Thinking about something different

[GrandmaShreds]

I have a love for bluegrass music and I've been playing and learning bluegrass on my acoustic and it has me thinking, it would be cool to break into something different like either a mandolin or a banjo and I'm torn between which one. I could get both eventually but I want to break the ice into a new instrument with something a little easier to handle which has me leaning towards a mandolin. Ibanez makes a decent entry level one with a solid spruce top.
Ibanez Mandolin

 

[GrooVey]

Definitely a looker. I’ve liked every Ibanez guitar I’ve had. They make good stuff.

 

[soulman]

Shredding on a mandolin would be unique.

On a banjo? Not so much.

 

[Chloedogsdad]

Mandolin was the first non-guitar instrument I learned, and I still play on occasion. In my opinion, a mandolin is a bit more versatile than banjo (unless you're Bela Fleck...), I like the sound of them much better as well. I've had "A", "F" and flat-top mandolins, as well as open-back and resonator banjos- in four and five string versions and various ukes over the years, and my 70's harmony flat-top mandolin is my favorite non-guitar to play, it just sounds so sweet and plays so easy.
Everything is fun, but mandolin is my fav.

 

[3bolt79]

I’d like to get a Banjo. I watch a lot of Tom T. Hall and Roy Clark videos.