An A-style mandolin has a pear-shaped body without the scroll and points of the F-style, so it is lighter to hold and simpler to build. It has eight strings in four pairs tuned like a violin and is a staple of bluegrass, folk and Celtic music. The main choices are solid or laminate woods, finish and what comes in the box.
The six mandolins below range from an all-in-one starter kit to solid-wood instruments. Specs come from each product’s Amazon page. We have not played these instruments ourselves. Tone and craftsmanship claims are the makers’ own, and some listing tables disagree with their text, which we point out.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Top wood | Solid spruce tops are common on better instruments; basswood is a softer option |
| Back and sides | Maple is bright and traditional |
| Neck and nut | A slim neck and narrow nut change hand comfort |
| Finish | Satin feels dry; gloss looks traditional |
| Included gear | Gig bag, tuner, strap and picks decide what else you must buy |
Specs at a Glance
| Mandolin | Woods | Finish and weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Loar LM-110-BRB | Hand-carved solid spruce top; maple back and neck | Satin brownburst; 3.2 lb | 1-1/8 in nut; thin V neck; 5 year warranty |
| Kentucky KM-150 | Solid German spruce top; maple back and sides | Gloss vintage sunburst; 5 lb | Gig bag included; 1 year limited warranty |
| Eastman MD305 | Spruce top; maple back, sides and neck | Classic finish | Ebony fingerboard; f-holes; bag included |
| Ibanez M510 | Spruce top and sapele back (text); rosewood (table) | High gloss; 3.2 lb | Purpleheart fingerboard; 1 year warranty |
| Washburn M1S Americana | Solid carved European spruce top; maple back | Gloss tobacco sunburst; 3.4 lb | D’Addario J73 strings; limited lifetime warranty |
| Vangoa VMD10-SB | Basswood top and back | Glossy sunburst; 3 lb | Kit with gig bag, strap, picks, tuner and spare strings |
The 6 Best A-Style Mandolins
1. The Loar LM-110-BRB Honey Creek
A hand-carved solid spruce top over a maple back, with a maple neck in a thin V profile, a 1-1/8 inch nut, phosphor bronze strings and a satin brownburst finish. It weighs 3.2 pounds and carries a 5 year warranty per the page. The brand line shows Banjo Ben’s, which is the seller, not the maker.
Suits: a player who wants a solid carved top. Strengths: the longest warranty here. Weaknesses: no gig bag listed. Skip it if you want a complete kit.
View The Loar LM-110-BRB Mandolin on Amazon
2. Kentucky KM-150
Kentucky describes a solid German spruce top with alpine maple back and sides, a slim maple neck and a high-gloss vintage sunburst finish, aimed at bluegrass, folk and classical players. A padded ProTour gig bag comes in the box. It weighs 5 pounds, and the page lists a 1 year limited warranty.
Suits: a player who wants a gig bag and traditional looks. Strengths: an all-solid-wood top and back per the maker. Weaknesses: the heaviest listed. Skip it if you want a lighter instrument.
View Kentucky KM-150 Mandolin on Amazon
3. Eastman MD305
A classic-finish A-style mandolin with f-holes, a spruce top, maple back, sides and neck and an ebony fingerboard, sold with a bag. The weight is 16 ounces while the dimensions read 31 by 20 by 6.5 inches, which look like packaging dimensions, so rely on the maker’s page for exact sizing.
Suits: a player who wants an ebony fingerboard. Strengths: a clear wood list and a bag. Weaknesses: no warranty line. Skip it if you need exact dimensions.
View Eastman MD305 Mandolin on Amazon
4. Ibanez M510
An A-style mandolin in brown sunburst high gloss. The bullet text names a spruce top, sapele back and sides, an okoume neck and a purpleheart fingerboard. The table says rosewood for the top and back, so the two disagree. It weighs 3.2 pounds and has a 1 year limited warranty.
Suits: a player who likes a glossy finish. Strengths: a light weight. Weaknesses: conflicting wood data. Skip it if the wood must be confirmed first.
View Ibanez M510 Mandolin on Amazon
5. Washburn M1S Americana
An A-style mandolin with f-holes, a solid carved European spruce top, maple back and sides, a gloss tobacco sunburst finish and D’Addario J73 light-gauge strings. It weighs 3.4 pounds and carries a limited lifetime warranty per the page.
Suits: a bluegrass player on a solid-top instrument. Strengths: a solid carved top and a long warranty. Weaknesses: no case or bag listed. Skip it if you want gear in the box.
View Washburn M1S Americana Mandolin on Amazon
6. Vangoa VMD10-SB Mandolin Kit
A basswood A-style kit mandolin, 27 inches long and 3 pounds, in glossy sunburst. The kit includes a padded gig bag, strap, picks, clip-on tuner and spare strings. Vangoa describes an adjustable walnut bridge and rounded fret ends. The page lists no warranty line.
Suits: a first mandolin with extras. Strengths: everything in one box. Weaknesses: basswood rather than spruce. Skip it if you want a carved spruce top.
View Vangoa A-Style Mandolin Kit on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Tune each pair of strings to the same note before playing.
- Wipe strings and the fingerboard with a dry cloth after playing.
- Keep the case away from heaters and direct sun.
- Loosen strings slightly if you will not play for a long time.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a kit includes a case.
- Believing a table that disagrees with the listing text.
- Over-tightening new strings.
- Leaving the instrument in a hot car.
A-Style Mandolin FAQ
What is the difference between A-style and F-style?
F-style has a scroll and points. A-style has a simpler pear shape.
How is a mandolin tuned?
Usually in fifths like a violin, G D A E, with two strings per note.
The Short Version
For a carved solid top and a 5 year warranty, The Loar LM-110. For a gig bag and gloss, the Kentucky KM-150. For an ebony fingerboard, the Eastman MD305. For a light glossy finish, the Ibanez M510. For a solid top and a lifetime warranty, the Washburn M1S. For a starter kit, the Vangoa VMD10-SB.
