Best Professional Mandolin
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A mandolin is a string instrument that has been around for ages and has been utilized by countless musicians over the years. Noting the instrument for its unique sound and interesting take it adds to the world of music.
This article is going to take an in-depth look at seven different mandolins. Going over aspects such as how they play, how they sound, their build quality, and the reputation surrounding the product.
To understand the key differences between mandolins, it’s important to know the buyer’s guide pertaining to the information.
For example, there are different body styles for the instrument. The body styles vary from being an A-style to an F-style, and to a bowl-backed style. Each body offers a different comfort, sound, and much more from one another.
What are the Best Professional Mandolin?
2) Kentucky KM-150 Standard A-model Mandolin - Sunburst
- Solid Alpine maple back and sides
- Slim Alpine maple neck for comfortable
- High-gloss sunburst finish
1) Ibanez M510DVS Mandolin, Dark Violin Sunburst
- Select spruce top
- Mahogany back & sides
- Chrome hardware
- Pearl Dot Inlay
3) Ibanez M522SBS F-Style Mandolin, Brown Sunburst High Gloss
- Flamed Maple Back and Sides
- Solid Spruce Top
- Gold Die-Cast Tuners w/ Pearloid Knobs
Other information to note is the differences in the wood. Similar to the body style, the wood plays a huge factor in how any instrument sounds. For mandolins, the all-around best kind of wood for its sound is spruce. However, this doesn’t mean that all other kinds of wood isn’t worth using. It all depends on what the manufacturer does with that specific wood.
Another important factor to know is whether a mandolin is acoustic or electric. The main difference between the two is the sound it can give. For people who want to play alone at home, then an acoustic mandolin will work perfectly. Whereas people who want to play live or with others should utilize an electric mandolin.
7 Best Professional Mandolin Reviews
The reviews below will help buyers decide on which mandolin is best for them.
1) Ibanez M510DVS Mandolin, Dark Violin Sunburst
The M510DVS is an A-style mandolin with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Making it built out of the usual wood most mandolins are made out of.
Buyers have noted the build-quality of the mandolin as being good and it plays surprisingly well. Although more geared towards beginners, experts can certainly find a use out of this mandolin.
One of the interesting aspects of the instrument is the pearl-dot inlay. Making it easy and geared for musicians to be able to play throughout the neck at ease.
Overall, musicians of all-kinds will certainly check this specific mandolin because of its affordability and what it offers to the world of music.
2) Kentucky KM-150 Standard A-model Mandolin - Sunburst
Kentucky is a reputable company when it comes to mandolins and the KM-150 is noted from buyers as being a very solid instrument.
It’s an A-style mandolin that is built with a German spruce top, a solid alpine maple back, and a solid alpine neck.
As for the fingerboard, the tonewood allows players to slide and play comfortability on the instrument. Something that is key for an instrument to be highly regarded.
The instrument itself has a unique sound to it which makes it very distinguishable from the typical mandolin.
Beginners and experts alike will find this to be a very useful and solid instrument to purchase. Some may find the product to not suite their needs, but it’s certainly with a try.
All in all, it’s another solid mandolin just like the other ones on this list.
3) Ibanez M522SBS F-Style Mandolin, Brown Sunburst High Gloss
Ibanez has been known over the years as one of the top manufacturers for musical instruments; including mandolins.
The Ibanez M522SBS is an F-style mandolin that is essentially what you pay for. Meaning if someone is a beginner, this is certainly the instrument to go with. However, experts may want to go with something else, but nonetheless, it’s a good mandolin either way.
For what it’s made out of, its a solid spruce top with a mahogany neck, making it have a very distinguishable sound.
Buyers have noted that players will find the instrument to be built well and have a great playing ability attached to it.
4) The Loar LM-520-VS Performer F-Style Mandolin
The Loar prides itself on dedicating its expertise in creating instruments that are heavily influenced by instruments of the 1920s and 1930s. This influence is obviously noted with this specific mandolin.
If someone is in love with the throwback aesthetic of the mandolin, then they’ll certainly love this specific design of one. However, if someone is more in favor of modern instruments, then this certainly isn’t the one for them.
Nonetheless, The Loar LM-520 is an F-Style mandolin that is built well, sounds great, and is built from spruce with a rosewood fretboard. Since the mandolin is handcrafted, customers may come across a few minor issues with the instrument depending on the order.
However, this is expected with hand-crafted instruments, and if everything is in working order, then it’s a great instrument.
5) The Loar LM-310F-BRB Honey Creek F-Style Mandolin
The Loar has a certain throwback vibe to their instruments and there’s a huge appeal to those who love this type of design.
Whereas others who aren’t a fan of this design may be turned off by it. Nonetheless, The Loar LM-310F is an F-style mandolin with a spruce top and a maple neck. Making it a high-quality instrument that’ll last a great deal for any musician.
The company itself is known for its hand craftsmanship and it certainly shows with this instrument. However, with any hand craftsmanship comes with errors on occasion, but this shouldn’t be too big of an issue.
The finish has a dark appeal to it and has a very dark tone to it. However, the sound isn’t dull in any way despite what the instrument might appear as.
All in all, beginners and experts alike will be able to utilize this mandolin to the best of their ability.
6) Kentucky KM-270 Artist Oval Hole A-Style Mandolin - Sunburst
Kentucky has had a very solid reputation when it comes to the world of mandolins, and in this case, it’s no different. The Kentucky KM-270 is made out of spruce wood which means it built out of the standard for wood.
The build quality is noted by buyers as being top-notch and won’t disappoint any musician with how it performs. There aren’t any random dead notes, neck buzz, or anything infuriating for that matter.
As for the body, it’s an A-style body that works how it should. The overall aesthetic of the instrument looks nice, but it may turn some people off if they’re not in love with the design.
For beginners, this is a very solid mandolin and won’t disappoint for people wanting to try this instrument out. As for experts, it’s certainly not one of the highest-end builds of mandolins, but it might be worth checking out to have another mandolin in someone’s arsenal.
7) Eastman MD504 A-Style Sunburst Finish Mandolin with Case
Of the mandolins on this list, the Eastman MD504 is one of the highest quality instruments on it. It’s an A-style mandolin that features a sunburst finish.
If a player is a fan of a sunburst finish, they’ll certainly love this one.
It’s made out of carved solid spruce and carved solid maple. Making it top-notch with the wood it’s made out of.
As for how it sounds, many have deemed it as being big soundwise and having a unique take with it. Making it a very appealing mandolin for just about any purpose.
All in all, experts will love this mandolin for what it offers and how it plays. Beginners may be turned off by its affordability, but it’ll certainly be a high-end mandolin for either scenario.
Choosing the Best Professional Mandolin
This is the end of the reviews for seven different mandolins. Hopefully, by now, people who have read this article have decided on which of the mandolins is best for them. While going over aspects such as build quality, the manufacturer, design, and much more.
2) Kentucky KM-150 Standard A-model Mandolin - Sunburst
- Solid Alpine maple back and sides
- Slim Alpine maple neck for comfortable
- High-gloss sunburst finish
1) Ibanez M510DVS Mandolin, Dark Violin Sunburst
- Select spruce top
- Mahogany back & sides
- Chrome hardware
- Pearl Dot Inlay
3) Ibanez M522SBS F-Style Mandolin, Brown Sunburst High Gloss
- Flamed Maple Back and Sides
- Solid Spruce Top
- Gold Die-Cast Tuners w/ Pearloid Knobs
At the very least, people are now more knowledgeable to information pertaining to the instrument.
To refresh their memory, here’s a recap of the buyer’s guide for mandolins. As noted, the body styles vary from being an A-style to an F-style, and to a bowl-backed style.
The article also went over the different kinds of wood for mandolins. Highlighting spruce as one of the most popular options for the instrument.
Other than those factors, the article noted the difference between an acoustic and electric mandolin. Noting how for people who want to play alone at home, an acoustic mandolin is great for this scenario. Whereas people who want to play live or with others should utilize an electric mandolin.
All in all, musicians alike should check out the variety of mandolins available in the world and see which one is perfect for them.