J
Great instrument -- but needs work
This is a fine instrument - but it needs work to realise it's full potential.
The fret ends are not just badly finished - they are totally unfinished!!! They feel sharp and unpleasant and will need a lot of work with a fret file. Out of the box, the nut was too high and the action on the verge of unplayable. It looks like they just bolted it together and rushed it out of the factory. However!!! With work - reducing the height of the nut, lowering the action and setting the intonation, it starts to come alive. For a buyer not prepared or skilled enough to make the changes -- this instrument would be a big disappointment and would need an expensive visit to a luthier to get it right. If you have average skills and enjoy tinkering with instruments then you can make the basic improvements yourself. There's a great instrument in there --- it just needs bringing out. Apart from the playability issues, the standard of finish is exceptionally high. Better quality control needed on the frets, the nut and bridge saddles.
The fret ends are not just badly finished - they are totally unfinished!!! They feel sharp and unpleasant and will need a lot of work with a fret file. Out of the box, the nut was too high and the action on the verge of unplayable. It looks like they just bolted it together and rushed it out of the factory. However!!! With work - reducing the height of the nut, lowering the action and setting the intonation, it starts to come alive. For a buyer not prepared or skilled enough to make the changes -- this instrument would be a big disappointment and would need an expensive visit to a luthier to get it right. If you have average skills and enjoy tinkering with instruments then you can make the basic improvements yourself. There's a great instrument in there --- it just needs bringing out. Apart from the playability issues, the standard of finish is exceptionally high. Better quality control needed on the frets, the nut and bridge saddles.
5
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RB
Neat little thing.
This isn't your typical "Losing my religion" mandolin. There isn't much in the way of acoustic sound to it, so having an amp is pretty much mandatory. Having said that, it's a really fun unit, and somthing you can use for the occasional mandolin playing in a live setting, where the lack of acoustic behaviour might actually be a benefit. Getting this to feedback will probably not be very easy.
You should be comfortable with doing a set-up of the mandolin. When I got it the strings were way too high for my taste, and the intonation wasn't really up to snuff, but that's nothing you can't fix with a couple of twists with the hex keys.
You should be comfortable with doing a set-up of the mandolin. When I got it the strings were way too high for my taste, and the intonation wasn't really up to snuff, but that's nothing you can't fix with a couple of twists with the hex keys.
2
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A
Get ready to do some work.
Look dude, it's $100. Go in expecting to do some work on this beast. The nut is a mess. It's impossible to keep it in tune out of the box. However, this is a great instrument to learn on if you want to start learning to do your own setups.
The pickups are microphonic and very low output, but if and when you are able to wrestle it into tune (the tuning machines are hot, bleeding garbage and should be replaced immediately) it sounds perfectly fine.
It's heavy for such a little thing -- you will totally need a strap to deal with this instrument. The back of the neck is raw, unfinished wood, so that may feel a little strange. The fret ends are a nightmare.
All that said, for the price, it's still worth learning to set it up yourself or having a tech do it for you. You'll likely still come out ahead. Don't shy away from the instrument just on those merits. But also don't take it out of the box, strum it and think you're ready to go on stage. You're getting a $100 instrument, and the quality of it will depend on your sweat equity.
The pickups are microphonic and very low output, but if and when you are able to wrestle it into tune (the tuning machines are hot, bleeding garbage and should be replaced immediately) it sounds perfectly fine.
It's heavy for such a little thing -- you will totally need a strap to deal with this instrument. The back of the neck is raw, unfinished wood, so that may feel a little strange. The fret ends are a nightmare.
All that said, for the price, it's still worth learning to set it up yourself or having a tech do it for you. You'll likely still come out ahead. Don't shy away from the instrument just on those merits. But also don't take it out of the box, strum it and think you're ready to go on stage. You're getting a $100 instrument, and the quality of it will depend on your sweat equity.
0
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J
Superb Value
This is a great little instrument, great value for the money, the finish and quality is amazing. When plugged in sounds really nice with good controls. I did re-string it and intonate it to suit my playing, but that's quite easy to do.
Lots of fun and eye catching sitting next to a six string Telecaster with similar finish.
No problems recommending this instrument, you can't lose at that price and quality.
Lots of fun and eye catching sitting next to a six string Telecaster with similar finish.
No problems recommending this instrument, you can't lose at that price and quality.
2
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IJ
Bridge not up to standard
Wery nice instrument, beautifully made and with
a good sound, BUT the one piece bridge dont let you
adjust the intonation on the second strings - I made a new
bridge from rosewood that cured the problem
in the light of the price, however, you are getting
a nice mandolin
a good sound, BUT the one piece bridge dont let you
adjust the intonation on the second strings - I made a new
bridge from rosewood that cured the problem
in the light of the price, however, you are getting
a nice mandolin
2
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dP
Unique instrument, not bad build quality
My girlfriend says her finger hurt after playing it, but otherwise she is happy with the instrument. Build quality is not bad for such inexpensive instrument.
0
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T
Hugely fun
Strangely this mandolin is a lot heavier than a full size telecaster. I’ve switched out the bridge pickup on mine for a mini humbucker and that fattens the sound out. The only quality issue with mine is one of the frets is not fitted straight, only slightly out and it’s higher up the neck so with my fat fingers I don’t tend to go up there very often.
0
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L
Great value for the money
Cheap enough to give it a try & buy on impulse.
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CB
For me this mandoline really shines as a very nice feeling practice tool; I can play the mandoline and not make a lot of noise. Keeps the neighbours (and the girlfriend) happy. It sounds alright unplugged, feels nice in my lap and plays great. Plugged in it feels rather useless to me, but I might try different strings (solid steel or nickel plated steel) in the future to see whether that makes a difference.
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