Eight Strings, One Great-Looking Mandolin
There's something about a mandolin in a dark violin sunburst that just looks right — like it belongs on a front porch somewhere in Appalachia, or plugged in at a small-venue gig where the band is loud and the room is warm. The Ibanez M510E in Dark Violin Sunburst delivers that look, plus the practicality of a built-in pickup for when unplugged just isn't an option.
The M510E is a well-built A-style acoustic-electric mandolin with a spruce top, sapele back and sides, an okoume neck, and a purpleheart fretboard and bridge. It plays 8 strings across 20 frets on a 13.8" scale — compact and quick under the fingers. Whether you're working through folk standards, picking out bluegrass runs, or just noodling around the campfire, it's a comfortable and capable instrument.
If you've been on the fence about getting into mandolin, or you want an affordable gigging option that can go acoustic or electric, the M510E is a sensible starting point that doesn't ask you to compromise on essentials.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed FLAW ON BACK OF HEADSTOCK. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
Spruce Top, Sapele Body
The spruce top gives this mandolin the bright, clear voice you'd expect from the wood — responsive to picking dynamics and present enough to cut through a mix. Paired with sapele back and sides, the overall tone leans warm and balanced without going muddy in the low end.
The okoume neck is smooth and comfortable in the hand, and the purpleheart fretboard adds a bit of natural hardness underfoot for durability. Ivory body binding finishes the look neatly on the edges. The whole package is finished in a dark violin sunburst high-gloss coat that gives it a classic, polished appearance.
Plug In and Pick Away
The M510E's magnetic single-coil pickup sits in the neck position and captures the mandolin's natural voice without needing a battery. Onboard passive volume and tone controls let you dial in your sound before it hits the amp or PA. The 1/4" output jack means any standard instrument cable works — no adapters, no fuss.
For folk sessions, open mic nights, or any situation where you need to be heard without cranking an acoustic, this pickup system covers the basics cleanly. Players often find that passive magnetic pickups on mandolins have a slightly warmer, more guitar-like quality than piezo systems — a useful trade-off depending on your genre and context.
Specs at a Glance
The M510E runs a 350mm (13.8") scale length with a flat-radius purpleheart fretboard, 20 frets, and a 30mm nut width. String spacing at the bridge is 10mm. Chrome mandolin tuners handle tuning stability, and the instrument ships strung with bronze strings in standard mandolin tuning (G, D, A, E). The purpleheart bridge and saddle round out the hardware setup.
Product Features:
- Body Style: A-style acoustic-electric mandolin
- Top: Spruce
- Back & Sides: Sapele
- Neck: Okoume with M profile
- Fretboard & Bridge: Purpleheart
- Scale Length: 350mm / 13.8"
- Frets: 20, with ivory body binding
- Pickup: Magnetic single-coil, passive volume and tone controls
- Output: 1/4" mono jack
- Tuners: Chrome mandolin tuners
- Strings: Bronze, factory tuning G-D-A-E
- Finish: Dark Violin Sunburst High Gloss
Brand: Ibanez
Model: M510E Dark Violin Sunburst
SKU: M510EDVS-2ND|2Y07GS260110501
Condition: B-Stock
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
