Ibanez M510E-BS A-Style Mandolin - Brown Sunburst

So, I promised myself I'd learn at least 20 instruments to a competent level in my lifetime. I'm 40 years old now so after learning the electric guitar (lead), acoustic guitar (fingerpicking), Ukulele, Piano, Harmonica, I decided to take up the Kalimba just recently (thumb piano).......and the Mandolin. The classic song which attracted me to the Mandolin was one that everyone who plays Mandolin is familiar with - 'Losing my Religion' by R.E.M. and it's this song which I've learned in the past week.I had an outlay of around £80 for a Mandolin and many of them here on Amazon were around that price mark. I did notice that the design of them appeared to be the same as the next, albeit with a different brand name on the headstock. In appreciation of the fact that it's a simple instrument, I still couldn't help thinking that they looked very bland. Searching further I came across an Ibanez which was a lot more interesting in its design - also sporting a pickup to play electrically. The pick guard is also a more interesting shape and woody pattern which flows around the pickup and lies flat against the body, rather than elevated which the others are. A volume and tone pot feature on the body too adding to eathetics, and of course, functionality.Knowing Ibanez to be a decent guitar make and favouring it's looks and electric ability, I took the plunge and paid a little under double the price which I had in mind. I've chosen cheap guitars in the past and always wished I had of bought the premium version, so I wasn't going to make the same mistake. Receiving the Mandolin, I wasn't disappointed. Thankfully however, it arrive in one piece since it doesn't come in a case and the cardboard box is less than safe. Though it's light, the build quality is great, the varnish finish makes it gleam and the Ibanez logo on the tailpiece gives it a real premium feel. The neck feels soil and well build featuring binding like the body. The headstock is an interesting and elegant shape, sporting the Ibanez logo in a cursive font at the top. The chrome machine heads tune well with no slippage.The body features F holes at either side, with the one on the right partially tucked under the flush pick guard. The instrument resonates a majestic, rish and clear tone played with a hard pick (1.5mm) acoustically and sounds reasonably good played with fingers if ever you need to keep the noise down with a fleshy mute effect. Plugged, the Mandolin sounds very nice. Quite simply an amplified version of what you heard acoustically. You can of course layer some reverb (as whatever effects you like) on top of it to make the most of going electric. Though I opted for an electric version, largely due to the overall aesthetics, I will be playing mostly acoustic.The mandolin arrived roughly in tune. Each pair of strings is tuned to the same note - GG, DD, AA, EE - the same as standard violin tuning. Double stringing in this fashion apparently dates way back to the 'olden times' and gives a richer chime to the note. With this in mind it's important to get the tuning accurate. Trusting an standard guitar tuner I spent 5 minutes ensuring that this was the case. Still I practiced playing R.E.M. and it was still sounding off despite the guitar tuner (in violin mode) showing each string as being in-tune. As such, I decided to see if an actual dedicated Mandolin Tuner would give me better tuner. When it arrived, I wasn't disappointed. The accuracy of the Mandolin Tuner allows you to tune PRECISELY. All my string were out by a fraction, but a fraction which made all the difference. My mandolin was sounds great - as it should be and I'm enjoying playing so much more. Needless to say, a proper mandolin tuner is imperative!I'm thoroughly enjoying the instrument. It's very loud so I only play it during the day since I live in an upstairs flat. As mentioned I'm currently learning 'Losing my Religion' and though I've got muscle memory down to hold and change chords shapes, my challenge is to hold the strings with more pressure with more accuracy behind the fret for a more clear tone. It's a fiddly instrument, especially for a person with big hands, but I play a tiny Uke, so I'll persevere! It's all part of the adventure!I've also purchased a strap for £15 here on Amazon, since I found that whilst I sat and played, I was doing two things on the fretboard: holding a chord and supporting the instrument. This detracts from the ability to focus on the chord shape with accuracy. As such, the strap suspends the mandolin and so I can focus on playing rather than holding it. It's working well and it was a good decision. The strap is only thin, so it doesn't add much bulk. It's also fun to stroll around with it whilst I'm waiting for the kettle to boil.I haven't tried one of the £60 - £80 mandolins to be fair, but if like me you are looking for a mandolin with greater aesthetics and a great sound, I'd recommend the Ibanez!

I'm a guitar player so only wanted a mandolin for occasional use and didn't want to pay a lot. You can tell this Ibanez is made to a price but it's surprisingly good for that price. Needs a little fiddling to set it up well but then I was very happy with the tuning, intonation, acoustic and electric sounds, and finish. Might be my sloppy guitar technique but I just need to file the sharp edge off the end of the bridge to stop it digging into the heel of my hand.

I went with this instrument because of the Ibanez brand - and I'm more than pleasantly surprised by its quality. It took a while for the strings to settle after tuning (as expected with any new instrument) but from there it was a delight. The M510E-BS sounds great whether amplified or not. It was louder than I expected, unplugged. And through a good amp it really excelled. I used one designed for Piezo pickups - but the 'glassy' edge shone through with a good tonal range from its pot. Intonation typically chokes out near the top of the neck - a mixture of my limitations as a Mandolin player (OK, my first day) and the need to adjust the bridge to suit. All easily remedied with a little effort. The tuning pegs are responsive with no apparent slippage, demonstrative of a high build quality throughout. There's even a hex key for the truss rod and a short, quarter-inch Jack lead. Yes, there are cheaper alternatives on the market. But I've yet to see one as well finished as this instrument - and there seem to be an awful lot of identical ones - just with different maker's names on the headstock - and a vast (to my mind - unjustifiable) price range difference between them. None of them appear to review well - which bears out the adage: you get what you pay for. I'm glad that I paid a little more and bought this one.

Great instrument, bought it as I've had over the years a number of Ibanez acoustic and electric guitars, so I trust the name. It played out of the box, did change the strings to D'Addario lights (EJ73). No problems with either the action or the intonation and the machine heads had no play in them. Has good sound projection in "acoustic mode", then played it through my practice amp a Fender Bullit, then through my stage amp, Fender Twin Reverb and it sang through that. Also ordered the Greg Horne Complete Mandolin Method Book 1, I would suggest that any guitar players that have played for a few years would probably be better off ordering the second book in the series, as the first book is a bit basic, and the second book does have a brief fly by in the opening section covering topics in the the first book. Once again, a great instrument well worth the money.

Very badly made, cheap and nasty, would not stay in tune.

A very reasonable Mandolin for the price, however it was let down by very poor tuners. It was almost impossible to tune until I replaced them with a set of Grovers. This has greatly improved it.

Although I know quite a bit about guitars buying an electric mandolin on a budget of £300 was new territory. Manufacturers disguising what I would call 'furniture wood' under a latin name is off-putting for a start. The Ibanez is Spruce, Sapele and Mahogany each no stranger to a guitar player. This mandolin is superb, both acoustically and electric for it's price. It also has approval from a 'proper' mandolin player.

I love this mandolin. It came in good condition, the sound is good, the pickup works great and it is easy to tune and it stays in tune well. For its price it really is a steal. Howevever, there are three issues with it1. It has a relatively low volume, not to the point to where it becomes a big problem however.2. the knobs are unlabeled, took me a bit to figure out what they did3. it can be a tad more sensitive to feedback then most solid body instruments, but that is to be expected

Arrived in two days. Nice instrument for the money. Anyone learning the Mandolin will be happy with this purchase. The strings don't seem great so I replaced them with some better strings. Sound is great. Make sure to set up the bridge properly.

Alles Super

Ho avuto qualche problemino ma ho trovato una professionalità e serietà da parte del venditore nel risolvere il problema. Consiglio vivamente

Je suis satisfait de cette mandoline Ibanez. Bel aspect, son très sympa.J'utilise un looper pour jouer sur un accompagnement guitare sur lequel je joue des chants et contrechants avec la mandoline et/ou ma guitare. De plus je fais des montages avec garage band en branchant la mandoline sur ma carte son qui va sur mon mac. Donc le fait d'avoir pour 209€ une mandoline électro acoustique Ibanez, c'est top.

El producto venía con rayones.