There is nothing more frustrating to someone who is trying to learn an instrument than an instrument that has issues. The action is too high, the damn thing won't stay in tune,the intonation is incorrect. Bad instruments probably account for more people giving up on learning an instrument than from lack of talent or laziness. After all we're musicians- and lazy is who we are! After it's not like we're hauling sacks of feed.

 Many years ago as a young guitar player I had the fortune of meeting and playing with Frank Wakefield who told me  I had to "Get one of these." (a mandolin). You don't say "No" to Frank! and so I went out in search of a mandolin. I was plagued then as I am now with no money. I found a 1926 A-0 Gibson that had had at one time a pick up installed -with a hole in the top for the volume control, assorted screwholes and another where the jack plugged in. It was nasty and ugly but had a wonderful clear tone and played easily. It was also cheap.The holes got plugged and 40 years later  they're still plugged and the instrument still plays well and gets played often. Mandolin became my primary instrument and I played in numerous bands and duos and had many adventures as a result- and as is typical for a mandolin player, I never made much money. I've had numerous mandolins and guitars since and I learned one trick  that I am going to share about buying a great playing vintage quality instrument---LOOK FOR FLAWS!  The collectors are looking for instruments in original condition- players want to play -so look for the instrument that someone screwed up. I still see on e-bay A model flawed vintage Gibsons going for only $500 or $600. Why would you take a chance on some shiny new import when you can have the real deal all scratched up with a terrible homemade refinishing job and maybe a peace sign or something whittled into the head stock to boot! You can always cover it with a bumper sticker of you own choosing. I am convinced that for every working mandolinist, who from their earnings from playing can justify purchasing a high end $3000 -$5000 -$10,000 mandolin there are at least a dozen builders and manufacturers of high end mandolins.The good old ones are getting scooped up by collectors.   Whats left for the rest of us are the beaters or the imports- but most of the imports I've played really aren't too good- though sometimes I've been surprised. One thing about some of the newer instruments that you have to take into account is that though they may seem alright new out of the box they may develope problems. If a mandolins top hasn't collaped after 50 years there's a pretty good chance that it's not going to happen anytime soon. A friend of mine had a guitar built by one of the super famous "best in the world" big names in lutherie -waited a long long time for it and it cost an arm and a leg. After a little while the top sunk. The builder took it back and made it right of course but if it can happen to someone who cares- what about what comes out of the mando mills?  So as you search for your 1st mandolin think about Willie Nelson's "Trigger" and find the best playing instrument that you can even if it is a beater.