Darn Near A Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5 Master Mandolin!

[mandofiddle]

This has got to be the funniest statements I've seen...

Darn Near A Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5 Master Mandolin! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3727177751&rd=1)


Umm, yeah, sure it is buddy.

[mandoJeremy]

Yeah, I saw that and thought it was hilarious! It's all about marketing!

[Flowerpot]

It's even a factory second, with finish blemishes, but it's the "quintessential" F style mandolin. Just a little exaggeration there?

[Bob DeVellis]

No, really, there was a Loar not 50 ft. away when the picture was taken.

[Spruce]

What is the value of the Kentucky KM-700, anyway?
I think new ones are what, 700 bucks or so?

I was recently approached with a 1980 Kentucky KM-700, claiming that they were worth over 2K...

I know zilch about the values of these things...
Anyone?

[mandofiddle]

Were the earlier Kentucky's different than the current ones? I seem to remember some sort of arrangement with the early ones where they were American made and endorsed by Grisman, but when they decided to send them overseas to be built, Grisman understandably pulled his permission to use his name. If that's true, then the one you were approached with could be a considerable higher quality then the current ones...

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

[QUOTE]It's even a factory second, with finish blemishes, but it's the "quintessential" F style mandolin.

OOOOOOO! and its a distressed model http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[peterbc]

They were built in Japan for a while, and I've heard those ones can be good too, but they've moved to Korea now (I think?).

[delsbrother]

Kentuckys were once American made? I thought they were all made overseas, first in Japan and then in other places.. I seem to remember on Grisman's Homespun instructional tape him saying something about being "real proud" of his MIJ Kentucky - but obviously I could be mistaken..

[mandofiddle]

Hey delsbrother, I can be wrong too http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Anyone know for sure the story behind Kentucky's?

[Bob DeVellis]

The closest thing to an American Kentucky is the Dawg, which was designed with input from Monteleone and Grisman but made by Sumi in Japan. Thew were imported by Saga, based in San Francisco, but never made here as far as I know. The Japanese ones could be very decent but not comparable to a typical Loar by any stretch.

[mandodude]

The closest thing to an American Kentucky is the Dawg, which was designed with input from Monteleone and Grisman but made by Sumi in Japan. #Thew were imported by Saga, based in San Francisco, but never made here as far as I know. #The Japanese ones could be very decent but not comparable to a typical Loar by any stretch.
Hey, Bob!

I believe you're spot-on with you're description here. The old "Dawg" models, to my knowledge, are commanding big bucks, and $2K is not out of the question. In fact, 'bout a year ago I seem to recall Grisman's personal Kentucky "Dawg" listed in the Classifieds for somewhere around the $2K figure - worth every bit of that just for the "mojo" that must be in that baby!
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Seriously, Sumi was, and is, a highly respected builder, even though he's not American. He's currently building the "Sullivan" model mando for FQMS.

I think the jury's still out with regard to your last sentence, though. Remember, the Sumi-built mandos don't have the benefit of 80-or-so years behind them like all Loars do. Only time will tell, my friend!

M'dude

[zeke]

Right you are, Bob. There were a number of models made around that period by Mr. Sumi, the KM-1000 and 1500, as well as others (KM-Dawg). A very high quality line, actually. I have a Dawg mandola that Ronnie McCoury borrowed for his show at the CBA Father's Day fest last year, sounded great in his hands (but so would a korean plywood mando, probably). Matter of fact, Joe Craven has a Sumi/Kentucky F5 style given to him by Mr. Grisman that he uses during thier shows, the mando twin parts; sounds wonderfull. I've played it and it's impressive. Sumi made both Monteleone and trad F5 styles as well as A's during that brief period, and all can be really nice. My understanding is that John M was flown over to help set up the production, taught a very experienced luthier (sumi) a few of his tricks and left. He's now building under his own name; I believe Roland White has one, but I haven't seen his later work.

Anyway, I think a few of these might be the hottest underpriced mandos around. Although it's rising for those in the know: 5 years ago Mando Bros listed a 'dola like mine for $2400.

[Eric F.]

Frannkly, I think y'all are being too hard on the seller. After all, the mando in question "still has the peel-off protective film over the adjustable truss-rod plate cover." If that isn't the closest thing to a Loar, I don't know what is.

[GTison]

I DON'T GET IT. Seems that a person who might be impressed with that kind of "marketing " wouldn't even know who LL was.

Yall need to look at the Jap KM1000 thread for info about the Kentucky mandos.

[earthsave]

Actually I think the term "Darn near" is a red neck term meaning less than 10 feet away more or less.

[JD Cowles]

reckon you's right there earthsave. #done misspelled it tho, should be "dern near" or "pert near". #as in "dern near kilt a pernt a' corn likker before work"
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