Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.Performer Series F-Style Mandolin The hand-carved LM-520 F-model mandolin is our response to players' requests for a great-sounding, high-value mandolin with low key appointments. The LM-520 is carefully assembled in the same hand-carved workshop that gave birth the the LM-400 and LM-700, and has a similar hand-carved, fully graduated spruce top. The solid maple back is also hand-carved, and the solid maple sides complete the all-solid package. Quality Construction The maple neck has a comfortable rounded "V" profile finished with a rosewood fretboard. The compensated adjustable ebony bridge and high quality vintage-style Grover tuning machines insure that these mandolins have great intonation and stay in tune no matter how hard they are played. For players who prefer a more streamlined look, the LM-520 has a single layer of ivoroid binding. Minimally Appointed Perfect for players who want a high-quality, great-sounding hand-carved mandolin but don't need all of the bells and whistles, these minimally appointed instruments deliver the high-end tone, chop and projection mandolin players have come to expect from The Loar. About The Loar Inspired by the pioneering designs of the Golden Age, guitars and mandolins by The Loar combine expert craftsmanship and classic designs with upgraded features to appeal to today's players. From premium hand-carved tonewoods to original inlay detailing, each instrument is made for the best sound, playability and timeless beauty. The Loar pays homage to instruments from the 1920's and 30's, an age of outstanding craftsmanship and innovative design. We revive this tradition in order to bring you some of the best-sounding, most beautifully crafted instruments available today.
Dwayne Anderson
2025-08-17 12:33:10
I have to say that I'm absolutely amazed at the quality packed into this mandolin! The finish is beautiful, the tone is clear and it appears to be really well crafted. I am primarily a guitarist and so didn't want to sink a fortune in a mandolin, but also realize that quality instruments are difficult to find if your price range is too low. The Loar LM-520 appealed to me on the basis of being solid wood, hand-carved, and still under $500. There are fancier mandolins out there, but I have always been one to admire the beauty of simplicity. For the money, I do not believe you can beat this mandolin!
Ben
2025-07-31 14:18:30
I bought this, and returned it the same day it arrived. It sounds excellent, and feels well, but the craftsmanship was poor in some places. Under the neck near where it's attached to the body was finished horribly. Not the type of quality I look for in a $550 mandolin
Andy P3000
2025-07-29 11:42:56
Cons -Out of the box, the action was very high, which caused intonation issues.The bridge, even when adjusted as low as possible, still didn't allow action to be as low as it could be.The neck had too much relief as well, although easily adjustable with the truss rod.Setting the fretboard dead flat, frets 8-14 were noticeably low.Highest frets are useless. Hence their removal. Best to just get them out of the way.Fixes -After a fret level, recrown, and polish, Action was pretty good with no truss rod adjustments.Fretboard was dry. Lemon oil was needed.With proper neck relief, action could be lower, but the bridge doesn't allow it.Some careful sanding of the bridge in order to make it thinner should take care of that.Pros-It sounds very nice.Fit and finish is a solid BFinish was clear and nearly flawlessBottom Line-After the fixes, the mando plays great and sounds great as well. Just be aware that to get the most out of it, some extra steps and TLC will probably be needed.
TJ
2025-07-20 12:34:21
I firstly bought LM-310 for my first experience mandolin, and M-310 is very nice for beginner player. I bought LM-520 for my second one and I am really satisfied with LM-520 that's more than LM-310 even that's very good starting mando.Of course LM-520 is more expensive than LM-310 though the productivity of sounding with very well hand crafted level is perfect to meet with its pricing. I am enjoying two the Loar mandolins and can recommend them if you are interested in the beginners' instrument.
WesP
2025-05-07 13:18:50
First of all, I would consider myself a very small step above a beginner mando player. I started learning on a basic, Epiphone model. Most, if not all players way above my talent level suggested that I make a change over to this Loar. If you keep in mind that this is pretty much considered a lower end/cost mandolin, then you will be pleasantly surprised. It plays well, much better than the Epiphone I had. In addition, the sound is crisper and richer. In short, I can sit for hours just plinking around on this. Something I never did with my last one.
John Miller
2025-04-21 20:56:01
I wasn't really interested in bluegrass when I bought this, but it is a really is an inspiring instrument. I bought this because I was playing in a band with several other guitarist. I kept capoing up around the 12th fret to get out of their range. I was looking for a short-scaled guitar that was tuned an octave higher when I realized, "hey, they make those, they are called mandolins!" It really is a lot of fun and coming from guitar, it makes sense. Yes, it is tuned differently, but I think that is also a benefit when trying to get out of guitar territory. My only real complaint is that is doesn't have a pickup, but you will be hard pressed to find a mandolin with a pickup in this price range. I ended up micing it to cut through the drums and bass.The fit and finish are nice. It could be better. I have a Taylor 810ce and this is definitely not as nice, but then again the Taylor costs six times more. The finish inside the scroll is a bit rough, but it's only noticeable when you are looking in there close up. Also some of the binding isn't perfect. It's still a beautiful instrument, but it does have flaws. It's what I would expect in this price range.The playability is nice. I didn't really have the luxury to shop around a play a lot of different mandolins. I settled on this one based on reviews and I am not disappointed. I don't have a lot to compare it to. I had a super cheap Johnson that I was practicing on until I bought this one. It was terrible. My philosophy was to build calluses with a horrible setup so I'd be prepared to play this. Compared to that, this mandolin is a dream.
V. K. Morris
2025-02-22 17:25:33
This mandolin's strings at the nut were not playable. It would have cost my several hundred to be made playable, mandolin returned!
Kindle Customer
2024-12-21 12:09:51
Home use for pleasure. Set-up not finished. Needed adjustments.
Recommended Products
