Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin Brown Sunburst

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

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.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I just bought this mandolin I find that it has a beautiful picking sound and great chopping for backup . looks like a 1000 dollar instrument .I play country ,bluegrass,rock & roll and pop . I play guitar J200,gibson SG.Gibson banjo And Dobro

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I think this instument is just great. I love the resonance. It carries itself above the sounds of my band's acoustic playing beautifully. A real bargin. (But I am not quite satified with how it carries chords. I have heard better. But i'm just saying) Just A great instrument.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I am a guitar player and this is my first mandolin, purchased with the intent to upgrade if I like the mandolin. The finish had a couple minor blemishes and the instrument wouldn't fit into a standard "f-style" hard case. Neither of these issues are a big deal considering the price, and the overall satisfaction I have with the sound and look. I am enjoying it.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I bought this mandolin at Guitar Center during one of their sales a couple months ago. It was the only "F" style one they had. The sunburst finish is beautiful and I especially like the block inlays on the neck, which I consider that an upgrade from dot inlays. After adjusting the neck, intonation, and putting on Elixer strings, it sounded great. Beautiful tone and strong projection. It has a solid spruce top, which is critical to tone. More expensive mandolins have a carved spruce top, but I am not sure that makes any real difference. The tone of this instrument is comparable to high end instruments.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I am new to the mandolin and aside from a little piano playing a long time ago I'm new to music all together . So I'm no expert but I can tell you my experience so far. I originally bought a Fender FM53S A-style mandolin. I liked it but when I took the pick gaurd off I found a small crack in it. I had bought the protection plan so I went to exchange it. There were no problems with GC they took it right back ( they were great ) but they didn't have one in stock. I would have to wait on a new one or I could look for another mandolin. And I am so glad I found this ibanez. It has a very rich sound that is just a bit better than the Fender. I have quickly fallen in love with this thing and I just can't put her down.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I just got this Mandolin from Guitar Center with the Summer Sale discount. This is my first mandolin, but since I had an Ibanez six string, which has FANTASTIC tone, I decided on this brand, Ibanez, rather than the others. I also favored the F style body, since it is more comfortable to play while sitting down, and is the more "iconic" look. Bill Monroe who is the great mandolin player in country music played an F style body mandolin. Tuning the mandolin and setting the intonation turned out to be difficult, but that may be due to my being a guitar player. This is a different, although related instrument. The tuning machines were stiff and need some lubrication. I bought some Elixer strings which should enhance the tone further, but am still using the factory strings it came with. Once I got things set, it sounded beautiful and is very addicting to play! It's difficult to put down. I was able to find the notes and chord to some of my favorite blue grass and gospel hymns. Everybody hearing the tone, loves it! Highly recommended if you love bluegrass, Rod Stewart or even Led Zeppelin!

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I bought this mandolin as a result of my interest in bluegrass music, having played guitar for years. I have an Ibanez acoustic six string which has great tone, so I decided to go again with Ibanez. This was the only F-style my local Guitar Center had in stock, which I prefer over the A-style body shape, since Bill Monroe, the "Father of Bluegrass Music" played an F-style mandolin. This has all the features of more expensive models. I love the block inlays on the neck which some higher end mandolins don't have. After buying it, I replaced the factory strings, which were old, with Elixers, and adjusted the intonation and action. I also got a contact microphone-pickup and a Fender gig bag. It's difficult to put down! People tell me it sounds beautiful and my wife loves hearing me play it.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

Great for beginners who want the best learning experience possible! I have played guitar for years and decided it was time to pick up a mandolin. This Ibanez has the highest quality sound and build you'll find in the $300 range. I ordered the dark color and it exceeded my expectations and is complemented by everyone who sees it. It has a great feel to it and is very easy to play. For the best string action and minimal opportunity for buzzing i found that locating the bridge just forward of sound hole center was best.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

My son is really enjoying his new mandolin. It is truly a beautiful looking instrument and we're looking forward to him learning some great music to play on it!

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

Extremely non responsive presumably due to it's not being all solid wood. Poor projection. Nut spacing was incorrect, tailpiece was misaligned, sunburst finish was unattractive going from a stark yellow to black with no gradation.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

I bought this at Guitar Center in Miami, and am very satisfied. The fit and finish are well done, and the tone of the instrument is excellent, especially after changing the factory strings with Elixers, and adjusting the intonation and action. I also bought a headstock tuner, (Delta Lab) which I recommend, since tuning a mandolin requires precision. That along with a Fender gig bag completed my purchase. I chose Ibanez, because I previously bought an Ibanez acoustic guitar, which has fantastic tone, and, so I thought I should choose this over other models available. This mandolin is also F body style, which was made famous by the iconic Gibson F-5 played by Bill Monroe, and is very pretty as well as having a beautiful tone.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

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.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

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.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

Neck just seems a little too narrow - might just be me.

Comments about Ibanez M522S F-Style Mandolin:

The finish was rather messy. There was quite a bit of glue residue on the instrument on more than one place. The instrument is well built, but care was not taken to make sure it was clean before packaging. I called Guitar Center in order to find out how I can clean it myself because the nearest store is 2 hours in any direction. Customer service was not helpful. All they wanted to do was sell me another product.