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Fender FM53S FM Series Acoustic Mandolin

Spruce top. Rosewood fingerboard.

large product image

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
           9 out of 10
Features:
           8 out of 10
Quality:
           8 out of 10
Value:
           9 out of 10
I Want It:
           9 out of 10
Sound:
           7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
           7 out of 10
Support:
           7 out of 10
 
 

"I own it and recommend it."

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 7/30/2002
Style of Music: many kinds
Location: California

 

 
A top Mandolin in the price range. Has solid top, good tuners, adjustable bridge, and easy access to changing strings (more important than you may think). Overall tone is good. Lacks adjustable neck tensioning rod, but neck seems to be made of solid hardwood. With regular string changes, it should last a long time, and be a good deal.
2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"It is a joy to play..."

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 3/31/2002
Style of Music: Celtic
Location: Houston, Texas

 

 
This instrument is a great mandolin, especially for the price. It has a great sound, and the playing action is exceptional.
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""Not bad, not great. I recommend it for beginners""

Overall:
          7 out of 10
Features:
          6 out of 10
Quality:
          6 out of 10
Value:
          6 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          7 out of 10
Support:
          5 out of 10
Submitted: 1/14/2008

 

 
Feature:
Doesn't really... have much to it. Nice body, nice neck. I wish it had a pickup, but for the price, you can't ask for too much.

Quality:
Bad intonation and a crappy scratch below the fingerboard. I had the floor model. I think it will last a good 5 years.

Value:
It was inexpensive and makes great music.

Desirability:
It looks pretty sexy.

Sound:
Very bright sound. Mine had bad intonation, but that was the guitar store's fault. Really bright and full sound, though.

Ease of Use:
I'm... working on learning mandolin based on guitar, violin and ukulele skills. It's a good instrument.

Support:
Took some convincing to get a free set-up, but that's the store's issue, not Fender's.

Overall:
It's better than the $79 no-name one, and still better than the $130 no-name one.

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