The Loar has announced the summer 2008 debut of their latest mandolin model. The LM-600-VS is an F-style instrument, which the manufacturer describes as an accurate replica of the original 1920’s F5-style model.

It is a solid wood, hand-carved and graduated mandolin with a spruce top, flame maple back and sides, and finished with a traditional tobacco sunburst.

The Loar makes much of the fact that they will use a nitrocellulose finish on this new model, a practice common in higher end handmade instruments, but apparently less so in Asian imports. This finish is very durable and flexible, but it’s highly toxic nature makes it more difficult (and costly) to apply.

The LM-600-VS will carry a retail price of $899.99 and will ship in an embroidered, lightweight case.

The company is a division of The Music Link, and their mandolins and guitars are distributed through TML’s dealer network.