Korwen posted:

Yeah at this price range you're looking for a used Rogue or something like that, likely to find it on Craigslist. No guarantee that it'll be well set up or playable, but if $40 or so is your budget then it doesn't leave a ton of options. For what it's worth, I've seen success stories over on MandolinCafe about people who buy cheapie Rogue mandolins and give them a good once over themselves using a setup guide and get a pretty playable instrument out of it.

Outside of those, you're looking at stepping up to a Kentucky or Eastman, and you'd do well to find a used KM-150 for $200-250 or so.