrument. It means that your mandolin isn’t going to have a level back (the part that rests against your stomach), it’s going to have an arch. While this is cheaper, it generally leads to an instrument that it sonically inferior to its carved top equivalent.Īrched Back: The term “arched back” is exactly what it sounds like.
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Pressed Top: A pressed top instrument on the other hand, is pressed into form by a machine using heat and pressure in a similar process to how the sides of an acoustic guitar are manipulated. Aside from that there isn’t a huge difference in construction.Ĭarved Top: When a mandolin advertises itself as having a carved top, it means that the top was carved into the instrument’s trademark arched shaped as opposed to being pressed. This article will give you the rundown at some of the best mandolins available, as well as explaining some of the terminology associated with the instrument.Ī-Style: An A-style mandolin sports a tear drop shape, and it lacks the scroll (definition below) of an F-style mandolin.į-Style: An F-style mandolin sports a scroll. Well, if you’re on the hunt for the best mandolin for your needs you’ve come to the right place.
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There are dozens of different brands at a staggering amount of different price points, all of which have their associated pros and cons. But unfortunately, choosing the right mandolin for your needs can be a bit of a challenge. Who doesn’t love the mandolin? From Jack White to Bill Monroe, the mandolin has always been a great way to add that old time flavor to your song.