The Loar’s hand-carved LM-520 F-model mandolin is a great-sounding, pro-style mandolin, featuring a hand-carved, fully graduated spruce top, hand-carved maple back, and solid maple sides. Single-ply binding and simple, chrome-plated hardware offer a handsome look without over-the-top appointments.
The maple neck has a comfortable rounded-V profile, finished with a bound padauk fretboard. The compensated adjustable ebony bridge and vintage-style Grover tuning machines provide stable tuning, even during long sessions.
For players who want a high-quality, great-sounding hand-carved mandolin, but don’t need all of the bells and whistles, the LM-520 delivers authentic design with high-end tone, chop, and projection—all in a handsome, affordable instrument.
Why We Like The Loar
Loar mandolins work. They’re made well, have a traditional look, use solid wood, and feature hand-carved tops. They sound very good (especially for new instruments), offering a viable alternative to astronomically priced vintage models. Because they offer a quality instrument at a fair value, mandolins from The Loar get our approval.
Features
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Top: Solid hand-carved spruce
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Back/sides: Solid hand-carved maple
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Finish: Gloss Vintage Sunburst
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Neck: Maple with rounded V profile
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Fretboard: Bound Padauk, 29 frets
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Inlays: Mother-of-pearl logo and dots
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Binding: Ivoroid on top, back, and fretboard
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Bridge: Compensated adjustable ebony
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Nut: 1 1/8” bone
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Scale length: 13 3/4”
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Tuners: Grover with pearloid buttons
