NMD: The Loar 370 VSM

[Dave Greenspoon]

This morning I opened the box. The Mandolin Store did a great job packing the instrument, and it arrived unscathed. First thoughts having tuned it up and played for a whopping 15 minutes:

Fit and finish are fine. The couple of small imperfections in finish under the fretboard and inside the scroll are totally excusable; I've seen far worse on bigger name/cost instruments.

The scroll clearance is tight, and I mean tight! It took a bit of work to get my Longhollow Softy through the gap.

Tuners seem decent and move smoothly. We'll find out how well they hold soon enough. Strings feel/sound like J-74's to my fingers/ears.

Flat fretboard and modern size fret wire are a new combo to me; I am more used to radius w/modern or flat with smaller wire. Even so, it is a comfortable fretboard. It seems that TMS did a little set-up work; nut slots on upper strings seem to have been filed. Action is pretty much perfect. IDK who added the harmonic suppressor strip under the bridge but I was happily surprised to see it there.

Volume is decent but not overwhelming. Ditto the tone; it sounds a little thin, like a new budget mando will. Chop chords sounded fine, single note articulation up the neck past the 12th fret was also decent.

The Eastman gigbag is surprisingly nicer than I anticipated.

This is my travel axe for festivals, etc. Given I paid $249 for this instrument, I am more than happy between the product itself and the pluses from TMS. That said, I don't think I'd have gotten it at its normal street price. It won't turn a lot of heads among folks here at the Cafe, but for a modest and inexpensive MIC axe I'm looking forward to find out how it plays out in Pickers Paradise at Grey Fox! Ultimately I simply have to give kudos to TMS for a real steal on the value point with this mandolin.

[MikeZito]

. . . Fit and finish are fine . . . The scroll clearance is tight, and I mean tight! It took a bit of work to get my Longhollow Softy through the gap . . . Tuners seem decent and move smoothly. We'll find out how well they hold soon enough. Strings feel/sound like J-74's to my fingers/ears . . .Flat fretboard and modern size fret wire . . . Volume is decent but not overwhelming. Ditto the tone; it sounds a little thin, like a new budget mando will. Chop chords sounded fine, single note articulation up the neck past the 12th fret was also decent . . . travel axe for festivals, etc. Given I paid $249 for this instrument, I am more than happy . . . It won't turn a lot of heads among folks here at the Cafe, but for a modest and inexpensive MIC axe . . . a real steal on the value point with this mandolin.

Hey Dave:

Congrats on the new purchase.

The description of your Loar 370 sounds VERY much like how I would describe my 310. Nothing spectacular by any means, but I take it with me practically everywhere I go, and it serves me well.

Enjoy!

[Br1ck]

Having a mandolin you don't worry about too much is a very good thing. That you have a mandolin you actually enjoy playing at that price is amazing.

[Ausdoerrt]

If it's anything like my 220, it'll open up with a bit of time and the right strings. J74's are probably my least favorite strings to use for this mando.

Also beware, once you get used to the flat board/fat frets combo, it'll be hard to go back

Having a mandolin you don't worry about too much is a very good thing. That you have a mandolin you actually enjoy playing at that price is amazing.

Ditto that. Think of all the adventures you can have!

[Eric Platt]

If it's anything like my 220, it'll open up with a bit of time and the right strings. J74's are probably my least favorite strings to use for this mando.

Also beware, once you get used to the flat board/fat frets combo, it'll be hard to go back

Ditto that. Think of all the adventures you can have!

Yup, sounds like my LM-220 also. My wife loves the sound of it when I play leads, but agrees my A Jr blows it out of the water on chords.

BTW, which strings do you like on your 220? Have only tried D'addario. But have some GHS lying around.

[Dave Greenspoon]

Also interested in suggestions for strings.

[Br1ck]

I'm liking GHS silk and steel strings on my MK. Richens up the lows some, but be aware, they sound horrible for a couple of days. At least they do to me.

[Ausdoerrt]

Yup, sounds like my LM-220 also. My wife loves the sound of it when I play leads, but agrees my A Jr blows it out of the water on chords.

BTW, which strings do you like on your 220? Have only tried D'addario. But have some GHS lying around.

I actually really like SIT strings (medium) on mine, especially when they're still relatively new. The unwound strings are clear and loud enough even for busking, while the wound pairs have a decent "punch" to them.

Martin 80/20 Bronze also produce an interesting sound while new, but I once had a set go from "buzzing" to "dead" in one day, which is a pretty big downside.

Disclaimer: I play primarily Irish music on it, so 90% leads.