AudioFu

Best Mandolins Under $200 2025

Affordable mandolins under $200 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Bluegrass For Folk For Celtic For Classical For Country For Traditional Music
BRANDS: Harley Benton Ortega Ibanez Richwood Gold Tone Gewa
Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS

by Harley Benton
Classical Traditional Music Folk
Key Feature:
• Compact, portable size
✓ PROS
  • • Great for melody and rhythm
  • • Versatile across many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Requires specific playing technique
  • • Needs frequent tuning

Harley Benton HBMA-100 VSMandolinBluegrass SeriesBody shape: F-Style Florentine styleTop: SpruceBody: BasswoodNeck:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 196658
$164
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Classical Folk Traditional Music
Key Feature:
• Compact, portable size
✓ PROS
  • • Bright, cutting high-end tone
  • • Great for melody and rhythm
✗ CONS
  • • Limited low-end frequency range
  • • Needs frequent tuning

Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HBMA-100 VS*Mandolin*Bluegrass SeriesBody...

⭐ 4.7/5 (19 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 539232
$176
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton MA-500 VS Bluegrass Series - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Harley Benton MA-500 VS Bluegrass Series

by Harley Benton
Traditional Music Classical Folk
Key Feature:
• Essential bluegrass instrument
✓ PROS
  • • Essential bluegrass instrument
  • • Bright, cutting high-end tone
✗ CONS
  • • Small size may be challenging
  • • Requires specific playing technique

Harley Benton MA-500 vintage sunburstElectric MandolinBody: BasswoodNeck: MapleNeck attachment: Bolt-onFretboard:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (41 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 220549
$131
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline VS w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline VS w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Bluegrass Country Classical
Key Feature:
• Compact, portable size
✓ PROS
  • • Essential bluegrass instrument
  • • Bright, cutting high-end tone
✗ CONS
  • • Needs frequent tuning
  • • Limited low-end frequency range

Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline VS w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline VS*Electric...

⭐ 4.7/5 (37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 539038
$109
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ortega RMA30-WB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Ortega RMA30-WB

by Ortega
Celtic Bluegrass Country
Key Feature:
• Bright, cutting high-end tone
✓ PROS
  • • Great for melody and rhythm
  • • Compact, portable size
✗ CONS
  • • Small size may be challenging
  • • String tension can be high

Ortega RMA30-WBMandolinStyle: A-StyleBody depth: 50 mmTop: SpruceBack and sides: MapleNeck: MapleFingerboard:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 556943
$196
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline BK w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline BK w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Folk Bluegrass Country
Key Feature:
• Bright, cutting high-end tone
✓ PROS
  • • Bright, cutting high-end tone
  • • Great for melody and rhythm
✗ CONS
  • • String tension can be high
  • • Limited low-end frequency range

Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline BK w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HBMA-50E Mandoline BK*Electric...

⭐ 4.9/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 539039
$109
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Mandolins

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced mandolins typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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