Flat-backed mandolins have long been a mainstay of Americana, country, blues, swing and a variety of other traditional styles. Happily, Waterloo has made a mandolin that pays homage to those classic instruments but with their well-known attention to detail. The new WL-M is constructed with all solid woods and in a ladder-braced design, which contributes to its dry and articulate vintage chime. Unlike the flat-backed mandolins made prior to World War II, the WL-M has a fully-adjustable truss rod and compound fingerboard radius, allowing for modern day playability.