The (China)Loar

[mee]

Have these improved? I once thought I would never buy one, I had seen and played a couple at music stores that take them straight from the box to hang on the wall. They sounded terrible and had flaws. However I recently played a 310 and a 375 at two different places that obviously had set them up right and they were very nice sounding mandolins for under $500. From what I have read, these have hand carved tops and I read that a step up are hand carved sides and backs also and still under $1000.

[Zach Wilson]

I bought a Bstock (blemished) LM 170 in 2015 to use as a travel instrument. It's the Loars lowest model and only has a solid, hand carved top. It doesn't sound anywhere near as good as other mandolins I own but it isn't that bad. That little thing is the perfect campfire mando.

[FredK]

I purchased a LM520 as a blem from one of the MC sponsors. Of course, it came set up well. It has a good sound and I'm very pleased with it. Took me a while to find the blem but it had nothing to do with functionality.

[Pilot172000]

I had a LM590 that turned into an exceptional mandolin. It was heavier than I liked but got louder over time.