How to Buy a Mandolin

A member of the lute family, the mandolin was developed in Italy during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Originally, the mandolin was plucked by fingertip and came with 12 strings. Nowadays, most mandolins are plucked with a pick and have 8 strings.
In America, the mandolin is often featured in bluegrass music, but it has also trickled into mainstream country and rock. Popular bands, such as R.E.M, the White Stripes and Nickel Creek, have featured the mandolin in their music.
Mandolins are available for purchase at most music stores. High-quality mandolins can also be bought from a private luthier but at a higher cost.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Buying a Mandolin

1. Decide the type of mandolin you want to purchase. There are flat-backs, bowl-backs, eight-string, five-string, F-style, A-style and so on. Many bluegrass mandolinists play the F-style instrument, while many orchestral musicians choose between the A-style or F-style design. If you are a beginner to the mandolin, you may want to start out with a flat-top, teardrop-shaped instrument that's affordable and comfortable to play.

2. Choose where you would like to buy your mandolin. Mandolins are sold in most music stores and are sometimes found in pawn shops. If you want to purchase your mandolin from a store, head to a music shop that specializes in acoustic string instruments because it will have a wider selection of mandolins. If you want a custom, high-quality mandolin, then you should contact a private luthier to make one for you.

3. Check the physical condition of the mandolin. Make sure the joints, bindings and glue seams are nice and tight. Check to see if the neck is straight or bent (a bent neck makes the mandolin difficult to play.) Make sure that the mandolin doesn't have any cracks and that the soundboard (the top of the mandolin) isn't warped or caved in.

4. Find out what kind of wood the mandolin is carved from. Most mandolin soundboards are made from spruce, but some varieties use laminated tops. Some mandolinists believe a mandolin made from spruce sounds better than one with a laminated top. However, customers on a budget may want to consider the laminated mandolins, since they tend to be cheaper.

5. Play the instrument. After you've checked over the mandolin, play the instrument to assess its playability. If the mandolin is difficult to play, then keep looking until you find one that suits you.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time when purchasing a mandolin. Try out as many mandolins as you can before you decide which one to buy. If you are purchasing your first mandolin, you may want to consult with an expert mandolin player before you buy your instrument. The expert can direct you toward a good-quality mandolin in your price range.
• Be wary of mandolins with existing cracks or with bent soundboards. These problems may be fixed in some cases, but they can lead to greater troubles down the road.

Resources

• Mandolin Buyer's Guide
• Buying your first mandolin
• Mandolin Cafe Message Boards