Reddit mentions: The best mandolin accessories

Okay, so...

Watching the clip /u/TheJiggersUp posted below, I don't see him playing his mandolin, so I don't have much to offer on style... I would presume he's going to play in a more classical/European style, as opposed to an American, bluegrass-oriented style. He has a bowlback mandolin rather than a flat-back or carved-top style instrument, but I don't know of any playable bowlback models that cost ~$100.

What does exist is the Rogue RM-100A which is a not-great but more-or-less playable mandolin for under $100. (Some individual instruments seem to be better than others, but it's just a luck-of-the-draw thing.) If you were to get one, you'd also do well to get some different strings for it, get a decent pick designed for mandolin (a guitar pick won't work well for this instrument), and maybe consider having it professionally set up (or possibly even trying to do the work yourself... perhaps someone else can point me to the book available on setting up a Rogue to be less awful.) I would also highly recommend getting a chromatic tuner; you spend quite a bit of time tuning this instrument, and as a beginner, it's really helpful to have one of these. If you have a smartphone, a metronome app would also be a good thing to get; otherwise, there are a million cheap, electronic metronomes on the market.

So the Rogue is a cheap, low-quality instrument -- NOT a good instrument, just the least-bad at the sub-$100 price range -- but it can get you started. I know, because that's how I started. It's designed for bluegrass more than traditional mandolin music, but you can learn the rudiments of any/every style on it.

After that, to just start learning how to play, I recommend Don Julin's book. Yes, it's "for Dummies." It's still an excellent beginner's book. He focuses primarily on American styles, but he also covers other mandolin traditions, and when you're first starting out you really just need to learn the basics no matter what style you favor. He also does some nice intro-level youtube lesson videos. There are lots and lots of other mandolin lessons available on youtube, too, and are a decent way to start out if you can't afford private lessons.

Finally, start saving up some money for a better instrument. Sooner than you can imagine, you will reach the point where the Rogue can no longer keep up with you, and begins to hinder your progress, so you need the upgrade to keep learning. The most common recommendations I see are the Eastman 304 or 305 and the Kentucky KM-140. Both are solid student instruments that will serve you well for a long time, and both can be had with professional set-up and a hard case for ~$450. I have an Eastman 305 myself and I adore it. Or perhaps there's a more traditional bowlback model out there that you'd like better, if you aim to play that way. I know very little about those.

It's a great instrument, and fun to learn. And it's entirely possible to come from zero background with stringed instruments and still make good progress. Good luck!

Edit: Oh, also... certainly it would be a good thing to learn (or re-learn) how to read standard musical notation, but a lot of mandolin music is available in tablature (or tab), which is a much easier system to use and doesn't require the ability to read music. The Julin book I linked to above uses both.

Edit 2: Also, here's a recent thread on the Rogue, just so you can see some other people's opinions.

Sounds like you want an F-style with oval hole?

themandolinstore.com was selling an Eastman MD614, F style with oval hole and installed pickup, for about $1400. They currently have an MD514 listed as available at around $1000, no mention of a pickup; if you need to plug in, you might ask them about installation.

Also check the ads at mandolincafe.com. They frequently list vintage Gibson A-styles for $800-$1500, depending on work needed (I know you don't like A-styles, but old Gibson A's from the teens like this pumpkin top are just killer).

And last, a plug for an awesome manufacturer from my home state: Big Muddy mandolins are some of the most underpriced instruments available. They are A-style, so deal. The flat top construction and oval hole gives awesome tone, projection, and sustain. These are not bluegrass machines, but work fantastically well on old fiddle tunes.

Okay, picks and strings. First question: what kind of vintage do you want your sound to be? For some Tin Pan Alley stuff or old pre-modal jazz, you might go with a pretty light pick and lighter strings. Jethro Burns used thin Fender guitar picks and light gauge strings...listen to the speed of his triplets and perfect slides, and you might start loving the lighter strings as well. This is exactly the opposite direction that most folks go nowadays, with thicker picks and strings. So...

Picks: Blue Chip are awesome, and awesomely expensive ($35 each pick). Lots of folks like the CT55 (Chris Thile and Sean Watkins both use these in Nickel Creek). I love my TAD1-R 60; two points like the CT55, and one rounded off, great for guitar and mandolin both. Wegen picks are a less-expensive-but-still-expensive alternative; the TF140's are a thick triangle, and the Big Dippers are great for having three different points and coming in different thicknesses (djangobooks usually has some). And if all of these sound too expensive, Dunlop has some Primetone picks that are fantastic for the price (triangles and rounded).

Strings: I've been playing D'Addario Exp74 (coated) strings for a while now. You might want to try the uncoated J74's if you want something brighter. Also, warning! Check and make sure you can put a given gauge of string on your mandolin without damaging it. 74's should be okay with most arch tops in your price range, but not recommended for flat tops.

Interesting that it's lasted so long. During the research I found that a lot of people seem to say that Kansas guitars were surprisingly high quality for the more budget price. I'm not sure if it's actually the same manufacturer they mean though as it seems to have been used by a few.

The ones with this logo are far more common and actually have a few currently unavailable amazon listings. I also found this in a forum:
> Kansas instruments are apparently Asian imports, labeled to be sold at discount stores such as Target. I have no idea what "their beginning in 1927" refers to; the Mugwumps directory of musical instrument makers doesn't list a "Kansas," though there's a "Kansas City Guitar & Mandolin Co." a long time ago. There are many many "specialty" nameplates for specific retail chains or catalog stores that are manufactured by instrument factories in China, Indonesia etc. Other than bearing different names, they're probably pretty standard designs; for the price you mention, almost certainly a laminated (plywood) instrument. Doesn't mean you can't learn on it, but it would make sense to have a qualified instrument tech check it for set-up. The lack of the word "solid" in the description almost guarantees plywood, but it does have an adjustable bridge (though apparently no truss rod), so there's some ability to tweak its set-up.

https://www.amazon.com/Kansas-Classic-Acoustic-Guitar/dp/B000KQ0O4G

https://www.amazon.com/Kansas-K-ESC8-N-Electric-Guitar-Natural/dp/B000KPZ3EI

and even a mandolin: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00166GG82

It's definitely not one of these though as they seem to be slightly more modern budget chinese/asian guitars. Mine definitely isnt just cheap plywood and stuff.

Mandolin case worked great for mine. I used the fat boy-
$30 for a great case that nobody bats an eye at
https://smile.amazon.com/Fat-Boy-GBE27M-Deluxe-Mandolin-x/dp/B007WG2QJ8/

Hard to tell what kinda condition its in from the pics you have provided. the small crack near the "F" hole doesnt seem to be an issue. I would try and track down a bridge for it, something like THIS should work to throw on there. Try a fresh set of strings, and see if it plays! The pickup looks cool as heck! if the neck is straight, and the top isnt caved in too bad, it should play!

Like I said, D'Addario Octave Mandolin Strings.

Or.. Bouzouki Strings



An Octave Mandolin typically has a scale length of 23-24", a bouzouki has a scale length of 25-26". The Octave mandolin strings should fit your bouzouki quite well. These are the same strings I use on my Irish Tenor Banjo (though I only use four of the eight at a time).

Then I'd say replace the strings. I personally got these Elixir strings and am very happy with the sound. It's way better than it was before. I've also seen these D'Addario strings recommended here on /r/mandolin, but I haven't used them

So if I was looking at these different kinds of acoustic pickups:

One

Two

Three

Which would you recommend and why?

People seem to dig the j bovier mandolins in that price point.

You could also look at a pickup like the k&k.