If you haven’t already had the chance to visit Mandolin Moments, have a look at this new independent site dedicated to mandolin. The editor of the site, Reidar Falch, is the original owner of a 1982 Ibanez 529 mandolin.
Reidar is a mandolinist/web programmer/journalist who has played in the Oslo Mandolin Orchestra since 1970 and been the leader since 1999. Between 1999 and 2005, he edited Tremolo.no, a mandosite owned by The Norwegian Mandolin and Balalaika Association. Since then he’s been planning Mandolin Moments as a mandosite seeing the world …

The later version of the 529 model features a fancy fingerboard inlay, which you can see on the 1983 vintage example sent in by Tim and now added to the serial number database. B832837 has been modified at some point with a pickup bolted to the pickguard, and control knobs and output jack added by cutting into the wood. Although it is useful to amplify your mandolin, we recommend using a reversible modification so you can keep your mandolin as original as possible.

The pictures also show the unique case of …

The Serial Number Database of vintage Ibanez Mandolins continues to grow, thanks to submissions, from visitors around the globe. Ibanez mandolins are a truly global instrument, with musicians from New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, Norway, Portugal, and many other countries writing in to share pictures and information.
The database now features over 200 images in 35 albums, the largest collection of Ibanez mandolin pictures on the internet. There are many more to be added, so keep checking back as the galleries grow.
Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to send …

The first draft of commentary has been added to the pages for each Ibanez mandolin model, to go along with the catalog image and published specs. All eleven models in the 52X series are now updated with details and insight into their origins and cosmetics. For example, the 524 page talks about the unique tortoise headstock overlay and relative abundance of this model.

David Grisman inspired the purchase of an Ibanez mandolin in Oregon in 1990? We’ll get to that…

Phil Johnson is the proud new owner of a well broken in 527 mandolin, which he plays in his bluegrass band Eight Dollar Mountain. Phil was kind enough to answer some detailed questions about his mandolin’s history and his music for ibanezmandolin.com in our latest exclusive feature aritcle. The interview is highly entertaining with all kinds of twists and turns, including a mention of David Grisman. You’ll have to read the rest to find …