{"items": [{"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/618293402942?comment_id=618295274192", "anchor": "fb-618295274192", "service": "fb", "text": "You need to show some photos of this. It works great, and looks interesting, but useful.", "timestamp": "1372555015"}, {"author": "Hollis", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/618293402942?comment_id=618295364012", "anchor": "fb-618295364012", "service": "fb", "text": "I am intrigued, and coincidentally, have been thinking of learning mandolin. Any recommendations for how to start, what to buy, and how to learn?", "timestamp": "1372555068"}, {"author": "Jeff&nbsp;Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/618293402942?comment_id=618295458822", "anchor": "fb-618295458822", "service": "fb", "text": "@Hollis: you want to get one that lets you pluck at each position without buzzing, being out of tune, or needing to push too hard.  I have one I lend out to people learning, but it's only been out for about a month so far so it's not ready.  I learned by playing around with it.", "timestamp": "1372555172"}, {"author": "Hollis", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/618293402942?comment_id=618299490742", "anchor": "fb-618299490742", "service": "fb", "text": "The recommendation I got from a local luthier was a Rover RM-75, which you can hear here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrVojCKjkpE . It's in the $450 range, and he said \"it's a solid instrument with excellent playability and good tone, and you have to spend a lot more to get one that's a lot better\". This from a guy who makes $8000-50,000 mandolins and guitars. <br><br>I haven't heard one yet, and would obviously try before buying since I think there's something to the synergy effect of the instrument that just leaps into your hands.", "timestamp": "1372557065"}, {"author": "Jeff&nbsp;Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/618293402942?comment_id=618299710302", "anchor": "fb-618299710302", "service": "fb", "text": "@Hollis: I learned on an MAM-200, playing it for dances etc until March when I got a Collings MT.  http://morganmonroe.com/.../MORGAN-MONROE-MAM-200-C-A...   You can get them for about $300.", "timestamp": "1372557184"}, {"author": "Karen", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/618293402942?comment_id=618311416842", "anchor": "fb-618311416842", "service": "fb", "text": "You KNOW you want one!  ; )", "timestamp": "1372565864"}]}