Rogue Mandolin?

[wlewisiii]

So I'm fighting the urge to get an accoustic fix by adding a mandolin to my house. I was pondering the lowend Epiphone MM-30S when I came across the Rogue Mandolin RM100A for $54!

That's insanely cheap for any kind of wooden instrument.

Does anyone here have experience with this instrument? Is it actually worth it or is this a "get what you pay for" moment?

 

[SPUDCASTER]

I have a friend that has one. Don't bother. Get a "real" instrument.

 

[wlewisiii]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I was thinking. I wonder about the epiphone one more seriously @ $180.

 

[Danomo]

I have one, it is a real instrument, and well worth the 50 smackers it costs. What it does lack... is decent strings, the ones that came on mine were already discolored, and dull sounding. Plan to put a set on when you get it. The nut was cut correctly, and the bridge is a height adjustable floater, so if you haven't dealt with that (all mando's have them), you'll have a learning curve changing strings/setting up. I've had mine for over five years now (still has the D'Addarios I put on it when new). No buzzes, no fretting out, and decent tone. The only real drawback is, it doesn't have a truss rod (but many more expensive mando's don't either).

It's great at Christmas time, just the right volume for a small group to sing along with.

You wouldn't think so, but Mando's give you callouses on your callouses.

 

[wlewisiii]

So to your experience, decent strings make a big difference? Interesting,. Gives me more to ponder...

 

[Danomo]

If you read the reviews on musicians friend (where it's $46 right now), about 1/5-1/6th of the reviews are on the negative side, the rest are of the good value/excellent starter type (much like Squier reviews). There are SO many reviews, I would guess the percentages are about right. Some GC's have them in stock now, maybe go try one out (after checking stock).

 

[wlewisiii]

One more question for you : are light or medium strings best? In your opinion, I know. I use 10 - 52 half-rounds on my telecaster.

 

[Danomo]

I'll have to check when I get home, I bought two sets and still have one package. I think they are light gauge, but I'll check in the morning.

 

[wlewisiii]

Ok, thanks. The Joy of Night Shift, eh?

 

[Danomo]

For 16 years...

 

[blowtorch]

Check out what they have to say on mandolin cafe

 

[dlew919]

Google rob meldrum. He has a book on how to set up a mandolin in PDF. He takes rogues and makes them playable.

 

[blowtorch]

You wouldn't think so, but Mando's give you callouses on your callouses.

that is a fact

 

[Tim Bowen]

I think that a common mistake a lot of folks make when looking at inexpensive entry level instruments is to concern themselves with the tone. In this case, if the instrument will tune up G D A E low to high, that's tone enough. A $54.00 mandolin is not going to sound fabulous. That's okay, it doesn't need to.

What the consumer should concern themself with, regarding an inexpensive starter instrument, in my opinion, is playability and tuning stability/intonation. That's it.

If the instrument plays well and stays reasonably in tune, then it's a good candidate to get picked up to be played. And learned on. That's all you need for starters. If you catch the mando jones and are making progress, you can always upgrade when it's convenient or necessary. If your interest doesn't catch fire, you're out considerably less than a hundred bucks, no major love lost. So, an inexpensive way to test the water and give it a fair shake.

If there are two $54.00 mandolins that play well and have decent tuning stability, and one of them does sound better than the other, buy that one. Said Captain Obvious.

 

[Danomo]

One more question for you : are light or medium strings best? In your opinion, I know. I use 10 - 52 half-rounds on my telecaster.

Here they are, they still sound good, and after five years of xmas season only play, they've just started to s l i g h t l y discolor.

 

[SPUDCASTER]

Again, you will get what you pay for. A lesson I learned a long time ago.

 

[Twang Factor 10]

I bought one 2 years ago. Musician's Friend was blowing them out $39.00. I learned the chords in 2 nights. It is a good entry level instrument. But I only get it out every once in awhile. It serves my purpose. It frets easy. For my purpose its good cheap fun. I have cookouts often and friends that come over with acoustic guitars. If I have more than 2 people show up with guitars I play mandolin.

 

[wlewisiii]

The best review I've found so far referred to the Rogue as a mandolin kit. If you are willing to finish it, it can be a usable instrument.

Still have much to ponder.

 

[Frank'n'censed]

I bought my 1st one last year...do some homework, Mandolin Cafe is a good place to start. The used market is always an option, I got a great, barely used, Breedlove...good luck! While I love Bluegrass, I'm no 'Grasser as a player, leaning more to blues/jazz/folk/rock/etc., so I bought an instrument for those specific needs. I tune to open G, down a whole step, capoed at the second fret & like to play slide...

 

[Octave Doctor]

I bought a Rogue when I as laid up in 2011. I eventually got it playing pretty well, but the tuners were awful (non standard spacing, no upgrade path) and it still sounded like it was made out of cardboard. Bought a Rover RM-25s a few months back, $103.00, but much nicer, stays in tune, and sounds much better. I use PB .010-.038 on it.