I'm not an expert mandolin player, but I can't imagine you would be if you were buying this. That being said, it is a LOT of fun and creates a really beautiful sound. With its doubled strings and small body it has a natural resonance to it that goes far beyond what you'd expect from such a small teardrop body. My only point to note is how much I wish I'd paid a little extra and gotten the identical mandolin with the pre-installed pickups for live performances/recording.
Overall, great value for the sound and an interesting bit of kit if you like exploring unique instruments!