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Friday, April 15, 2011

Washburn M-4SW Black Oval mandolin (one for the mandolin geeks)

Most mass-produced instruments these days are built in big factories in the Far East. Brands which were once authentic American / European made instruments are now only logos, stamped or etched onto a common instrument shape. The materials used and the level of finish might vary, but they're generally all coming out of the same handful of factories. You can find the same mandolin with maybe 6 or 7 different names on them, but every other detail is pretty much identical.

However, when you consider how cheap these are, the quality can be surprisingly good. One that I've been looking for is the Washburn M-4SW Black oval hole mandolin, shown below.

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The picture isn't great, and doesn't do the instrument justice. Below are two better quality photographs of the sunburst version of the same model. I have one of these already, bearing the brand name Ozark.

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So if you've found this post by Googling around, and you have a black Washburn M-4SW that you don't want any more, please get in touch.
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5 comments:

  1. TJIC9:16 PM

    Is this instrument the same as this one?

    http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-WAS-M1SDLB-LIST

    The price can't be right, can it?

    I've been sort of itching to pick up another stringed instrument after my Martin D-35. A mandolin might be fun...

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  2. Mark Thompson7:40 AM

    Hello TJIC, thanks for your comment. Not the same instrument sadly! The one you've linked is the bottom-of-the-range Washburn (and the price is correct). A Martin D-35? very nice!

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  3. Zdogk910:56 PM

    You need this.
    http://cgi.ebay.com/1917-Gibson-A-1-A1-Mandolin-SN-37812-Ex-Condition-/230606914933?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item35b13e4575#ht_627wt_1139

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mark Thompson12:07 AM

    Hello Zdogk9 - thanks for your comment. Thankfully I've already got a 1924 black Gibson A Snakehead, which plays like a dream. I'd really love an old 3 point, but they're way out of my price bracket

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  5. Zdogk92:40 AM

    Ya, but you got me cruising ebay and I've ran across several early 20th century Washburns, and the finance minister will shoot my ass if I get one.
    A friend has an F 4 he picked up in a pawn shop for $250 in 1975, talk about sweet!

    ReplyDelete