FYI, for those reading this and are still shopping, I bought a Loar LM 520. I like it a lot and it has been a very good starter mando for me, but I would note this one drawback: The fretboard continues up into the 20th, 21st, and 22nd frets etc. all the way up to the 27th I think, and — let’s be real — at this point, those frets are mainly decorative, I don’t know who can get a note from that high. But the issue is, that part of the fretboard gets in the way of my picking. So the next mando I get, I’m looking for a fretboard that quits around the 18th or 19th fret.
Looking for validation on beginner Mandolin
2 Likes
Traditionally a lot of folks scooped that out like this: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Mandolin/DropTongue/droptongue.html
3 Likes
Ask Sierra Hull… 
4 Likes