Hi, I am looking for a mandolin for my husband, he doesn't currently have one but plays lots of stringed instruments so this will be a nice addition. I only want to spend approx 300ish dollars and some of the mandolin and cheap ones leave me cold. I saw today what I am told is a 30 year old mandolin - Westminster - made in Japan only making is inside the hole a label that says model M700....thing it's the f style mandolin....does anyone know about these?

Failing that I am in a sea of brands - Kentucky, Ibanez, Eastman, Dean, Washburn...etc....in the bottom end range price wise are any of these brands ones to be wary of?

Appreciate any advice.

General rule in that price range is that you want to avoid the f-styles (with the scroll).   Many of the mandolins in that range are made of laminate instead of solid wood.

I would probably look for the lowest line of Eastman.  Not that I advocate them but http://www.giannaviolins.com/esmando/home.html is a good descrïption of the Eastman line.