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| Part 2: Mandolin Categories Mandolins generally fall into three categories: factory-produced commercial instruments, small-shop instruments, and individually built instruments. |
Trade Mandolins: Commercial trade mandolins are built using mass production techniques. Often the tops, backs, and necks are carved by machine or by unskilled labor, then assembled in mass. These instruments range from incredibly poor to rather good, depending on the source. Most trade mandolins today come from Asia, although in past times Italy, Germany, and the US produced quickly made commercial mandolins. The worst are unplayable. The better ones are adequately carved, with nicely milled tops and backs, decent commercial grade finish, and a reasonable shop setup done by the seller. These instruments are suitable for beginners and intermediate players. Unfortunately trade mandolins are often dolled up with fancy inlays, fancy fittings, and flashy varnish, placed in fancy looking cases, and sold for far more than they should be given the modest performance. Performance and construction quality are not related to the appearance of a trade instrument. Often a quite modest appearing mandolin will have excellent construction while a flashy, highly flamed model will be terribly constructed or made of unaged wood that soon shrinks and cracks. The real value comes from the acoustic performance. Factory instrument lines on the market include Morgan Monroe, Michael Kelly, Fender, Epiphone, and the like. |
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| Small-Shop Instruments: Small shop instruments are often higher quality, usually look better to educated eyes, and generally incorporate acoustical tuning not present in factory instruments. They are still commercially made, although made in limited quantities by skilled craftsmen under the direction of a master. Small shop mandolins generally have some to a great deal of attention paid to acoustic aspects of construction. Typically the work is completely or predominantly by hand. Varnish is often quite carefully applied. Small-shop instruments often bear a recognized trade name or the label of the supervising master. Domestic small shop instruments that immediately come to mind are Gibson, Weber, and Collings. In imports, only Eastman and Draleon seem to follow a typical small-shop model rather than a production-line factory model, although the new Kentucky plant remains a mystery. |
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| Individually Made Instruments: Luthier-built mandolins present a bit of a paradox today. Some makers still use hand tools and traditional methods. Others use extensive machining. The key is that the instruments represent the vision and work of one individual working from his training and concepts. Only limited quantities end up on the market. Individually made mandolinss may have significant value because of the maker, rather than merely because of playability and sound. Master instruments may gain great value with age. Prices reflect the maker, the physical condition of the instrument, and possibly its history. The actual tone doesn't seem to play a role in price for individually made instruments from some makers. Proceed to Part 3:| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | |
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| The mandovoodoo™ process was invented by and is only performed by Stephen Perry of Gianna Violins, the world's premier seller of fine Eastman Mandolins. Copyright © 2005-7 Stephen K. Perry. No use without written permission. By viewing you agree to all site terms and conditions. mandovoodoo.com (tm) is a division of Gianna Violins. |
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