And once you strum a chord or two, you’ll have the attention of everyone in earshot. Beauty is subjective, but this instrument will be an eye-catcher wherever you bring it. This mandolin comes with a custom hardshell case, so you can store and travel with it safely. And even then, you might actually prefer to play directly into a microphone, remaining unencumbered by an instrument cord and amplifier connection. But, with this mandolin, you won’t need to think much about driving your sound electronically unless you’re playing in a rock band. If you want, you can also order this instrument with an optional pickup for playing through an amplifier. Rather than the dull resonance of plastic, bone nuts are full of warm sustain and add to the power and resonance of this instrument. The finishing touch that puts this mandolin over the top is its authentic bone nut at the head end of the neck. You will have to regularly oil it, though. And, since it isn’t sealed, your fingers play right on the wood, not on some kind of coating. That richness translates into room-filling sound without being overly jangly like some less resonant, cheaper mandolins.Įbony is a bit of a step up from rosewood as a fingerboard material, both in quality and price. Mandolins need resonance, and his example from Eastman stands out from the pack, featuring an ebony fingerboard and bridge for outstanding tone, particularly in the middle and bass frequencies. Still, they are well-regarded as a premium maker or mandolins, as well as guitars and wind instruments. The Eastman company isn’t as old as some of the biggest names in instrument manufacturing. This mandolin is perfect for players who don’t mind paying a bit more for the very best. This video shows the process of changing the tuners on a guitar, which is very similar to how it would look on a mandolin: You don’t have to be an experienced, expert luthier to change the tuners if you desire. But for professional players or those who prefer extremely precise tuning, a quick upgrade could be desirable.ĭon’t worry, though. At this mandolin’s price point, the included tuners are more than adequate. A new set only costs a few dollars.Īnd speaking of minor modifications, the tuners on this Ibanez model could be a bit better at getting and keeping tone. So, don’t be surprised if you decide to upgrade the strings. Different players like their mandolins set up differently, and everyone has preferred strings. If there is a bit of a knock on this mandolin, it’s that its out-of-the-box strings could stand for replacement, but that is fairly common with any new instrument. Playing this mandolin is easy, thanks to its simple wide frets and simple fret inlays that make navigating the fretboard easy and quick, even for a novice. Plus, you can see inside the instrument and locate its manufacturer stamp and seal with the instrument’s unique information. The instrument’s arched top has ornate f-holes cut through it for richer sounds and more sustain. This 8-string mandolin features premium materials, including a rosewood fingerboard, an adjustable bridge, Pearloid tuners, and gold hardware accents. It’s available at a very reasonable price point, though it looks and feels like it could cost two or three times more than it does. And, you won’t need to break the bank to get one into your hands either. If you’re looking for a well-made mandolin from a top name in stringed instrument manufacturing, you don’t have to look any further than the M522S from Ibanez.
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