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MF MD HG Fun In The Sun 06-17-13

Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin Brown Sunburst

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  • MSRP:
    $449.99
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The essence of the Appalachians is embodied in this well-priced mandolin.

The sound of a driving mandolin solo brings to mind the Appalachians and the bittersweet melodies of generations past. Ibanez offers its flagship M522S acoustic mandolin, an incredibly affordable F-style mandolin that delivers warm, rich sound.

This fancy 8-string bluegrass machine is an ideal instrument for its price, ready to hit up the jams right out of the box. This beautiful F-style Ibanez mandolin starts with a solid spruce top and a flamed maple body for crisp, bold tones from top to bottom. The mahogany neck and the rosewood bridge and fretboard offer lasting tone and sustain, while the gold/pearloid tuners keep the mandolin holding the notes in key. With a high gloss finish, the wood's natural beauty shines through with a shimmering veneer, while the gold hardware stands out in striking fashion.

Features

  • 8-string
  • F-style
  • Flamed Maple body
  • Solid spruce top
  • Scale: 13.78"
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • 24 frets
  • Nut width: 1.18"
  • Flat fretboard
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Gold/pearloid tuners
  • Gold hardware
  • High gloss finish
  • Block inlays

Order your factory fresh Ibanez M522S for an awesome price.

Customer Reviews
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Review Snapshot®

by PowerReviews
IbanezM522S F-Style Mandolin
 
3.6

(based on 8 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (4)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (2)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Good tone (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Practicing (3)

    Reviewed by 8 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-8

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    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Fantastic Mandolin

    By somanystrings

    from asheville

    Pros

    • Good Tone
    • Quality

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Practicing

      Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

      I bought this mandolin and all I can say is to go to a place that works specifically on acoustic instruments. Before I got this setup it sounded good up until the fifth fret, every fret after that was flat. After the setup at a local violin/ acoustic instrument music store, every single note is in tune, and the action was perfect as well. This instrument is amazing, I am no professional, but I have to say, go for solid wood and go get it set up! This is the best deal on an f style in this price range. GET IT SETUP, you'll love it!

      Comment on this review

       
      4.0

      Beautiful instrument

      By Eklektika Mandolin

      from Washington DC

      About Me Experienced

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Good Tone
      • Nice Attention To Detail

      Cons

      • Dead Spot 11fret E String

      Best Uses

      • Concerts
      • Practicing

      Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

      A beautiful instrument that I am still setting up. Intonation is wonderful and the inlay work is very nice. The case I ordered with it (recommended by musician's friend) was a little too small for the mandolin, so I placed an object in it to stretch it out slightly (like a shoe horn to a shoe) and now it fits perfectly. The only down side was that there is a dead spot on the E string for the 11th fret. If the action is higher, the 11th fret speaks, when I place the action to where I like it, it becomes dead. It is interesting, it is only the E string and not the A, D, or G string. I'll keep working with it as I am sure this can be corrected. Overall a very nice value for the price and I am enjoying playing this Ibanez Mandolin. I would definitely recommend it. Also, my thanks to the great staff at Musicians Friend who were extremely helpful and made ordering this a very pleasant experience.

      Comment on this review

      (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

       
      3.0

      Ok starter mandolin

      By Diducthat1

      from Ladysmith ,wi

      About Me Experienced

      Pros

      • Decent Sound And Playabil

      Cons

        Best Uses

          Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

          Ok f style for the money. Just like guitars your not going to get a fine instrument for under seven bills so don't expect a lot from it. It plays ok and sounds ok. Very good starter for anyone looking at a f style mandolin.

          Comment on this review

          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Ibanez mandolin

          By pcake

          from Cincinnati Ohio

          About Me Professional Musician

          Ask me a question

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Consistent
          • Good Tone
          • Long Life
          • Strong

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backup
            • Concerts
            • Practicing

            Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

            Great Instrument!! Yes you MUST "set it up" and adjust the bridge,But you do not have to take it to a professional for this,You can learn how to do this in about 5 minuites of search on-line,And you really should learn how to do this your self or you will need it re-set every time you change strings!!! Beautiful sound,looks Great,only took me 1/2 hour to set the bridge.

            Comment on this review

            (6 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

             
            1.0

            Entry level F style mandolin

            By Rick Nelson

            from Florida

            Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

            Though this mandolin is sold under the Ibanez label, it's made in China and drop shipped to various sellers including musician's friend. The mandolin is not the same color as the picture, more yellow and black rather than the brown sunburst as advertised. The slots in the bridge weren't spaced correctly, so I had to take it to a luthier. The strings were rusted and need to be replaced. Although it has a solid top, it sounds tinny and muted. The tailpiece is crooked. I kept it despite it's limits and issues just to practice on, but I wouldn't purchase it again. Hopefully, it will improve in tone when the strings settle in and it gets played on, but we'll see. Absolutely expect to take it to a luthier for a set up. Probably better to buy an all solid wood A model for the same price, ( and not buy "Ibanez" ).

            Comment on this review

            (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

             
            1.0

            Ibanez M522

            By silvertwang

            from S. Florida

            Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

            Can't go wrong with this mandolin. If you are just getting into playing mando's and are lusting after an f-style, this will get you into the bluegrass state w/out having to re-mortgage your home.
            Pretty standard features: Solid Spruce top - It's a carved top that has been heat pressed into shape. Maple neck with rosewood board. The fingerboard is flat, not radiused, so it's a little more of a challenge to fret notes/chords. The bridge is rosewood and is adjustable via two small thumb wheels. The bridge slots are cut great. Nut is also cut and set up well. Block inlays run the length of the net. Finished in a brown sunburst. Finish is done well but there are some finish flaws around the f-holes. Not easily noticeable but they are there. Some minor rough spots on the inside radius of the upper scroll. The bracing and tone bars let the top sing. Tuners work well - They are old style open gear tuners. Not the most precise but they work and keep the mando in tune pretty well. Not the best but they work. The plastic tuner buttons look a little cheap when you see them up close but for the money...not too shaby. Tailpiece is nicely done and sustains great.
            Top notch. This instrument is solid. They skimp on the heat pressed solid top, and plastic tuner knobs. This keeps the cost down and enables Ibanez to give you a solid instrument at a decent price. Finish is a little rough around the upper scroll and f-holes.
            Great value. This is not a top notch picker -definately a Gibson/Kentucky/Collings. If you want something along those lines start you budget at $400+ and start going into 4 figures quick. That said, this will get you pickin' and a grinnin' for under $300. It's well made and can be upgraded.

            Comment on this review

            (10 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            my first mandolin- i am very happy

            By Anonymous

            from Undisclosed

            Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

            i have been playing it for about 3 months now, it goes out of tune every now and then but its not that big of deal. you just need to be mind-full of the action on it when you first get it, the strings can be kind of high up. that being said, its a great mandolin, VERY LOUND if you want it to be, i have gone down the halls of my school playing it and had people come out of classrooms to ask about the sounds they were hearing. its a great thing and worth the buy. so long as you can do without the pickups, this guy does not come with pickups and they need to be installed. if your like me and dont care for it then its great but if you want the pickups expect to pay a bit more. thats the catch really its an amazing mandolin for the price but there are no pickups

            Comment on this review

            (10 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin

            By Hutch

            from Shawano WI

            Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

            Once set up properly, this insturment is great sounding, attractive and a good value. Nice action and great playability. I have owned many guitars and I always consider Ibanez when making a purchase.

            Comment on this review

            Displaying reviews 1-8

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