Washburn Americana M1SD - Black Reviews
Want to get into mandolin? The Washburn M1SDL mandolin is an affordable instrument to help get you started. The "A"-style M1SDL mandolin has a solid spruce top and maple back and sides for bright sound and great projection. This mandolin delivers excellent playability and well-rounded tones which are key for a beginner's instrument. Washburn's M1SDL mandolin is the ideal starting instrument for any musician. Call Sweetwater and get yours today.
Earn $15 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $13/month with 24 month financing*
$15 Earn $15.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $13/month
with 24 month financing*
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While this isn't an item we normally stock, we can still get it due to our great relationship with Washburn. Go ahead and place your order and we'’ll follow up shortly to let you know when to expect it.
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Highest Rated Reviews
great tone, woods, construction and value
I am a guitar player who wanted to "pick up" mandolin, as it seemed as those accompanying me were having a lot of fun, I loved the tones, and I wanted a challenge and eventually to play not just mandolin (the violin) but mostly the mandola (the viola) or octave (the cello) of this family of instruments. So... this review is part introduction to this instrument and part how to think about purchasing a "first mandolin" from vantage point of a guitar player.
I got some good advice when I first started looking at instruments... how do you know out of so many options it is good? The answer had 2 parts... try a lot, and check out what feels, sounds good, and to be sure it has an adjustable truss rod (about 200lbs+/- of pressure on the neck and if it goes out... you can't play it. So why did I pick this instrument... It felt good, sounded good, was easier to play (I learned a few chords on line pre shopping) and this one was the best, by far of the $200+/- range instruments. I took a long time shopping and wanted to present this review to hopefully make this review meaningful to the reader. (before I buy gear etc I always check these reviews and though I had something to give back...
It is made out of real wood (not plywood) and although a pressed arch top (much less costly to produce than a carved arch top) has nice appointments (when you get into this binding, and high gloss is an upper end feature and this is a very beautiful instrument. It reminds me of an early 20th century Gibson H series, n style and feel. Of course they are vintage carved with tones in heaven, but this is a solid instrument.
It has serviceable tuning machines (others don't) stays in tune, and I love the tone and playability so much
that instead of replacing it with a much more expensive instrument, I put on new Gotohs and a Solid Brass
Tailpiece, and took off the pick guard, and it a solid instrument that I still enjoy a lot... (even after getting the
American Made Weber Mandola) and depending on Key/Style of song switch back and forth a lot.
I play mandolin in the Mitzy Ward Experience (we play folk festivals in Arizona and Reverb Nation/You Tube has a few sets... you can really hear this Mandolin with new hardware on Reverb Nation: House of the Rising Sun/Amazing Grace.) I still play a lot of guitar... and in fact playing mandolin has made me a better guitar player, and composer (mandolin is upside down and backwards guitar so it REALLY makes you think) and you can stretch 7 frets which is magical!
Why get this from Sweetwater?... because of their well earned reputation. I would ask them to check the neck to be sure it's straight adjust if needed. Check a ton of tutorials available on You Tube or if you are
really serious find a good teacher. Enjoy the Music, and Have Fun.
4.5 stars because the hardware is necessarily inexpensive to be able to accomplish entry level affordability. I had NO problems for 4 years... then a tuner plastic piece broke and I had to superglued it back together and had a backup small vice grip in my gear as there was no time to really repair prior to playing Flagstaff Folk Festival... and I had to think about either ditching the instrument or upgrading for about what is cost originally... and as above it is now very wonderful and well worth the investment 5. It is a keeper!
