I am a recovering banjo player that has recently (2 years ago) decided to get back into bluegrass type music after a 20+ year time out. I bought an Ibanez model 510, F style, laminated, “basic” mandolin. No, I am NOT a mandolinist. I just really like playing on it and I find it much easier to learn a song on the mandolin and then transpose it to the guitar. I don’t know why and quite honestly, I don’t care why. I’m just enjoying the new found fortune. I am “IMPRESSED” with it. When I bought it, I only considered the cost, not the instrument. I figured that at this stage of my mandolin development I didn’t really need a top quality, all solid, not signed off by anyone famous mandolin, but just a few months with it and I am ready to upgrade and I am seriously considering the Ibanez M700 as my upgrade. O.K., full disclosure, I probably do not yet need a “better quality” mandolin, but that’s just the way the acquisition syndrome works, and the M-520 has truly surprised me. It is loud, clear and easy to play after an exhaustive set up. So why not the Ibanez M-700? Your opinion would be appreciated.
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