Thomann Octave Mandolin M1087-P

Great starter octave mandolin

I've always wanted to get an octave mandolin but the high cost was delaying my purchase. I watched YouTube videos and read multiple reviews of this mandolin and decided to get one. So far I've been very happy with the sound and build quality. My only complaint is the tuners. They are very sloppy and makes tuning a hassle. They would be better to raise the price and put better tuners on it. I'll likely replace the tuners in the future. That being said, I'd recommend this to anyone starting out on an octave mandolin.

Octave mandolin

Im studying celtic banjo. As its the same fingering ,its less harsh and gives a very melodic sound.

Arrived today. Very well put together. I chose the version with the eq.

Needed a set up. I took some material off the bridge and had to do a minor adjustment on the Truss rod. Also oiled the fingerboard which was very dry.

All in all i am really please with the instrument out of the box, you wont find better for the money.

Also comes with a half decent gig bag.

My advice is get the eq version. Its easier to set up.

Cheers

Paul W

Good Beginner / Student grade 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.

Great for beginners

You get a great instrument for the price. Although you can see that the finish is not on the high end, the mandolin has a nice tone with a clean sound. I wasn't expecting a lot from the pickup, but the sound quality really surprised me. I would recommend it.

Very nice - my first mando

I'm no expert but this seems like a well-built instrument. I like the sound acoustically and plugged in. Adjusting the onboard EQ makes big tonal changes. A few minor finish details aren't perfect but at his price it's expected. I like it!

I didn't know such an instrument existed

But boy, am I glad it does! It gives you a different spin on stringed instruments, doesn't really sound like anything, yet it fits so nicely in every mix. Did I mention the wonderful build quality? If it broke, I would buy the same again.

Better than expected

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.

After a year on my hands, nothing to complain.

I find this instrument a good value for the price. I enjoy the mandolin. No being a professional of the mandolin neither being this my main instrument, I cannot say anything bad about. Beautiful, easy to play, more or less stable on the tuning and looks really nice. The pre-amp could have held a tuner. That said! very good instrument indeed.

Well pleased but beware!

A well made instrument for the price. In the UK this mandolin is available under another brand for a lot more money. The 3 band EQ works well and the finish generally is very good. However the quality of the workmanship on the neck was poor; the frets required a dressing and were uneven in places to the point where the mandolin was only just playable. If you buy this mandolin then you should definitely allow for a set-up by a good luthier/guitar tech at a cost of about £35, change the strings as well at the same time. So overall worth buying but allow for some more cost to make it enjoyable to play.

Incredible value.

For the price there is nothing to fault in this instrument. It is at lest as good as the ozark and ashbury models available in the uk for well over twice the price plus you get a very serviceable pickup and gig bag for your money. Thoroughly recommended.