Kentucky KM-1500

[WJF]

I have a Sumi era, Japanese built Kentucky KM-1500 in excellent condition that hardly ever gets played so I'm thinking of finding it a good home. When I first got the instrument (probably sometime around '86) my friend John Monteleone was kind enough to set it up and build a bridge for it that improved the tone and volume by a quantum leap. Years later I had noted NY repair guru Bob Jones radius the board for me.

The end result of the tweaks/ modifications is an incredibly easy to play mandolin that sounds better than just about any other Kentucky I've ever heard.

It'll be weird sending on its way (feels like I've had it forever) but its the right thing to do.

One question though ... what would something like this be worth?? I have a number in my head buit I don't know if its too low ... or too high.

Would any of the experts here like to weigh in with what they think might be a fair number? I'd appreciate it!

Thanks!

[f5loar]

$2500 give or take a few hundred.

[Mike McCoy]

Yep, thats what I've seen them going for. Good luck.

[kudzugypsy]

i agree, depending on the condition of course. at one time, these were easy sells at $2000-2500, you sure dont see them for sale very often.

i have owned 3 1500's and 2 Dawgs - i will NEVER get rid of the 87 i have, it is a monster, i'd still be happily playing that one everyday if it hadnt fallen over and cracked the neck block - now it wont stay in tune and it would be big $$$ to fix it. i bought 2 others thinking they would be similiar, while they #were nice, they were no match for that 87.
imo, the late 80's models were a little *better* from my experience. the early ones seemed to have a very high neck angle and you had to crank the bridge WAY up and you lost some tone.

great mandos!

[WJF]

Thanks for the feedback! Actually the $2500 range give or take some was kinda what I'd thought ...

Just checked ... mine is sn 84208 So I'm guessing it was "born" on Aug 2, 1984. I just played it some and I have to say ... I've got some thinking to do ... I've had it so long it feels like a part of me, it plays very nicely and sounds pretty darned good too ... it won't ever replace either of my AL Smarts or my Collings MF5 but it has nothing to apologize for! I hate these kinds of decisions ... damn MAS!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[GTison]

I think the value is in the ball park for what is current. But that serial number is not a dating system from what I've seen. Desert Rose might can shed some light if you PM him. Saga is NO HELP. The year part is probably right but I've never the heard of month and day system applied for Kentucky Mandolins. I own a KM1000 model with the serial number 21209 (I think) I bought it new in spring of 1984. Which only proves that they weren't consistent. Too bad I didn't spring for the 1500 back then or a Loar.:p

[chattachef]

I SAW A DAWG GO FOR 2700 LAST MONTH ON EBAY. #LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN ENJOYED ALOT. #2500 TO 3000 SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.