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Ibanez

collapse expand iconDescription

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.

Case sold separately.
Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin Brown Sunburst

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • 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
  • Pearloid flowerpot headstock inlay and Ibanez logo
  • Case sold separately

collapse expand iconWarranty

Warranty terms vary. Check with manufacturer for specific product warranty.

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

3.9

20 Reviews

60%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Ibanez M522S F-Style

This is a very well made mandolin. I don't think you could beat the sound or quality of this instrument for the price. I play the guitar and wanted to try something else. This is the instrument for the beginner. High quality and excellent sound. Easy to play, good action.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

1

Cheaply Made, not a quality product. Look elsewhere...

This mandolin came with a nice chunk missing from the neck. It really takes away from the beauty of the instrument. Also, the detail work looks rushed and inconsistent. In some places the lines are solid and bold as seen in the picture GC has posted, but near the neck it's spotty and faded. Where the neck connects to the body there is no finish. It looks like they built the mandolin, and then only finished where they could easily reach. Now there is an ugly unfinished area. Only the user can really see it, but it really bothers me. As far as the sound... It sounds great when strumming chords on the first 5 frets. But as you move up the neck you quickly wind up with flat notes. The frets must be misplaced or something.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Practicing2
Cons
  1. Poor Tone Quality2
  2. Frets quite rough on base sire of neck1
  3. Requires some setup...gap at bridge was 3/8"1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced5
Pros
  1. Good Tone3
  2. Beautiful colors and perfect finish1
  3. Holds tuning1
  4. Well Built / Quality1
  5. Wide neck makes easier fingering1

Reviewed by 20 customers

  • Great features,finish and price.

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byBob

    fromIndio, CA

    Been playing guitar, banjo and mado for 60 years and this is a great instrucment by any standard. My main instrument is the 5 string banjo so i cheat a bit and tune the mando D G B D low to high so that I can fingerpick the strings like my banjos. Gives a pretty neat sound. Swapped out the factory G and D strings for any even tighter sound. Just my spin on it.

  • I love Ibenez

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byMr. Rhythm

    fromAnaheim Ca.

    I love the sound but the action could be better.

  • i love mine it's slick too.👍

    4

    submitted6 years ago

    byhandy

    fromTENNESSEE

    play guitar,bass guitar,piano 1st mandolin i love it.

  • Great medium grade mando

    4

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted7 years ago

    byJacob

    fromUndisclosed

    Great especially for a medium grade mandolin to start out on. Also i was pleasantly suprised with the dark violin sunburst. I was afraid it would be way to dark and that you wouldn't be able to see the wood grain. However it was better than whag couldve hoped for. Overall its a very nice mandolin for the price especially. Good sound too.

  • Cheaply Made, not a quality product. Look elsewhere...

    1

    submitted8 years ago

    byHunter

    fromNew Jersey

    This mandolin came with a nice chunk missing from the neck. It really takes away from the beauty of the instrument. Also, the detail work looks rushed and inconsistent. In some places the lines are solid and bold as seen in the picture GC has posted, but near the neck it's spotty and faded. Where the neck connects to the body there is no finish. It looks like they built the mandolin, and then only finished where they could easily reach. Now there is an ugly unfinished area. Only the user can really see it, but it really bothers me. As far as the sound... It sounds great when strumming chords on the first 5 frets. But as you move up the neck you quickly wind up with flat notes. The frets must be misplaced or something.

  • No, I wouldn't buy this model again. Cheaply made.

    1

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted8 years ago

    byJean

    fromundisclosed

    Mandolin looks was real nice.Never got to hear it as we couldn't get it tuned! The posts would stick. Took it to local Guitar Center for a technician to look at it. All the posts were out of whack! He tried to put new ones on but same problem. We think that the whole tuning area was installed incorrectly. Therefore it would all have to be replaced. Guitar Center returned it for us for refund. Was a birthday gift. It arrived quickly. Service at Guitar Center was wonderful..... the mandolin not so much.

collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byTom

    fromCincinnati, Ohio

    Can the Ibenaz M522s mandolin be purchased in a left-handed version?

    Can the Ibenaz M522s mandolin be purchased in a left-handed version?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    Please contact a Sales Agent for Special Order placement