moosers
Published on 01/29/10 at 20:24
The Hondo HM6N Mandolin is an inexpensive mandolin and is one that is pretty hard to track down. I'm not sure where exactly the instrument was made, but I know it is either from Korea or China. The mandolin isn't acoustic/electric, so it doesn't have any pick ups or setting controls.
UTILIZATION
Playing the Hondo HM6N Mandolin actually isn't too bad. While it doesn't play like a top tier mandolin will, I wasn't expecting it to at all. This being said, this is more than playable as I actually find it pretty easy to play overall. The weight is quite light and the overall shape and design is pretty standard for a mandolin, although the top of the body is a bit more rounded off than most. Getting a nice sound isn't to hard, but the only thing that you have to control the sound if you don't like it is your playing!
SOUNDS
I found that the sound of the Hondo HM6N Mandolin is good enough for what I do with it for sure. I've actually done a good amount of recording with the instrument as well as have used it for live shows. While it hasn't been my first choice to record with, when I don't have anything else available, I find that it gets the job done for me. It doesn't have the fullest tone out there, or even the cleanest, but it definitely doesn't sound bad at all and will be fine for those of us who aren't pros with the mandolin and are somewhat beginners with the instrument.
OVERALL OPINION
Other than the one that I purchased, I haven't seen too many Hondo HM6N Mandolins out there. I have maybe seen one or two of them on eBay, but this isn't the type of instrument that you seek out, rather you'll run into it as I did when I found it in a local music shop. As far as cheap mandolins go, I've found this to one of the better ones out there that I have tried, as I find it easy to play and to have a good enough sound quality for what I'm doing with it. There are plenty of options out there for an entry level mandolin besides this one, so if you can't find this one as I don't think that you'll be able to, there are definitely other options out there from the likes of Fender and other brands...
UTILIZATION
Playing the Hondo HM6N Mandolin actually isn't too bad. While it doesn't play like a top tier mandolin will, I wasn't expecting it to at all. This being said, this is more than playable as I actually find it pretty easy to play overall. The weight is quite light and the overall shape and design is pretty standard for a mandolin, although the top of the body is a bit more rounded off than most. Getting a nice sound isn't to hard, but the only thing that you have to control the sound if you don't like it is your playing!
SOUNDS
I found that the sound of the Hondo HM6N Mandolin is good enough for what I do with it for sure. I've actually done a good amount of recording with the instrument as well as have used it for live shows. While it hasn't been my first choice to record with, when I don't have anything else available, I find that it gets the job done for me. It doesn't have the fullest tone out there, or even the cleanest, but it definitely doesn't sound bad at all and will be fine for those of us who aren't pros with the mandolin and are somewhat beginners with the instrument.
OVERALL OPINION
Other than the one that I purchased, I haven't seen too many Hondo HM6N Mandolins out there. I have maybe seen one or two of them on eBay, but this isn't the type of instrument that you seek out, rather you'll run into it as I did when I found it in a local music shop. As far as cheap mandolins go, I've found this to one of the better ones out there that I have tried, as I find it easy to play and to have a good enough sound quality for what I'm doing with it. There are plenty of options out there for an entry level mandolin besides this one, so if you can't find this one as I don't think that you'll be able to, there are definitely other options out there from the likes of Fender and other brands...