Thomann Octave Mandolin M1087-P

I have been playing Irish trad for about 10 years, mostly fiddle and tenor banjo. At the 2019 O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, I heard a bouzouki up close and personal and wanted to try one. I opted for the octave mandolin, because I couldn’t make the stretch on a longer scale length. Bouzoukis and octave mandos available in the US cost upwards of US$800, a bit much to spend to try out an instrument. Even with international shipping, the Hora octave mandolin was only a quarter of that price—worth the risk, even if it turned out to be a piece of junk, which it is most assuredly not. I showed it to my music teacher and to my luthier; both pronounced it a good instrument for the money. My take: fit and finish are beautiful. Sound is impressive with great resonance. Intonation is accurate throughout the scale length. Sound through the installed pickup sounds *just* like the instrument, only louder. Moving up and down the fingerboard is smooth. The workmanship of the instrument far exceeded my expectations. Shipping from Germany took about ten days to Texas, and it arrived in good condition. If you’re undecided, just buy it.

Thomann never ceases to amaze me as to how their products can be so cheap and yet so high quality. This mandolin has a really great sound, the pickups are worth 25€, but they aren't so good in comparison to more expensive pickups, which would be an unfair comparison. So there is that. The build quality was very good, but I saw some "mistakes" in the rosette, and some scratches in the headstock, overall nothing extremely bad, nothing even bad, mediocre at worst. But I keep on forgetting that this costed only 199€, it's so great. I have played various instruments, but octave mandolin never, and I am surprised for how good it is. I was met with various opinions that a 200€ guitar is higher (approximately "double") quality than a 200€ octave mandolin. Here, simply, the quality matched. For its price, it's really great. I really recommend buying this octave mandolin as a beginners one. 💖

I'm sure that Thomann used to sell Ashbury Octave mandolins a while back but now seem to have stopped. Having tried the M1087P against other Octave Mandolins ( including Ashbury) of a similar and more expensive price I can see why. True the neck is slightly long for an O.M but I have tuned it down a tone and use a Capo to solve the problem, it still sounds great with a nice Jangly tone. The tuners aren't perfect but they hold their pitch and I have seen worse on more expensive instruments. The set up seems also to be well done although at this price I would expect it to vary from instrument to instrument. All in all though I am very happy with this instrument.

This is a lovely instrument. It has a lovely warm tone, perhaps a little buzzy as the action is a little on the high side without much facility to adjust without professional work, but that notwithstanding I have thoroughly enjoyed the sound that this instrument can give, particularly for Irish music.

The scale length is quite long, and fingering can be a stretch- you can't keep to standard mandolin fingering. (Some chords are still impossible for me!)
I have an average hand size, and it can be a stretch to play but not impossible and not uncomfortable. It would favour a larger handed player.
The tuners are of good quality and I was surprised by how well the tuners hold tune.

I love the guitar styled bridge on this model, the pick-up facility is a nice touch. The instrument came with bridge pre-assembled and strings semi-taught to hold in place. I haven't needed to adjust the bridge at all, it's just where it needs to be for me.
Overall, the build quality for the price-point is very good indeed and it feels and responds like a well made instrument. Obviously up the price-scale will be better sounding instruments, but for an entry to octave mandolin and to a serious student- this is a very good instrument at a very reasonable price. I love playing it and would recommend it.

Well what can you say for the price? brilliant!. Good over all sound, nice action and a well built instrument. Sounds great acousticly and has good volume when running through an amp.

An ideal begginers instrument for someone (like myself) looking for that transition from mandolin to something a bit different. It add something different to your overall sound and in a band setting is brilliant.

The only downside I had was the strings, very poor quality and when it came to tuning up the ones on the instrument just snapped, so would advise getting an additional set of better strings.

Well packaged and shipped well within the time scale, I will try and get some footage up on my band website for any potential buyers to make their own judgement. www.acornroots.co.uk

I ordered this Mandolin with a bit doubt that it won't be that good or it will have some production faults. I'm so glad that I was wrong.

For guitar (and ukulele) players like myself, this instrument is a great addition to my gears, and it took me one hour of playing to play my usual guitar licks that I know. in fact it is my best instrument I ever bought after my Harley Benton guitar (CLD-1048SCE NS).

As for the look, this Mandolin has a nice slight flaming back (the images provided by Thomann doesn't show this beauty), and I don't mind the design of the sound hole. And for the neck, its so comfy and has excellent nut width spacing. Also no fret buzzing or sharp fret edges!! The mandolin weight is light as well, which is a surprise to me. The Mandolin's tuner head is immaculate too.

The sound of this Mandolin is amazing. Bright and clear tone with sustain that keeps going for a long time. I have to say that I haven't put it on an amplifier yet.

An excellent instrument for a surprisingly low price in not something you would see every day. Totally recommend it ;)