Detail 01
Hand-carved, hand-graduated solid spruce top
Carved from a thick block rather than pressed. Costs more, responds more, and matures tonally with playing time.
Product detailSKU #1274115039420
The LoarLM-700 F-Model Mandolin Vintage Sunburst
brightarticulatebluegrassfolkcountry
1/2
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A fully carved F-style mandolin with solid AAA spruce top and flamed maple back, ebony board and nitro finish. Built for bluegrass players.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Bluegrass players who need chop and cut in a jam circle
- Upgrading from a laminate or pressed-top starter mandolin
- Players who want a carved instrument that opens up over years
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Beginners unsure of commitment — this is a serious price step
- Players wanting warm, mellow tone; this is bright and articulate
- Anyone who wants an amplified instrument out of the box
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
F-style body with scroll
Traditional bluegrass shape. The scroll and points add cost and grip options but not volume over an A-style.
Detail 03
AAA flamed maple back and sides
Maple is hard and reflective, pushing tone bright and punchy — the sound bluegrass chop relies on.
Detail 04
13 inch scale length
Standard mandolin scale. Strings are under high tension, so fretting takes more finger pressure than a guitar.
Detail 05
Compensated adjustable ebony bridge
Sits loose on the top under string pressure. You set height and intonation yourself by turning the two thumbwheels.
Detail 06
Nitrocellulose finish
Thin and hard, so it lets the top move freely. It also scratches, checks and ages more readily than polyurethane.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Bridge is unglued and can shift — intonation must be set after shipping
- 02No pickup; amplifying means adding a pickup or using a microphone
- 03A carved mandolin needs humidity control to avoid top cracks
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Is this good enough for playing out?
Yes. A fully carved solid spruce and maple body with an adjustable ebony bridge is stage-level construction, not a starter build. It has the volume and attack for acoustic jams.
02What is the difference between F-style and A-style?
F-style has the scroll and body points; A-style is a simpler teardrop. Bluegrass tradition favors F-style. The scroll adds cost and visual identity more than tone.
03Does the bridge need setting up?
Yes. It is a floating adjustable ebony bridge held by string tension. Position sets intonation and the thumbwheels set action, so check both after it arrives.
04Can I plug it in?
Not as it comes. There is no onboard pickup or preamp. You would need an aftermarket mandolin pickup or a microphone to amplify it.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
2 detailsPickups & controls
- Neck
- One-piece maple with rounded "V" profile
- Bridge
- Compensated adjustable ebony
5 detailsPlayability
- Fretboard
- Bound ebony
- Frets
- 29
- Nut Width
- Bone, 1-1/8 inch
- Number of Frets
- 29
- Scale Length
- 13
10 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Sunburst
- Fingerboard Material
- Bound ebony
- Back Amp Sides
- Solid handcarved, hand-graduated AAA flamed maple back, solid flamed maple sides
- Binding
- Ivory and black/white purfling
- Color Finish
- Vintage Sunburst
- Finish Options
- Vintage Sunburst
- Finish Type
- Hand-buffed nitrocellulose
- Headstock Inlay
- Loar Flowerpot abalone/M.O.P.
- Top
- Solid handcarved, hand-graduated AAA spruce
- Tuning Machines
- Gotoh
3 detailsSize & weight
- Body Length
- 12-3/4 inch
- Depth
- 2-1/2 inch
- Total Length
- 27-1/4 inch
3 detailsOther
- Upper Bout
- 6-3/4 inch
- Lower Bout
- 10 inch
- Truss Rod
- Adjustable
