The 527 is the “true” Ibanez Bill Monroe model, and as close as Ibanez came to an actual copy of a Gibson Lloyd Loar style F-5 mandolin. The highest grade of woods was used on the 527 models and you will see a variety of highly figured maple in the back, sides, and neck: curl, quilt, birdseye, and flame. The solid spruce top is typically tight grained and of extremely high quality.

The deep, hand-rubbed finish highlights the quality of the wood and imparts a unique, vintage appearance that differs considerably from the standard sunburst of the more common 524 models. The color of the sunburust was used only on the 527 and seems to accentuate a deeper top carve. Dot fingerboard inlays are true to the Loar design, although the fancy and unusual headstock inlay is not. Note how the binding continues straight across the neck joint which is a more complex construction technique than what Ibanez used on their Artist and Pro mandolins where the binding simply follows the outline of the mandolin top.

Other features include nickel hardware and no pickguard.