Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

Nice sounding mandolin, but terrible finish. It played well out of the box, setup just needed minor tweaking. The finish was quite flawed, not only for this price point but really any instrument. This shouldn't have left the factory. Its too bad, I liked the tone, but the finish was far too bad to justify keeping it.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I am keeping the Loar and have it set up with a Fishman pickup and plan to use it regularly with a worship band. Maybe one of these days I can afford a Gibson F-style mandolin. If you are serious about playing a mandolin, don't go cheap. Carefully check the neck on any new mandolin you plan to buy, and play notes in the upper register on all of the frets to check for problems. That should not happen on a quality instrument.
I purchased this mandolin based on being a guitarist and not knowing how to play a mandolin. The tone of this mandolin really stood out compared to other models in the store that I compared this to. Combined with the tone, I thought solid tone woods and a nitrocellulose laquer finish on an F-style mandolin were a standout at this price range.
Here is where I had an issue. After a month of playing the mandolin and learning scales, I noticed the upper register had severe string buzzing at the 9th and 12th frets. The notes were practically dead on these frets accross all strings. The problem appeared to be a buldge in the neck and fingerboard where the neck joined the body. I purchased the mandolin while visiting family out of state and was informed by the distributor that all warranty work had to be performed by the dealer I purchased the instrument from. It was cheaper for me to have the people that normally work on my guitars locally to properly set up the action, and dress the frets to compensate for the high point in the neck, than to ship it to where I purchased it out of state.
You get what you pay for. If I had it to do all over again, I would have purchased a used Gibson A-style mandolin, or spent a bit more for a new Breedlove mandolin in this price range. They are all solid wood, plain looking, but have all of the essential features: good tone, good action, and a straight neck.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

PLEASE NOTE - i did not buy this instrument from musician's friend. i bought it from a local dealer in knoxville who had it professionally set up with cumberland acoustics bridge and who fine tuned the bracing. the guys at musician's friends don't know mandolins. if this is your first instrument or even your second, i cannot recommend more buying it from folkmusician.com or other reputable dealer that can do required altercations on the nut, bridge, and frets when the instrument comes from the factory. this will save you finger stress and the $100 you'll need to pay getting it set up later at a shop.

this is my third mandolin. i first owned a kentucky km-150 and then an eastman 615. this instrument is my festival, but is far to good to be my beater. if you need a beater and you already have something good, it's worth every penny. also for beginners, if you have your heart set on an f-style, go for it. if not, go for an a-style with the same price and you'll get so much more bang for your buck.
Great Flamed maple back and sides
one piece neck is nice and fat, as is expected with a radiused neck
seen better tailpieces, but this one is fair
sunburst could be better, but looks fair
fantastic abalone and mother of pearl flowerpot design
in tune all the way up the neck even up to the 24+ fret range, though i got mine scooped
fabulous tuners
comes with okay set of d'addario's
solid ebony fretboard is jet black even under higher frets
clean workmanship on the headstock and scroll
very well bound on back, front, headstock, and fretboard
frets came trimmed and cleaned
very well carved and designed, wonderful tonal balance
for $750 you can't do much better. this mandolin kills the eastman f-styles in its price range and puts morgan monroe, kentucky, and paris swing to shame. it comes with a dumb looking case, but it's light and protective. i must say though, it sounds 5X better with a tone guard, blue chip, and professional setup.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I had read lots of reviews some good some bad on this Mandolin so I took a chance. The fit and finish was great except around the curl it was really grimy. I am always curious as to why these mandolins are not set up properly it only takes a minute to do when the strings are being put on. But after tweaking the mandolin sounds great and is easy to play. I have ordered new strings and I am sure that will also improve the sound. I would buy this mandolin again.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I've been playing this mando for about six months now and just love it. The vendor allegedly set it up but I found the strings way too high off the fretboard. Combined with the instrument's thick U shaped neck (I believe this is a direct copy of the Loyd Loar), it was difficult to play. I wound up lowering the action and moving the bridge to compensate. Still it takes getting used to. The Gotoh tuning machines needed to be backed off and some lubrication in the gears before they were easy to turn. Nonetheless the strings stay in tune once the instrument has warmed up. The finish is great but the bark of the Loar is phenomenal! I perform with a guitarist who has been forced to amplify his Guild to be heard with the mandolin. As mentioned in another review, the area under the fretboard extension over the bout was not finished and I noticed some dents in the binding along the neck but my attitude was "Who Cares?." This is a great looking and playing instrument. And it will be "distressed" before I hand it down to my daughter. Glad that I got it.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

For the money, you will not find a better sounding instrument. I owned a 600 for about 2 years now and I still can't put it down. I am about ready to pull the trigger on a black one AND a Loar 500 to boot!

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I purchased this mandolin based upon other's reviews, and the vendor's website video. The video alludes to the mando being "hand carved", and gives you the impression that each one is made by hand. I would have expected something better from a hand made instrument. The finish was terrible, with several areas remaining unfinished. The scroll had several bare parts, as did the underside of the extended fretboard. The body under the fretboard also had bare spots. There was also a thick, cracked layer of finish just above the neck/body joint. There was white powdery substance on the neck, the upper body, and the scroll. All of these are indications of a machine sprayed finish, very similar to an assembly line setup. The quality control section in China missed all of this. Not to mention the folks at the company headquarters whose supposedly professionally set the instruments up.Tonewise, this instrument did not stay in tune very long at first. The strings, while from my favorite string manufacturer for my guitars, needed to be replaced. The strings that came with the mandolin were tarnished and sounded dull.Overall, a lot of money for a shoddy product.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I purchased this mandolin from MF about a year ago to replace a Washburn F5 mandolin that I owned. I can honestly say that this mandolin is a great piece of wood. It's beautiful and sounds great too. The only complaint I have with this instrument is the size of the neck. It's a little too thick for my taste and with someone that has small hands..it will take some getting use to. Just wish it had more of a "fiddle" style neck feel to it. Other than that, if you're into bluegrass music, this mandolin will stand up to test.It's a keeper for me.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I cannot believe this mandolin. I have read some about Loars on Mandolin cafe. This thing wowed me right out of the box. I have been playing for about 5 years. This mandolin has features that blow me away. Nitro finish, all carved and soooo clean with beautiful wood. I showed my buddy who is more experienced then I and he could not get over it. Very Happy purchase.

Comments about The Loar LM-600 F-Model Mandolin:

I looked for reviews for "The Loar" Model Lm 600 Mandoline and could not find any. So I am sending this in. I bought one for my 13 year old son who has been taking lessons and needed a quality one. I found it! Ease of playing, and sound are incredable! We recently went to the Arkansas State fiddlers convention and I heard some great mandolins and his was one of the best there. For an affordable mandolin this is it.