Loar LM 500 vs 600

[Delaware]

Sorry to post yet another thread and you all have been very generous in your responses. Thank you. Since a 600 with a CA bridge is at the very upper limit of my budget, I was looking at the Loar 500 with the CA bridge which is $150 cheaper. I have read threads here saying the redesigned 500 is a stripped down 600 and others saying they are an entirely different instrument and it's more a hotrodded 520.
Can you give any impressions of the 500? For an intermediate player, is there such a difference?

[Bob Bass]

Hi Delaware-

Robert Fear of Folkmusician is one of "The Loar"s most experienced dealers, wouid be most likely to be able to tell you the actual differences and status of the "re-designed" LM 500, and he or someone on his staff might also even be able to A/B the 500 & 600 instruments over the telephone for you.

Robert Fear's experience and knowledge with these instruments far outweigh the "small sample size" of my experience of the "re-designed" LM 500 about a year ago. I played one for about 15 minutes at a local dealer and was pleasantly surprised at how close to the LM 600 it was in tone. There was no 600 on hand to A/B with, though. From previous experience briefly playing all The Loar models at the Anaheim NAMM show in 2011 and 2012, and reference to their catalog, the 500 I played last year was the next step down from the 600, and indeed a step up from the earlier 520 and 590. Appointment-wise and cosmetically it was also a step up from the 520 and 590.

Some other folks here may have more background on this subject than I do.

[DataNick]

These threads should give you the info you're looking for:

Loar lm500 vs Loar lm600 (https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Loar+lm+500+vs+Loar+lm+600+site:mandolincafe.c om)

[Delaware]

Thanks. The one thread is great but most of the Loar 500 threads are from before the model change in 2011. Appreciate it