Does any have any experience of Chinese made F style Mandolins? Dae Won or Rally? On the site http://www.straus.co.kr they certainly look the part.
I've heard that they can be excellent and inexpensive. I have an excellent Joe Foley mandolin for 12 years and I'm looking for a bluegrass F style mandolin.
Anyone know where I can play one to try it out in Ireland?
Haven't heard of these brands. Eastman is the Chinese brand of choice in the U.S. They are made of very good materials, and although the finish is sometimes a bit rough here and there, they are usually well-finished and sound very good. The setup is the most important thing, but you have to do that with any instrument.
I have played a lot of American labeled Chinese mandolins, Eastman, Kelly, Kentucky, etc. most of which are probably made by the same factories. For the most part you get what you pay for but there are exceptions.
Quality control is not that rigid, so while you will find poor examples of these instruments, every so often you will find a very good one. The moral of the story is to play a lot of instruments until you find one that suits you. Chinese mandolins can look very good, but when compared to mandolins made by luthiers who actually play bluegrass, they will usually not be as good.
Also, you pay a lot for that scroll and it really doesn't do that much (other than cost more.) You can get a much better A (with F holes) model for the same money, especially if you want a mandolin that has the woody bluegrass sound found in the best F hole mandolins. While there are clear differences in sounds between makers, there is a level of quality that transcends most of the Chinese instruments.
A used Collings MT usually goes for $1500 or so and is an outstanding instrument. Of course the pickings are a little slimmer (and more expensive) in Ireland, but there may be a way to get one to you reasonably.
Czech mandolins are very good, consider Jaroslav Prucha, Jiri Lebeda and Pavel Janish as makers (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-53609.html for more names) all of whom make great sounding bluegrass instruments and should be able to make a mandolin for a competitive price. Since they are in Europe, the tarrifs and taxes will be a little more palatable.
Prucha also makes a superb banjo that is as good as most Gibsons - in fact he supplied Gibson some of their parts. I met him last January at Banjothon, he is a very nice person and easy to work with.
Quality control on the entire Eastman line has been very consistent and very good in my experience. Almost any Eastman is a killer buy.
Kentucky? Not so high, and there are many hidden compromises in their instruments. Some are just rubbish. But that being said, the consistency I have noticed is better on the higher end F-models by Kentucky than the cheaper F-models. Stay away from their cheapest instruments (which you're not in the market for anyway).
My biggest grief with the Kentucky F-models (and most Chinese factory instruments) is the hardware and bridge fit -- it's a really, really, simple thing to fit a bridge to a mandolin, and they still can't seem to get it right. I'm not sure they even bother. You'll have to take the 10 minutes that they apparently didn't have to tape some fine sandpaper to the top of the new mando and shape the bridge's feet properly. Or you can take the time to build your own one-piece bridge, which is quick, fun to do, and greatly improves the tone. They also like to lacquer over the sides of the nut so be careful if you replace it or be prepared to to a touch-up job.
Another vote of confidence for Eastman mandolins. Best value for the pence in an import. Not quite the same caliber as a Collings, Weber, or better Gibson, but not far off for the often vast difference in price.
Keep an eye on http://www.mandolincafe.com for used mandos. They come up daily and some are listed in the UK and Europe.
P.S. I've seen "beautiful" Chinese mandolins that were totally unplayable and unfixable. Butchered neck joints and angles are the leading problem. Bruce Weber used to keep one around at the shop as a warning....
I agree that Eastman does have better quality control and more consistency. I don't think that they are available in Europe, however. Part of this has to do with the demands of the manufacturer, in this case Eastman. It is not that the Chinese luthiers can't make a good instrument, their violins are very good, especially for the price, but that there has to be a good quality control system in place and it would help if there was a viable bluegrass culture to push for a specific sound.
Eastman is a forward looking company and they are quite innovative. None of the mandolins available in Europe are going to be able to match their output.
My problem is that I measure every Eastman I meet against a very fine Gibson mandolin that I own. This is an unfair comparison, of course, but it is one I am stuck with. The Collings I mentioned above comes fairly close (in a more modern bluegrass sound way, of course) and it costs the same as some of the higher end Eastman instruments.
Enda,
If you have the time and cash, it would be cheaper to fly from Shannon to Chicago, pick up a good mandolin from Elderly or a number of other sources and fly back. :grin:
Not familiar at all with the Rally brand, but I've played lots of examples of Eastman F's and while they're obviously not Gibsons I've certainly played some that were very nice for the price. Kentucky's higher end F model, the KM-1000 is also a nice Chinese mandolin - one difference there will be that the Eastman's come with a radius fretboard whereas the Kentucky KM-1000 has a flat fretboard. The Acoustic Music Co. over in Brighton is a great spot for mandolins, and also has a good selection of second hand instruments. I'd have to agree with Mike K.'s recommendation of checking out a used Collings MT - I got a chance to play one recently and it was the absolute business!
I want to second Mike's recommendation of Prucha. I've played two of his mandolins (both F styles), and they were both top flight instruments--right in the same league as Ellis, Nugget, Gilchrist, etc. But at a fraction of the price. And I think Prucha's 5 string banjos are *better* than any Gibson (I've owned an old Mastertone and played many, many over the years).
Enda, you might find that Jaroslav will custom make you a mandolin for a very reasonable cost. He likes getting his instruments into the hands of good players who will truly appreciate them.
I am the new guy here and I realize this is an old post, but I have to put in my "Two cent worth," I bought an Eastman MD815 in October of 2011. It is not even a year old yet and already it is a "KILLER" mandolin! Great tone, low action and volume. Seriously check one out! At least the MD615 through the MD915 models. For the price, really hard to beat. Well worth the price! Thanks! Carlisle
Chinese F style mandolin
Chinese F style mandolin
Hi,
Does any have any experience of Chinese made F style Mandolins? Dae Won or Rally? On the site http://www.straus.co.kr they certainly look the part.
I've heard that they can be excellent and inexpensive. I have an excellent Joe Foley mandolin for 12 years and I'm looking for a bluegrass F style mandolin.
Anyone know where I can play one to try it out in Ireland?
Thanks
Enda
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by Enda Scahill
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Haven't heard of these brands. Eastman is the Chinese brand of choice in the U.S. They are made of very good materials, and although the finish is sometimes a bit rough here and there, they are usually well-finished and sound very good. The setup is the most important thing, but you have to do that with any instrument.
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by Audeamus
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Enda,
Looks are not everything.
I have played a lot of American labeled Chinese mandolins, Eastman, Kelly, Kentucky, etc. most of which are probably made by the same factories. For the most part you get what you pay for but there are exceptions.
Quality control is not that rigid, so while you will find poor examples of these instruments, every so often you will find a very good one. The moral of the story is to play a lot of instruments until you find one that suits you. Chinese mandolins can look very good, but when compared to mandolins made by luthiers who actually play bluegrass, they will usually not be as good.
Also, you pay a lot for that scroll and it really doesn't do that much (other than cost more.) You can get a much better A (with F holes) model for the same money, especially if you want a mandolin that has the woody bluegrass sound found in the best F hole mandolins. While there are clear differences in sounds between makers, there is a level of quality that transcends most of the Chinese instruments.
A used Collings MT usually goes for $1500 or so and is an outstanding instrument. Of course the pickings are a little slimmer (and more expensive) in Ireland, but there may be a way to get one to you reasonably.
Czech mandolins are very good, consider Jaroslav Prucha, Jiri Lebeda and Pavel Janish as makers (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-53609.html for more names) all of whom make great sounding bluegrass instruments and should be able to make a mandolin for a competitive price. Since they are in Europe, the tarrifs and taxes will be a little more palatable.
Prucha also makes a superb banjo that is as good as most Gibsons - in fact he supplied Gibson some of their parts. I met him last January at Banjothon, he is a very nice person and easy to work with.
Mike Keyes
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by mikeyes
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Quality control on the entire Eastman line has been very consistent and very good in my experience. Almost any Eastman is a killer buy.
Kentucky? Not so high, and there are many hidden compromises in their instruments. Some are just rubbish. But that being said, the consistency I have noticed is better on the higher end F-models by Kentucky than the cheaper F-models. Stay away from their cheapest instruments (which you're not in the market for anyway).
My biggest grief with the Kentucky F-models (and most Chinese factory instruments) is the hardware and bridge fit -- it's a really, really, simple thing to fit a bridge to a mandolin, and they still can't seem to get it right. I'm not sure they even bother. You'll have to take the 10 minutes that they apparently didn't have to tape some fine sandpaper to the top of the new mando and shape the bridge's feet properly. Or you can take the time to build your own one-piece bridge, which is quick, fun to do, and greatly improves the tone. They also like to lacquer over the sides of the nut so be careful if you replace it or be prepared to to a touch-up job.
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by gravelwalks
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Another vote of confidence for Eastman mandolins. Best value for the pence in an import. Not quite the same caliber as a Collings, Weber, or better Gibson, but not far off for the often vast difference in price.
Keep an eye on http://www.mandolincafe.com for used mandos. They come up daily and some are listed in the UK and Europe.
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
P.S. I've seen "beautiful" Chinese mandolins that were totally unplayable and unfixable. Butchered neck joints and angles are the leading problem. Bruce Weber used to keep one around at the shop as a warning....
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
That's great advice everyone, thanks a million. Lots of online research to do now so......
Enda
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by Enda Scahill
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
I agree that Eastman does have better quality control and more consistency. I don't think that they are available in Europe, however. Part of this has to do with the demands of the manufacturer, in this case Eastman. It is not that the Chinese luthiers can't make a good instrument, their violins are very good, especially for the price, but that there has to be a good quality control system in place and it would help if there was a viable bluegrass culture to push for a specific sound.
Eastman is a forward looking company and they are quite innovative. None of the mandolins available in Europe are going to be able to match their output.
My problem is that I measure every Eastman I meet against a very fine Gibson mandolin that I own. This is an unfair comparison, of course, but it is one I am stuck with. The Collings I mentioned above comes fairly close (in a more modern bluegrass sound way, of course) and it costs the same as some of the higher end Eastman instruments.
Enda,
If you have the time and cash, it would be cheaper to fly from Shannon to Chicago, pick up a good mandolin from Elderly or a number of other sources and fly back. :grin:
Mike Keyes
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by mikeyes
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Enda
I own one of the Rally Mandolins one of the better ones the DFM70
Spruce top
Maple Back and sides
Well finished
I'm pleased with it for the money about £220
I would recommend it, possibly a tad thin sounding, not loud, Easy playing up the neck intonation fine at least on mine
I'm in Scotland though..so don't know where you would get one in Ireland
pkev
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by pkev
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Not familiar at all with the Rally brand, but I've played lots of examples of Eastman F's and while they're obviously not Gibsons I've certainly played some that were very nice for the price. Kentucky's higher end F model, the KM-1000 is also a nice Chinese mandolin - one difference there will be that the Eastman's come with a radius fretboard whereas the Kentucky KM-1000 has a flat fretboard. The Acoustic Music Co. over in Brighton is a great spot for mandolins, and also has a good selection of second hand instruments. I'd have to agree with Mike K.'s recommendation of checking out a used Collings MT - I got a chance to play one recently and it was the absolute business!
# Posted on August 28th 2010 by triplet upstairs
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
I want to second Mike's recommendation of Prucha. I've played two of his mandolins (both F styles), and they were both top flight instruments--right in the same league as Ellis, Nugget, Gilchrist, etc. But at a fraction of the price. And I think Prucha's 5 string banjos are *better* than any Gibson (I've owned an old Mastertone and played many, many over the years).
Enda, you might find that Jaroslav will custom make you a mandolin for a very reasonable cost. He likes getting his instruments into the hands of good players who will truly appreciate them.
# Posted on August 28th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
I have to jump in here, I have an Eastman 915 that's just great and getting better, I've had it for about four years now. Don
# Posted on August 28th 2010 by Dont
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Enda, if you are looking for a quality instrument, you might try browsing through the Mandolins on Trevor's site ~ The Acoustic Music Co.?
Especially the 2nd hand ones:
http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/index.php/vintage-mandolins/used-vintage-mandolins-for-sale.html
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on August 31st 2010 by Ptarmigan
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
I played a Dave Shapiro mahogany mandolin today so I think I know what I'm going to do next!
# Posted on August 31st 2010 by Enda Scahill
Re: Chinese F style mandolin
Greetings!
I am the new guy here and I realize this is an old post, but I have to put in my "Two cent worth," I bought an Eastman MD815 in October of 2011. It is not even a year old yet and already it is a "KILLER" mandolin! Great tone, low action and volume. Seriously check one out! At least the MD615 through the MD915 models. For the price, really hard to beat. Well worth the price! Thanks! Carlisle
# Posted on March 7th 2012 by Carlisle