Trying to find the best mandolin for your money? This is a uniquely designed and versatile product that will be wonderful for beginners and advanced players alike. Donner creates one mandolin, the A-style Mandolin. While the M522 doesn’t offer the superb tone quality or consistent construction of more expensive models, it does provide a safe option for anyone who wants to play the best mandolin for the price when it comes to F-style instruments. Features: A-style body; mahogany wood used; and weighs 3.53 pounds. Lutes are a type of plucked, fretted string instrument. Most current designs are based very closely on the original F-5 model developed by Gibson. The wood used in making the mandolin’s neck is critical to an instrument’s quality. To differentiate them from bowl-backed mandolins, they are often called flat-backed mandolins, although they will typically still have a slightly rounded back. Maple and mahogany are the most preferred woods here, as the neck should be rigid. Kentucky’s focus on traditional American instrument design means that they are able to put out some interesting, classic models like the KM-272. Spruce is in high demand, not only for mandolins but also for the soundboards of guitars, pianos, and other instruments. Savannah Acoustic is a company that specializes in acoustic folk instruments. But you may also find differences between them in tone and style that make a big difference. The sides and back of the best mandolins are typically made from solid maple, a stronger wood than spruce that violin makers have used for centuries. A final wooden piece to consider when selecting a mandolin is the bridge. Rogue RM-100 Mandolin is an A … The F-style mandolin is far and away the choice of the top bluegrass and country artists today. Therefore, you need to be careful when choosing an instrument. Washburn Guitars has been in business since 1883. As you learn more about the mandolin and better understand the style you are looking for, you may find that a more specialized model suits your needs. And, the affordable price makes having a mandolin attainable for any musician. Most importantly, your preferred body style will help you choose between mandolins. But, they do this in an affordable package. In fact, the KM-270 has a large oval sound hole. While the G9350 may not fit into everyone’s budget, if you are looking to dive in right away with the best intermediate mandolin that you can plug in, it will be hard to find a better instrument than this one. With its distinctive round back and its roots in 18th-century Italy, the bowl-backed mandolin has a dark tone that is suitable for traditional folk music, mandolin orchestras, and classical music. (Includes big bag, guitar strings, DT-2 tuner, polishing cloth, and two picks.). If the answer is yes, you should continue reading. This instrument is made with the classic A-style body with an all-mahogany design. – CHECK HERE. Features: F-Style body; maple, spruce, and purpleheart wood used; and weighs 2.5 pounds. Therefore, if you are a beginner, plan on finding the most standard instrument in terms of tuning and number of strings. Available with a black or sunburst finish, it has all of the basics you need to get started on the mandolin. Ibanez’s M522SBS F-Style Mandolin is a high-quality and easy to play instrument. F-style mandolins have a more striking tone than A-style’s muted color. Understanding the tuning you need will point you to the number of strings you require on your mandolin. Another great option is to use a magnetic pickup like those used for violins and other string instruments. While you may not know the answer to these questions yet, they can get you thinking about how you’d like to use your new instrument. They are a little hard to find online. An F-style mandolin with, atypically, a single round sound hole, Gretsch’s G9350 has great sound and packs quite a punch. The best shape for you will depend on the style of music you want to play, the appearance you prefer, and your budget. However, two body styles are the most common: F-style and A-style. A big step up from the RM-100A in price and appearance, Rogue’s RM100F is their flagship F-style mandolin. It has f-shaped sound holes—these will look like the sound holes on stringed instruments like the violin. This A-style mandolin, with a vintage mahogany finish, two F holes, and Gretsch’s typical aesthetic quality, can stack up with any model in its price range. As you begin your search, you’ll quickly find that you can pay as much or as little as you want for a mandolin. With the least expensive models costing between $50 and $100, the mandolin can be an excellent instrument for anyone on a tight budget. With an astonishingly wide array of styles and models of guitars and other instruments, Ibanez is known for their low to mid-level price point and their innovative designs. Modern mandolins typically have one of three body shapes: bowl-backed, A-style, and F-style. On the other hand, A-style refers to any teardrop-shaped mandolin. You will find guitars, banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins in their product catalog. If you are looking to get a great, conventional tone quality at a reasonable price point, the KM-150 is a classic entry point. Recognized widely as one of the top rated brands for entry-level mandolins, Kentucky takes its name from the heart of Bluegrass Country. Acoustic-electric mandolins typically have the same basic specifications as acoustic mandolins, but they have what is known as a “piezo electric” pickup in the bridge. Ibanez’s M510BS A-style mandolin illustrates the quality work and affordability that has made Ibanez famous. Features: A-style body; maple and rosewood wood used; and weighs 2.85 pounds. So, these are not American-made instruments. For one thing, you can always get your bridge replaced with a bridge containing a piezo electric pickup. In many cases this option works well, and depending on the quality of the equipment you use it may even result in a better sound quality. It was founded in Chicago by George Washburn. But its inconsistent quality means that most will find it better to opt for a slightly more expensive brand. Generally speaking, they are easier to build than F-style mandolins and are typically less expensive than F-style mandolins of similar quality. Additionally, there are mandolas and mandocellos to choose from. But most first-time players will want to stick to a beginning or intermediate instrument as they learn to play. The Kentucky Mandolin Company has made a name for themselves producing high-quality, affordable instruments. In fact, the LM-520-VS is an almost identical recreation of Gibson mandolins from the turn of the 20th century. If you want a traditional-looking mandolin, the KM-270 is the product for you. While more and more options are available all the time, these mandolin reviews will help you identify some of the good mandolin brands, the top rated mandolins for each brand, and what is the best mandolin for your needs. The sound holes on A-style mandolins are oval. While electric mandolins are typically more expensive than purely acoustic models, your intended use of the instrument should determine your choice here. Well, the shape of the mandolin determines the timbre (tone color) of the mandolin. So, What Is The Best Mandolin For Beginners? The Kentucky KM-270 Artist Oval Hole A-Style Mandolin is designed to emulate the historical oval mandolins. With some of the lowest prices available, Rogue is often the entry point for people hoping to try a new instrument on a budget. Ebony fretboards are preferred by many makers, but rosewood is also quite common. It has low-key appointments and an all-solid wood design. The Kentucky Mandolin Company is owned by Saga Music and is headquartered out of San Francisco, CA. This compromise keeps the price down without harming the tone too significantly, since the sides and the back are much less critical to tone production than the soundboard. Overall, the RM-100A mandolin is a classically-designed, perfect beginner instrument.