The Loar LM590-MS F-Style Mandolin

Classic F-styling, simple, clean trim, and a thin satin finish make the hand-carved Loar LM590MS mandolin an exceptional value. The top is solid, hand-carved spruce; the back and sides are solid maple.

The look from the vintage-style finish is scaled down while the sound is bright and punchy—like you’d expect from a quality, solid-wood instrument. We love the thin satin finish and single-ply ivoroid trim. For the investment, this one’s hard to beat.

Why We Like Loar Mandolins

It takes audacity to name an import line after one of America’s great music innovators. But The Loar company is making excellent, accessible instruments that pay homage to designer Lloyd Loar’s Gibson-era legacy—and as bold as that might seem, they’re producing some outstanding instruments for the money.

Loar mandolins work. They’re made well and have a traditional look. They use solid wood and hand-carved tops, and 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.

Details

• Top: Solid Hand-Carved, Fully Graduated Spruce
• Back & Sides: Solid Hand-Carved, graduated Maple Back; Solid Maple sides
• Neck: Maple, rounded V-Profile; 2-way adjustable truss rod
• Fretboard: Rosewood; 20 frets
• Nut, Width: Bone, 1-1/8"
• Finish: Satin Tobacco Sunburst
• Tuning Machines: Grover, pearloid buttons
• Scale Length: 13 3/4"
• Binding: Ivory
• Bridge: Ebony (compensated adjustable)
• Width: 10"
• Depth: 2-1/2"
• Body Length: 12-3/4"
• Total Length: 27-1/4"