I’m only here to see what a $10k Mando looks like. When my buddy and I took a trip to Carters in Nashville, we played some high end mandolins. It took us 2 days of visiting until they let my buddy play a signed LL! That was only 225k lol. Always enjoy your content!
I worked at a shop where I met Tom, and soon after toured his workshop. The care and perfection put into them is unlike anything I've seen from other makers. I recommend any players to try an Ellis or Pava if you get the chance. The Loar sounds so much better than my first mandolin. $30 hunk of thin plywood from the 60s.
We're a bit limited with mandolins here in the UK. The Ellis sounds superb. The Loar is good enough to play in mixed company. I bought a second hand Loar LM600 earlier this year and it's pretty damn good for what I paid for it. It's well set up, holds it tuning well,has a good sustain, sounds good and I love it!. Good video.
I bought a used basic satin Pava last spring, the somewhat more affordable cousin to the Ellis. It’s very likely my lifetime player and I love it. I have to say there is a difference in tone, clarity, loudness and playability between the Pava and my earlier mandolins and that’s evidenced here with the Ellis, too. That said, a budget-friendly instrument like a The Loar, Eastman, or Kentucky can allow you to play greatly without having to invest a ton of money. Those models really bring accessibility to the mandolin and allow beginners to have a great experience from the get-go with a quality instrument. They give experienced players a carved instrument with good tone and intonation so that they can use their talents without having to break the bank. I have plenty of respect for those instruments even after buying one higher up the ladder. And what’s most important to your sound is what’s happening in your fingers and brain. The best players can make almost all instruments sound amazing.
Excellent video. The Honeycreek sounds fantastic compared to the Ellis....not taking anything away from the Ellis as it sounds amazing as I would expect...but The Loar had a great sound. A decade or more back I bought a The Loar LM220 a-style mando for ~$300 and was totally impressed (and surprised) with the sound and playability for the $$$. At the time, I was playing an Eastman MD515, and frankly, the Loar sounded as good. You are spot on saying that The Loar makes a great and affordable mando that sounds good...I have no stock in the company, but I love my experience with The Loar mandos.
Thanks for the comparison. I couldn’t justify spending $10k at my current level, so it’s great to know that Sweetwater has a good beginner option for me. My current mandolin is a bit cheap, so an upgrade is in order.
Just bought my first mandolin and started with an octave (Eastman MDO305). Decided to go with that after watching some of your videos and knowing I'll always want an octave and never justify the cost if I start with the Loar which is 1/3 the price. Thought a capo might help me hold off the feeling that I "needed" a standard mandolin, at least for a bit. Not at all! Ready for both. Enjoying your videos and appreciate the lessons on your site. 25+ years of guitar and bass and 10+ years of ukulele and finding a lot of value from your content for my journey into mandolin, and it even helps with cello which I am getting to learn alongside my oldest son.
They both sound good, but I can hear the difference, The Loar being (for lack of a better word) “tinnier”. Part of it for me is that I am so used to the sound of my vintage Gibson oval hole A Jr. and Mid-Missouri M-0.
I know it is a lot how one likes to hear a mandolin sound but I would send the $10,000.00 mandolin back and play The Loar. I have a Loar F model and I love it. Your Loar sounds even better than mine.
I preferred the $300. What others call tinny vs robust, I call chimey vs muffled! Though on the highest notes the $300 borders on shrill while the 10K stays mellow. Maybe it's single coils vs humbuckers :) Thanks for the comparison.
Listening with headphones and eyes closed, I heard a clear difference each time without knowing which of the two was being played. Time to start saving my pennies, I guess.
It’s the archer not the arrow. Loar was surprisingly good. Nice volume and although a little tinny and a few buzzes would probably work fine in a jam. Not sure I would want to hear myself practice on it at home. If you can afford it buy a nice used mando and save the trees.
We live in such a fantastic age of manufacturing, my first mandolin was a 1978 Harmony that cost me $70. Which ironically is around $300 today. I still have it, it's a piece of junk. It was cheaply made then, it's cheap today. No comparison to that Loar. I'm first in line for the Ellis Give Away!!!!
30th subscriber LIKE; 234th fan-view/listen. Yeah, the Ellis has a richer, rounder, more robust - less-brittle tone than The Loar. But - unless you're a bazillionaire - the difference in price doesn't justify 'the hurt'. FWIW: I have that same The Loar model that's been upgraded with a deer antler saddle. I've put the 4 grommet mutes between the bridge and the tail-piece. While EJ74s tend to be the string of choice, ghs silk & steel strings can mellow out some of the crispy, if you want a softer tone on your 'cheaper' mandolin. Thanks for this comparison, though - it's good training for the ears.
I could hear the difference but only during the playthrough of the fiddle tune. That said, we don't buy nice instruments because they sound better running scales!
@MandoLessons Hi Baron I’m interested in purchasing an old Gibson mandolin from the 20s-30s. My budget is 1k. My concerns are if it’s a good investment . Does the instrument retain its value? Is 1k a good budget to buy an old mandolin in very good playable condition? What’s your professional opinion on this matter thank you? I’m and advanced beginner player myself and I decided to just buy one really good mandolin instead of keep upgrading mandolins the more I learn but also I want to own a mandolin that it’s old. Thanks in advance
The Loar is a outstanding Mandolin at it's price point. With a decent setup and strings it's a joy to play ! I started on some really horrible shit box mando's 20 years ago. The Loar is outstanding in construction at it price. The Loar is my go mando and I own both a F style and a A style. Hate to say it but I don't hear a $ 9,700 difference between your two mandolin's. Yes, of course the $10,000 mandolin is superior in construction but tonally I don't hear a $ 9,700 difference between the two at least in your video unless maybe I'm tone deaf. To be very honest, I don't think I would want to own a $10,000 mando. I'd be afraid to play it ! Love your video's !
If I can get a little longer down the road I will buy the nice $300. If I get even further.... I will probably keel over and die. Thanks for all the great information!!!!
I’m only here to see what a $10k Mando looks like. When my buddy and I took a trip to Carters in Nashville, we played some high end mandolins. It took us 2 days of visiting until they let my buddy play a signed LL! That was only 225k lol.
Always enjoy your content!
I worked at a shop where I met Tom, and soon after toured his workshop. The care and perfection put into them is unlike anything I've seen from other makers. I recommend any players to try an Ellis or Pava if you get the chance.
The Loar sounds so much better than my first mandolin. $30 hunk of thin plywood from the 60s.
Sorry i couldnt hear any noticable difference ,ive got a loar but the problem is the knecks bend on the 12th fret 😮
We're a bit limited with mandolins here in the UK. The Ellis sounds superb. The Loar is good enough to play in mixed company. I bought a second hand Loar LM600 earlier this year and it's pretty damn good for what I paid for it. It's well set up, holds it tuning well,has a good sustain, sounds good and I love it!. Good video.
I bought a used basic satin Pava last spring, the somewhat more affordable cousin to the Ellis. It’s very likely my lifetime player and I love it. I have to say there is a difference in tone, clarity, loudness and playability between the Pava and my earlier mandolins and that’s evidenced here with the Ellis, too. That said, a budget-friendly instrument like a The Loar, Eastman, or Kentucky can allow you to play greatly without having to invest a ton of money. Those models really bring accessibility to the mandolin and allow beginners to have a great experience from the get-go with a quality instrument. They give experienced players a carved instrument with good tone and intonation so that they can use their talents without having to break the bank. I have plenty of respect for those instruments even after buying one higher up the ladder. And what’s most important to your sound is what’s happening in your fingers and brain. The best players can make almost all instruments sound amazing.
Excellent video. The Honeycreek sounds fantastic compared to the Ellis....not taking anything away from the Ellis as it sounds amazing as I would expect...but The Loar had a great sound.
A decade or more back I bought a The Loar LM220 a-style mando for ~$300 and was totally impressed (and surprised) with the sound and playability for the $$$. At the time, I was playing an Eastman MD515, and frankly, the Loar sounded as good.
You are spot on saying that The Loar makes a great and affordable mando that sounds good...I have no stock in the company, but I love my experience with The Loar mandos.
Thanks for the comparison. I couldn’t justify spending $10k at my current level, so it’s great to know that Sweetwater has a good beginner option for me. My current mandolin is a bit cheap, so an upgrade is in order.
Just bought my first mandolin and started with an octave (Eastman MDO305). Decided to go with that after watching some of your videos and knowing I'll always want an octave and never justify the cost if I start with the Loar which is 1/3 the price. Thought a capo might help me hold off the feeling that I "needed" a standard mandolin, at least for a bit. Not at all! Ready for both. Enjoying your videos and appreciate the lessons on your site. 25+ years of guitar and bass and 10+ years of ukulele and finding a lot of value from your content for my journey into mandolin, and it even helps with cello which I am getting to learn alongside my oldest son.
How does one inspect the mandolin setup?
Great Job
Another super interesting and helpful video, thanks Baron!
The Ellis does sound thicker, richer and fuller. For $10K. it should! The Loar does sound quite respectable and well beyond its asking price.
I thought the Loar sounded buzzy in a loose way. I think, and of course it is just my opinion......that particular loar is horrible.
They both sound good, but I can hear the difference, The Loar being (for lack of a better word) “tinnier”. Part of it for me is that I am so used to the sound of my vintage Gibson oval hole A Jr. and Mid-Missouri M-0.
I know it is a lot how one likes to hear a mandolin sound but I would send the $10,000.00 mandolin back and play The Loar. I have a Loar F model and I love it. Your Loar sounds even better than mine.
I preferred the $300. What others call tinny vs robust, I call chimey vs muffled! Though on the highest notes the $300 borders on shrill while the 10K stays mellow. Maybe it's single coils vs humbuckers :) Thanks for the comparison.
Listening with headphones and eyes closed, I heard a clear difference each time without knowing which of the two was being played.
Time to start saving my pennies, I guess.
I think The Loar is on my list. Question do you have the same strings on both instruments?
It’s the archer not the arrow. Loar was surprisingly good. Nice volume and although a little tinny and a few buzzes would probably work fine in a jam. Not sure I would want to hear myself practice on it at home. If you can afford it buy a nice used mando and save the trees.
We live in such a fantastic age of manufacturing, my first mandolin was a 1978 Harmony that cost me $70. Which ironically is around $300 today. I still have it, it's a piece of junk. It was cheaply made then, it's cheap today. No comparison to that Loar. I'm first in line for the Ellis Give Away!!!!
Hi! Have a nice day! Love to seeing your videos! What you can tell me about Caraya mandolin? I have one, ma-001-bs. I wonder, what's your opinion
Is there a jump in sound quality and or playability from the LM 110a or a LM 590f?
Did you use the Aston Spirit mic to record this comparison?
I could even tell on my iPhone 7 speakers the Ellis had a richer tone, and sounded twice as good.
I don’t think i could even play a $10k instrument, i'd be shaking too much 😅
That's what makes vibrato! That's why people don't develop vibrato until they get a good instrument 😂🤣
Or - like the angst of owning a new car - getting that first door-ding hurts like crazy.
The dude in the old pick-up didn't feel a thing.
Sweetwater needs to up their candy game though. Our 3d printing supplier sends the best gummy bears.
lowkey prusa brag 😆
30th subscriber LIKE; 234th fan-view/listen. Yeah, the Ellis has a richer, rounder, more robust - less-brittle tone than The Loar. But - unless you're a bazillionaire - the difference in price doesn't justify 'the hurt'. FWIW: I have that same The Loar model that's been upgraded with a deer antler saddle. I've put the 4 grommet mutes between the bridge and the tail-piece. While EJ74s tend to be the string of choice, ghs silk & steel strings can mellow out some of the crispy, if you want a softer tone on your 'cheaper' mandolin. Thanks for this comparison, though - it's good training for the ears.
I could hear the difference but only during the playthrough of the fiddle tune. That said, we don't buy nice instruments because they sound better running scales!
@MandoLessons
Hi Baron I’m interested in purchasing an old Gibson mandolin from the 20s-30s. My budget is 1k.
My concerns are if it’s a good investment . Does the instrument retain its value?
Is 1k a good budget to buy an old mandolin in very good playable condition?
What’s your professional opinion on this matter thank you?
I’m and advanced beginner player myself and I decided to just buy one really good mandolin instead of keep upgrading mandolins the more I learn but also I want to own a mandolin that it’s old.
Thanks in advance
The Loar is a outstanding Mandolin at it's price point. With a decent setup and strings it's a joy to play ! I started on some really horrible shit box mando's 20 years ago. The Loar is outstanding in construction at it price. The Loar is my go mando and I own both a F style and a A style. Hate to say it but I don't hear a $ 9,700 difference between your two mandolin's. Yes, of course the $10,000 mandolin is superior in construction but tonally I don't hear a $ 9,700 difference between the two at least in your video unless maybe I'm tone deaf. To be very honest, I don't think I would want to own a $10,000 mando. I'd be afraid to play it ! Love your video's !
If I can get a little longer down the road I will buy the nice $300. If I get even further.... I will probably keel over and die. Thanks for all the great information!!!!
Hah!
Never do complicated math when filming!
You should have kept your money.😂😂😂
10K buys a better sounding instrument but the difference is not huge.
Aint no mando worth 10 grand.
Can't tell the difference.