![]() ![]() Pearl dot inlays populate the silky smooth ebony fingerboard, while an exquisite fern adorns the over-sized peghead. ![]() The top is spruce, while the back, sides and neck are finest figured maple, all traced by a vintage-style binding. It’s an immensely skilful job, the luthiers are quite literally liberating tone from a block of wood. While some of the cheaper mandolins in this guide will use thin sheets of heat pressed timber, or laminate, the Gibson is carved to extremely fine tolerances. Much of your money, and this is what makes the F-5L a standout instrument, will be invested in the expertly hand carved top and back. The F-5L - the L is a nod to Lloyd - is handcrafted in limited quantities by a small team of skilled Gibson luthiers. An utterly faithful recreation of a Lloyd Loar crafted 1920s Gibson mandolin, it’s a breathtaking instrument with a breathtaking number printed on its price tag. Gibson’s F-5L represents the pinnacle of US archtop mandolin manufacture. It can be amplified via the thoroughly modern inbuilt Fishman Implant Mandolin Pickup system. Other nice-to-have features include the pretty snowflake inlays, aged white binding, bone nut and open-gear tuners with pearloid buttons.īracing is the traditional parallel tone bar type, befitting the PM-180E’s vintage vibe. Both are laminated, to keep costs reasonable, yet Fender has also specced a decent length of maple for the neck, together with a lovely slab of walnut for the fingerboard. It’s an A-style mandolin built with the time-proven combination of spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The PM-180E is part of Fender’s Paramount Bluegrass Series, a range of instruments designed to look suitably retro, but with plenty of modern appointments. ![]() Fender has been manufacturing mandolins for decades, so it knows a thing or two about getting great tone from these little instruments, even at this price point. Here’s a feature-rich mandolin that won’t break the bank. Lacks the tonal character of more expensive models Tone is clean but never piercing, there’s a richness and warmth to the LM-700’s tone, no doubt helped by the graduated, braceless top and ultra-thin poly finish.Īll in all, this is a superbly made mid-level instrument that sounds as fine as it looks. Tuning machines are gold Gotoh’s, the nut is genuine bone, the fingerboard ebony and the neck is flamed maple. The Abalone/mother of pearl inlays - especially the intricate Fleur on the headstock - are simply stunning, as is the ivoroid binding. Its AAA solid spruce top and solid flame maple back and sides are all hand-carved, which represents incredible value and adds a healthy wallop of tonal authenticity. It’s yet another retro-inspired instrument that takes its design cues from Lloyd’s work of the early decades of the 20th Century. Nevertheless, the company does produce some fine mandolins, the LM-700 being one of the best. Matt Takes you through a small selection of his personal favorites, offering insights and recommendations to help you make an informed choice.The somewhat cheekily named The Loar takes inspiration from visionary 1920’s Gibson craftsman Lloyd Loar, although there is no connection between the two companies or the late, great luthier. If you're a beginner looking for an electric guitar, this video is a must-watch. ![]()
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