Let's see some The Loar's 600 (or 700; 400...etc.)

[mandopaul]

I'll start with my The Loar 600. Back is very flamed, along with the neck / sides.

Very nice looking and sounding mandolin. Flame on back came out more in the natural sunlight. I am lucky to have it.

Now- lets see your Loar :grin:

http://i49.############/foj8r9.jpg

http://i48.############/28s7hgz.jpg

[billkilpatrick]

i'll post photos of mine tomorrow morning after everyone wakes up. the back of mine is more subdued with a darker border and i don't know if it's your photo or not but the sun burst finish on mine isn't quite as yellow. probably an impossibility but as soon as i got mine i wanted to find out the name of the person - persons - who made it and write them a thank you letter. i feel lucky to have mine as well.

[auburnboy]

Mine should arrive on Monday sometime. Got it from the Mandolin Store. I am pumped about it. Cannot wait to play it.

[mandopaul]

I think it is the direct sun & angle; it is not that yellow. What is the serial # on yours start with? I got 0904, then the last two is 71 with the 1 far away from the 7. Is this the number built?

Here is another angle without all the sun

http://i50.############/153sc8y.jpg

[billkilpatrick]

here's mine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7738680@N05/4695989338/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7738680@N05/4695354547/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7738680@N05/4695354665/

wood grain on top is very tight and as i said, the back is understated. not sure what the numbers signify - mine is 0807840041 with no spaces between the numbers.

at the moment i'm learning some new renaissance dance tunes, using my "plain jane" big muddy MO - modern tuners aside, looks pretty close to a plectrum lute - but this wonderful loar is my main man-dolin.

[Knucklehead]

Here's a LM-600 I picked up a few weeks back from Brian atThe Mandolin Store, who was very helpful. It's a great little F-5 for the money, I doubt you could find anything better. It's very well made, and is opening up nicely. One of the features I like about this mandolin is the neck thickness, it's a full rounded slight V shape and if you have large hands and get cramps from thin necks, this will be comfortable for you. There's no pickguard, and if you mount one you'll lose the warranty. The large Stew-Mac F style guard doesn't look right on it, doesn't compliment the cutaway curve, as far as I can see. I guess the alternative is to get one from Cumberland, or go without.

The choice of Gotoh tuners is good too; the only negative IMPO is the cheesy thin gauge tailpiece with etched logo.

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10012/normal_june42010_012.JPG
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10012/normal_june42010_013.JPG
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10012/normal_june42010_014.JPG

[Michael Eck]

I don't have any good close ups, but my 600 gets plenty of work. There are some front shots on the web.

www.jugstompers.com

and

http://lostradiorounders.com/links.html

[Fstpicker]

I don't have any good close ups, but my 600 gets plenty of work. There are some front shots on the web.

www.jugstompers.com

and

http://lostradiorounders.com/links.html

Love your websites and your groups!

Jeff

[Michael Eck]

Well, Jeff, thank you, sir!

And glad to have you subscribing to the Lost Radio Rounders Youtube channel.

We don't have a channel for Ramblin Jug Stompers but plenty of folks have put up videos (maybe too many!)

[Kevin Toepp]

Hello everyone!
I've been a long team reader, but this is my first posting. I've been playing a $100 mandolin on and off for almost twenty years and finally decided a little bit of an upgrade was in order.
The cafe was full of great advice that helped me narrow down the search, and Robert Fear at folkmusician.com helped me choose the Loar 600 (great guy, that Robert). I just ordered my custom strap from Bill Bailey (an equally great guy), who was also recommended by some of the cafe's members. Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I got the mando 3 days ago, and I begrudgingly took a break from playing it to write in and contribute some pictures. We haven't had any sun in Seattle since I got it (big surprise), so all but one photo had to be taken with a flash.

I really love this mandolin!
Kevin

[J.Albert]

Very nice mandolin, Kevin.

I was wondering if you might comment a bit on the _case_ that came with it (the one with the fabric cover and "The Loar" stenciled on the outside)?

Does it hold the instrument securely when closed, without too much movement inside?

The design harkens back to the [now gone] Modern "Supercases", albeit in a rectangular design.

Looks to be an alternative to the Travelite or Gator designs.

These can be found on ebay for pretty good prices....

- John

[Kevin Toepp]

Thanks, John,
I was a little sceptical when I heard "soft case," but Robert reassured me that it was substantial and probably better than a wood case in a drop scenario. It is pretty thick and sturdy, but I definitely want it on top of the instrument pile, away from the tailgate when it gets slammed shut. But I'd be like that no matter how good a case was. The madolin fits pretty snugly. Not having seen many mandolin cases, I wouldn't know how it compares to others.
I'd say it works great for carrying around, just don't put it on an airplane.

-Kevin


Very nice mandolin, Kevin.

I was wondering if you might comment a bit on the _case_ that came with it (the one with the fabric cover and "The Loar" stenciled on the outside)?

Does it hold the instrument securely when closed, without too much movement inside?

The design harkens back to the [now gone] Modern "Supercases", albeit in a rectangular design.

Looks to be an alternative to the Travelite or Gator designs.

These can be found on ebay for pretty good prices....

- John

[TDMpicker]

Thought I would post a couple photos of my recently acquired LM-400.
I've been too busy playing it to take any pictures or post :)
This is #28 purchased from Robert @ Folkmuscian . I had it upgraded with a
Cumberland Acoustics bridge. Robert did and excellent job fitting the bridge and doing the complete setup.

This is an awesome Mandolin for the money. It has a sweet full tone and plenty of volume. I'm really happy with it! I would recommend one of these to anybody looking for a nice A-style to add to their pack.


6009560096

[Ron McMillan]

Oh my oh my, the LM400 is a thing of beauty at an amazing price. I think my next acquisition will be an economically-priced A-shape, and the LM400 is right now the leading contender.

Is the Cumberland replacement bridge something that the experts advise for the 400? Is the standard bridge a victim of building down to a price point?

br

[TDMpicker]

I was told and heard from folks that the instrument is nice with the standard bridge but the upgrade takes it to a higher level.

[billkilpatrick]

I'd say it works great for carrying around, just don't put it on an airplane.

there you go ... the size would probably incur an extra charge and i just don't think anything "soft" would survive if it had to travel with the luggage. someone also pointed out that the loar logo would act as a beacon to any discerning mandolin thief.

[Ron McMillan]

TDM - I know it's an 'apples and oranges' question, but I'll ask anyway: how does the sound of the LM400 compare/differ from your own flat-top mandolin creations?

br

[Canister]

Big Joe put a CA bridge on my 400 and I'm glad he did. Like has been said, it took it to the next level.

[Ron McMillan]

Canister/Big Joe/TDMPicker - is there a specific model of Cumberland Acoustic bridge that I should look out for if I ever get my hands on an LM400?

br

[TDMpicker]

To my knowledge, there is only one for the archtop F and A models.
There's also one for flattops.

http://www.cumberlandacoustic.com/id2.html

[Geno]

Here's my 600 after scooping, bare-necking, and de-shining. I did not do any distressing, so now it just looks a bit softer and warmer. Also added a Doug Edwards armrest and swapped out the cheapo tailpiece. It really plays like a dream and sounds amazingly good.

[TDMpicker]

What tail piece did you put on there?

[John Adrihan]

Here's my 600 after scooping, bare-necking, and de-shining. I did not do any distressing, so now it just looks a bit softer and warmer. Also added a Doug Edwards armrest and swapped out the cheapo tailpiece. It really plays like a dream and sounds amazingly good.

What is "scooping?"
thanks

[TDMpicker]

The frets are removed from the fingerboard extension and that area of the fingerboard is "scooped" or carved out so the pick has plenty of room. Look close at the photo you will see it.

[Geno]

Scooping refers to removing several frets and some material from the fingerboard extension to increase pick clearance. I used a Dremel tool, files, etc. (see Frets.com). The tailpiece is an old, steel, Gibson-style (lost cover) similar to what you can buy from Stew-Mac,etc. that I had laying around. I used a cabinet scraper, 0000 steel wool, and 5 coats of Tru-oil (wiped off immediately) for the neck. I just used 1200 and 4000 grit polishing paper for the de-shining.

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

I got a 400 about a month and a half ago, and picked up a 600 last week when MAS (for the F-scroll) struck. Here are some shots of them side by side. I'm trying to spend time with each one of them, and come up with an in-depth assessment of the difference (and similarity) between the two. Here's what my impressions so far:

The F-scroll finish on the 600 is definitely rough as many have noticed
I do like the deeper neck profile on the 600, but it definitely feels a bit odd going between the two
The thicker neck, along with the F-scroll, makes the 600 a much heavier instrument, and slightly top heavy
The body of the 600 is about 1/16" deeper than the 400
Despite it's shallower body depth, the 400 is louder in volume to the 600. It also has a woodier and punchier tone than the 600. One may call it slightly 'boxy' sounding, when comparing to the fuller, more ringing tone on the 600. I wonder if the 400 is more readily 'opened up' due to the absence of any tone bar or bracing in its construction.
High notes (past the 7th fret) is louder and clearer on the 400. May have something to do with the setup though, as I set the action slightly higher on the 400


I had the 400 on the classifieds for a good part of last week, but after playing it more this past weekend, I just keep liking it more and more. I'm pretty sure it's a keeper.

I have more images on my photobucket album if anyone is interested:http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll312/voipsoapbox/Loar%20LM-600/


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll312/voipsoapbox/Loar%20LM-600/DSCN1375.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll312/voipsoapbox/Loar%20LM-600/DSCN1378.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll312/voipsoapbox/Loar%20LM-600/DSCN1382.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll312/voipsoapbox/Loar%20LM-600/DSCN1372.jpg

[Martin]

Well here's mine. I've posted pics to this elsewhere but now there's a dedicated thread. This has been reliced a little with the neck finish removed and dark brown dye rubbed in with several coats of tung oil.

[TDMpicker]

I've had my 400 a couple weeks now and am definitely liking it more all the time.
Glad I got it.

[Folkmusician.com]

Hi Kevin & Terry,

I am glad to hear your mandos are getting a lot of play! It is great to see how things are going after the sale.


On to the pics....
There may not be any of these in player's hands yet, so here is the new LM-300 (it is X-braced):

http://www.folkmusician.com/images/lm-300-f.jpg

http://www.folkmusician.com/images/lm-300-2-f.jpg

http://www.folkmusician.com/images/lm-300-3-f.jpg

http://www.folkmusician.com/images/lm-300-4-f.jpg

http://www.folkmusician.com/images/lm-300-5-f.jpg

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

@Robert - thanks for posting the pics for the 300. I saw them on your site and couldn't how well priced they are. And it has X-braces instead of tone bars? Interesting. How do you like it in and of its own, and compare to the 400?

[Michael Eck]

Just found out i should be getting my 400 soon. Can't wait!

I'm not so good with the camera, but perhaps I can get my son to do a side-by-side shot, a la Barrangatan's great images -- although my 600 has many, many gigs worth of wear on it, so it won't look quite so spiffy.

[Michael Eck]

I've had the LM 400 VS for a couple weeks now and I've done many gigs with it and I am just in love with it.

Here's a pic. If you want to see it in action, here's a recent video -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc6OCAV03tw

[John Gass]

I'll be able to post some current pics of my 700 in a couple months. Big Joe has it currently and its undergoing some "changes"... ;)

[TDMpicker]

Sounded Good Michael.
I sure like mine :-)