I purchased this combo since I'm a beginner and wanted something simple. When I took the 2 instruments to get them tuned (half the strings were so loose they were falling off of the pegs!), the strings snapped away from the bottom of the instrument. So now I have to buy new strings before I can even try to learn guitar or mandolin.

Overall, both instruments are of very poor quality! You'd be better off either saving up for a Fender or Epiphone, or just go to Toys R Us and get a toy guitar. Definitely not worth it. They're only good for wall art.

So, my friend and I went 50/50 on this because he wanted a guitar and I wanted a mandolin. I play guitar and just started with the mandolin. Now, I'm only a beginner, so I'm probably a lot more impressed with this than I should be, but the mandolin fulfilled everything I thought it should! It plays really great, the strings probably will be replaced but I am very satisfied...my friend is happy with the guitar as well. Don't pass this up, seriously, such great value. If you're an avid mandolin player or guitarist, look elsewhere, don't complain about this. This is a wonderful deal for beginners or even mid-level players.

I purchased this combo with low expectations of playability. I was not dissapointed. Neither instrument is playable. So i thought maybe i could use them as static wall displays but after examination of the finishes i realized that was impossible also due to the treeible finishes on these things. So i gave some thought as what to do with them when i realized that they would make good flower planters if filled with potting soil!! I now own two musical flower planters!!! Well live and learn!!!

ok when i got this package i was a beginner, about a year ago.

guitar the low e buzzed about halfway down (11th fret) buzzed wasn't a problem, but then i got started to get more experianced. i noticed the buzz a lot more. so, i took it to my local music store and found out it had a loose brace inside (probably) because the glue hadn't been let to cure properly

Mandolin i don't really play mandolin,but i got a book and tuned it, it sounded fine to me. overall this was CRAP but, you got what you payed for (a really expensive headache) i wish i had spent more money on some other acoustic wich really WORKED right out of the box like you expect an acoustic to.

just put your money into a more expensive and better guitar

I was totally surprised by the value for the money of these instruments. Of course you're not getting a high dollar instrument but the guitar is extememely playable with D'Addario strings and a nice low action. I got one of these for a friend a few years ago and had to tweak it a little, addd better strings, lower the bridge. But now they have done all that for you and you get a very playable instrument. The mandolin is equally a good value for the money. I am really impressed with what I got.