Customer Reviews

Venetian Mandolin

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had one of these. From the box the action was very high and hard to play. I had a shop asjust it and change out the low grade strings. The tuners aren't that nice either. The strings fall out of tune pretty fast. For a first mandolin I would recommend the Johnson solid top or Kentucky KM140S instead.

If you just want some wall art... well, this mandolin is pretty.

These instruments are not suited for bluegrass, they do a great job for other european styles though. It is well suited for Italian, Gypsy & other eastern european music. I use mine for Irish traditional & it works well. They do need a little set up, I brought down the action by sanding down the bridge, it took 5 minutes & I replaced the tuning machines which took about a 1/2 hour. This is a steal for a solid top instrument & with a little care can be a great little axe.

Lonestar Venice Mandolin: I think it depends when the mandolin was made. In the early 90's, the tuners were low quality; but from 1998 until now, the Lonestar Company, acquired by LPD International in 1998, installed new quality tuners made from a high quality alloy. Mine rarely goes out of tune. Also, I am very hard on mandolins when playing and this mandolin really takes a beating from me--haven't even broken a string in 2 years. It has a wonderful sound, not too bright, not too loud, just sounds like a beautiful mandolin. Mine was set up by a professional, Mr. Rizzotti, who owns All Things Plucked Plus Music Store on Ebay--that makes all the difference. The bridge was adjusted, Mr. Rizzotti put in a bottom peg so I could hold it with a strap, and the action is fast. Personally, the set up is everything for any mandolin. When you order one of these, make sure you get a free set-up from the seller or take it to a music store that is known for working on mandos. In my area, there are none, so I bought it from someone who knows mandos. It's a great mandolin at a great price. I have no complaints about mine. It's beautiful to look at and the sound and fast action on it is great. The finish is amazing; I have not had to polish it once, it seems to retain it's shine. I cannot say enough good things, and I am complimented when I play music with others. I play many genres and it really holds it's own. I understand these mandos are hand-made in Mexico from what I read on the web. Remember though, treat your instruments with care and respect, never let anyone else touch it, and you'll avoid many repairs.