Mandolin advice

[Steve of Lansing]

I vote go ahead and do it!

I have a Kentucky KM-150 Standard that my folks got me for Christmas 5 or 6 years back, and I just love the thing. They're small and light for portability, they sound sweet, they'll change the way you play and think about music, and as a bonus, once you get good at playing them, you have a leg up on learning the fiddle, because they're tuned the same.

[gary meakin]

I have this

By Lonestar.
Not anywhere near top of the line but not el cheapo either..
Pretty good sound and fairly decent action.
I don't know about a Washburn mandolin but I never played a Wasburn guitar I didn't like.
I say get one. They're fun to play and easy to learn.

[DougC]

I'll second a Kentucky. Look for solid wood top, sides and back and you cant go wrong.

[James Hood]

Dear wife left her Ibanez F-5 style mandolin when she departed for the next realm quite some time ago. As a guitar picker, thought was to invent a custom set of strings for it and have the neck adjusted for the tension to tune to DGBE as top strings of guitar, but octave.

It did not work out, despite efforts. Kinda gave up but still pick at it on occasion. Best of fortune and keep us posted.

If you'd like something a bit more guitarist-friendly, give the 4-course bouzouki a look. Try Lark In The Morning for a selection, Bouzouki World for the real thing. Did purchase a Greek bouzouki from BW and just love it. Flat top, flat back Celtic bouzoukis are less expensive and are tuned CFAD, a full step down from guitar, with commensurately longer scale.