A mandolin is another string instrument and belongs to the lute family. It is plucked with the help of a plectrum. It features four courses of double strings, that are made of metals and are tuned in unison.
The most common styles of mandolins available are the round-backed style, carved-top style and the flat-backed style. The resonating body of a mandolin is bowl-shaped, which is further attached to a neck-like structure.
If you are thinking of buying a mandolin, but aren’t ready to spend a huge amount it, then we are here to help you out! We have gathered and reviewed the 7 Best Mandolins of 2020 that you can buy at a cheap rate. Also, have a glance at the Buyer’s Guide at the end of this article that would help you out in buying the best product with all the necessary features! Happy shopping!
Ibanez M510DVS Mandolin
This mandolin by Ibanez is an A-style mandolin that has a dark and rich sunburst finish which makes it attractive and eye-catching. It is best suited for beginners.
The back and sides of this mandolin are made with mahogany, which makes it robust and durable. It features an adjustable neck and ensures that the instrument is not bent out of shape easily. It has an amazing finish, which makes it an attraction for mandolin players. Apart from its looks, it is also exceptional in projecting sound well.
It has a solid spruce top and the overall construction of this mandolin is better than the overpriced ones that claim to be the best quality. It is, therefore, a balance of quality and affordability. Its appearance is its main attractive point, apart from the amazing sound production.
Features
- A-style mandolin.
- Dark sunburst finish.
- Best for beginners.
- Mahogany back and sides.
- Adjustable neck.
- Doesn’t bend away from the shape.
- Amazing finish.
- Excellent sound projection.
- Solid spruce top.
- High quality construction.
- Balance of quality and affordability.
- Attractive appearance.
- Chrome hardware.
- Pearl dot inlay.
Pros
- Excellent sound projection.
- Extremely attractive and has a nice finish.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Professional setup is required to be able to get high playability.
Overall Ratings– 4.3/5 stars.
Rogue RM-100A A-Style Mandolin
This mandolin by Rogue is one of the cheapest mandolins available in the market, but perform as well as any high priced mandolin, or even better. It is an A-style mandolin and is best for beginners.
This mandolin is available in a classic black color or with a sunburst finish (above). It features a maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard. It has a sturdy construction and has a compensated rosewood bridge that is adjustable. It has a clean workmanship and produces a bright tone.
Basically, it is the best mandolin to start your journey with. It may be cheap, but that doesn’t mean it is of no use. It offers much more than you would expect at this rate.
Features
- A-style mandolin.
- Cheap.
- Best for beginners.
- Available in black or sunburst finish
- Maple neck.
- Rosewood fingerboard.
- Sturdy construction.
- Clean workmanship.
- Gives a bright tone.
- Best option to enter the world of mandolins.
- Chrome tuners.
- Nickel-plated frets.
- Easy to play.
- Adjustable neck.
Pros
- High quality in spite of low price.
- Perfect for beginners to learn.
- Robust and sturdy construction.
Cons
- Tuning it accurately can be a challenge.
- Inconsistent level of frets.
Overall Ratings- 4.3/5 stars.
Kentucky KM-150 Standard A-model Mandolin
Kentucky has been a trusted brand for musical instruments and this mandolin is just an addition to their list. It is an A-style mandolin, that is priced accurately according to its quality and features.
The construction of this mandolin is reliable as it features a solid spruce top, and the back and sides of this mandolin are maple made, which provide an extra punch. It features adjustable truss rods which makes it an easy-to-play instruments. The maple back and neck make it a comfortable play and ensures the overall quality of the instrument. It also provides clean articulation along with a tone that is both, crisp and bright.
The fingerboard is made of tonewood which results in a smooth playability. Also, it has a high-gloss finish which gives it an amazing appearance. Overall, this mandolin may be a bit highly priced than the other two mandolins mentioned above, but it is definitely worth the extra bit since it has a lot to offer. It gives a great tone and is highly playable.
Features
- Trusted brand.
- A-style.
- Reliable construction.
- Solid spruce top.
- Maple back and sides.
- Adjustable truss rods.
- Easy-to-play.
- Comfortable.
- Clean articulation.
- Produces a crisp tone.
- High-gloss finish.
- Tonewood fingerboard.
- Smooth playability.
Pros
- Gives an amazing tone.
- High playability.
- Adjustable truss rods make playability better.
Cons
- Uses cheap plastic in construction of parts like strap button.
Overall Ratings- 4.2/5 stars.
The Loar LM-520-VS Performer F-Style Mandolin
This product by The Loar has an elegant sunburst finish which makes it one of the most attractive ones on this list. It comes with spruce top that is fully graduated and is hand carved, thus ensuring its sturdy construction.
It features an adjustable ebony bridge which allows modification of the instrument by the user, according to their needs. The components of this instrument are all wooden, which gives it a rigid framework that is durable. The back and sides are maple made, which are hand carved too. The neck features a rounded “V” profile which is maple made as well. The fretboard is made of rosewood.
This instrument stays in tune and that is ensured by the Grover tuners featured by it. Therefore, it is an instrument that will always stay in tune, even if you play it after long time gap.
Features
- Sunburst finish.
- Fully graduated spruce top.
- All components are wooden.
- Hand carved components.
- Sturdy construction.
- Adjustable ebony bridge.
- Allows modification.
- Rigid framework.
- Durable.
- Maple back and sides.
- Rounded “V” neck.
- Rosewood fretboard.
- Grover tuners.
Pros
- Features grover tuners.
- Hand carved components ensures durability and quality check.
- Adjustable ebony bridge that allows modifications.
Cons
- Not as affordable as the other products on this list.
Overall Ratings- 4.5/5 stars.
Donner A Style Mandolin
Donner has always been one of the best brands in the case of musical instruments and other music related devices. And this product stands up to Donner’s reputation quite well.
It is an A-style mandolin which comes in a sunburst finish with a glossy touch which makes it an attractive piece. It is a versatile instrument that is suitable for a number of playing styles.The body is made from mahogany wood which produces a bright and rich sound. It features gear tuners that are chrome plated and the truss rods situated in the neck are adjustable.
This product also includes various accessories with it. Like, a gig bag, digital clip-on tuner, strings, guitar picks and a polishing cloth for cleaning purposes. It also comes with a 30 Days Money Back Guarantee.
Features
- Renowned brand.
- A-style.
- Sunburst finish.
- Glossy touch.
- Versatile.
- Goes with a number of playing styles.
- Mahogany body.
- Bright and rich sound.
- Chrome plated gear tuners.
- Adjustable truss rods.
- Includes gig bag, digital clip-on tuner, strings, guitar picks and a polishing cloth.
- 30 Days Money Back Guarantee.
Pros
- Trusted brand name.
- Very cheap yet high quality.
- Includes many accessories.
Cons
- Not humidity or weather-proof.
Overall Ratings- 4.2/5 stars.
Washburn M1S A-Style Mandolin
This is an A-style mandolin by Washburn which weighs around 3.55 pounds and is a handcrafted instrument that is affordable as well as efficient.
Spruce, maple wood, and rosewood was used in the construction of this Instrument and the spruce top features traditional f-holes in it. It comes in a black, transparent blue or red gloss which gives it a nice and attractive finish. You can easily customize the color you want for this product. The neck scale is 13 3/4 and it features 20 frets.
It is an instrument that always stays in tune with the help of its tuning pegs. These tuning pegs smooth and easy to operate. The brand has been in this market for more than 100 years, so if you are thinking of buying a product from this brand, you don’t have to worry about its quality.
Features
- A-style.
- Weight: 3.55 pounds.
- Handcrafted.
- Affordable.
- Spruce, maple wood and rosewood is used.
- Spruce top has f-holes.
- Black, transparent blue or red gloss.
- Has an attractive finish.
- Customizable color.
- Neck scale: 13 3/4.
- 20 frets.
- Stays in tune.
- Smooth tuning pegs.
- High quality.
- Renowned brand.
Pros
- Trusted brand name.
- Affordable.
- Easy to keep in tune.
Cons
- Attractive, but not like other products.
Overall Ratings- 4.0/5 stars.
Savannah SA-100-BK A-Model Mandolin
This instrument by Savannah has an A-style body that weighs 2.9 lbs. Its construction involves maple wood and rosewood, which gives it the sturdiness it requires.
This instrument totally affordable for you if you are not planning to spend too much. And in spite of its lower price, its quality is topmost and it is really very well-made. It features an adjustable compensated bridge which provides the user with the freedom of deciding the kind of set-up they need for their instrument. It is a teardrop-shaped mandolin that features a hard maple neck.
The fretboard is made of rosewood and it is an overall attractive instrument, which offers much more than what is expected of its price.
Features
- A-style body.
- Weight: 2.9 lbs.
- Maple wood and rosewood is used in its construction.
- Rigid and sturdy.
- Affordable.
- High quality.
- Well-made structure.
- Adjustable compensated bridge.
- Allows user to decide its set-up.
- Teardrop-shape.
- Hard maple neck.
- Fretboard is made of rosewood.
- Attractive.
Pros
- Affordable, yet high quality.
- Adjustable compensated bridge is quite useful.
- Attractive looking.
Cons
- Poor shipping processes have led to customers receiving broken products.
Overall Ratings– 3.6/5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to learn the mandolin?
No instrument is impossible to learn. And neither is none easy! Though, a mandolin can be considered as an instrument that is comparatively easier to learn that other string instruments, since it has lesser number of strings. The reading tablature becomes easier with lesser number of strings.
How much does a mandolin cost?
Generally, the cost of a mandolin starts from $600. Though, we researched that mandolins that are lower in cost are still easily able to deliver the features that are involved in the highly priced ones. Hence, the products mentioned in this article are the affordable ones with superb quality and none of them are as costly as $600.
Can you play mandolin without a pick?
Yes, it is possible to play this instrument without a pick. Duo style is a playing technique which is quite difficult and it engages in finger picking styles. Through this technique, you can play a mandolin without a pick.
How long does it take to learn mandolin?
Like any other instrument, learning a mandolin efficiently would require dedicated practice sessions and patience, as well. But ideally, it should take about 3 months for a person to learn it, if he/she practices everyday for at least and hour or half.
Is it easier to learn violin or mandolin?
A mandolin is much easier to learn than a violin, which is quite complicated and requires more practice to make it sound good. Whereas mandolins can hardly ever sound bad, and just like guitars, they always sound good.
Buyer’s Guide
Even though we have provided you with a list of the cheapest mandolins available in the market, we are sure that you still might be hesitating to buy a cheap product and thinking whether it would provide you with all the essential features of a good instrument.
This buyer’s guide will help you analyse it yourself if you want to go for a cheap product or not.
So, firstly, before buying this beautiful instrument, make sure that it has a solid top, which, by the way, is present in all the products reviewed above. A solid top instrument will turn out to be a durable one.
Next, it should have adjustable truss rods, which too is present in cheap mandolins as well. This means that the neck of the instrument can be adjusted and hence, it can be protected from the effects of humidity changes and many other factors.
The type of woods used in your mandolin is also an important feature to check out. The most common and trusted woods used are spruce, maple, and rosewood. So, always go for mandolins constructed with these woods.
The model of the instrument is another factor to keep in mind. They are available either as A-style body or F-style body. The F-styled ones are always costlier. But, the A-style bodied ones provide you with the same efficiency as an F-styled one. So, what’s the need of going for a costlier product!
Summary
By now, we are to have convinced you to go for the mandolins that we have suggested. All of the above instruments are from trusted and known brands of the music world, and hence the quality of all these products are assured.
Go ahead and place that order for your favorite mandolin, and begin your musical journey with this beautiful instrument!
Thanks for reading this article! Please leave your comments below.
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