Kentucky km-505

[Mr. Loar]

I just pulled the trigger on a Kentucky KM-505 to tide me over until the Poe arrives. I felt the need to try an "A" style for a change.

[JEStanek]

Nice, you'll have to give us a review of it once it arrives.

Jamie

[Mr. Loar]

Nice, you'll have to give us a review of it once it arrives.

Jamie
Will do Jamie!

[Ken Olmstead]

I have played 4 different chinese 505s and they are all super! The sound is very rich. They don't sound like an import at all to me. The radius board, larger frets and the fit and finish make it an excellent value! I keep thinking that I may replace my old Korean 250 with one of these new 505s for my travel/spare. The step up in sound from the 250 is quite noticeable! Every one that I played needed a little set-up but you expect that in a $500 mandolin. Will be interested to hear what you think! Enjoy!

[Mr. Loar]

Tomorrow's the day!!! UPS prolly gets here around this time tomorrow. I'm stoked. I have two "F's", and this is my first "A". Stand by.

[JEStanek]

Q: What are you gonna do when you find you like the instrument's balance better on the A without that cumbersome, heavy headstock? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

A1: Call Andy Poe and save some dough...
A2: Stick with the F because his are so darn good looking...

Jamie

[Richard Russell]

I predict that you will be quite impressed with the 505. Can't wait to hear your first impressions after you get it! What a great day it is when a new mandolin arrives!

[pjlama]

They sound quite good for the money. I bought a 172 recently and it's great except the tuners are super bad, they slip.

[cooper4205]

I too have been impressed with the two KM-505's I've played, they were a whole lot of mandolin, for not a lot of money.

[Mr. Loar]

Q: What are you gonna do when you find you like the instrument's balance better on the A without that cumbersome, heavy headstock? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

A1: Call Andy Poe and save some dough...
A2: Stick with the F because his are so darn good looking...

Jamie
You got me thinking now. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll love the Poe, and if the Kentucky knocks me off my feet maybe I'll have Andy build me one of his "A" models. Life's too short and if I have the money nothing's impossible.

[Eric F.]

Q: What are you gonna do when you find you like the instrument's balance better on the A without that cumbersome, heavy headstock? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

A1: Call Andy Poe and save some dough...
A2: Stick with the F because his are so darn good looking...

Jamie
You got me thinking now. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll love the Poe, and if the Kentucky knocks me off my feet maybe I'll have Andy build me one of his "A" models. Life's too short and if I have the money nothing's impossible.
I like that way of thinking! I think you need to have Andy make you an A with an oval hole.

[Mr. Loar]

Q: What are you gonna do when you find you like the instrument's balance better on the A without that cumbersome, heavy headstock? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

A1: Call Andy Poe and save some dough...
A2: Stick with the F because his are so darn good looking...

Jamie
You got me thinking now. #There's no doubt in my mind that I'll love the Poe, and if the Kentucky knocks me off my feet maybe I'll have Andy build me one of his "A" models. #Life's too short and if I have the money nothing's impossible.
I like that way of thinking! I think you need to have Andy make you an A with an oval hole.
Great idea! Perfect. Thanks for the suggestion.

[TNFrank]

The highest end Kentucky that MF carriers is the 380s, how would that compare to a 505?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product....=518035 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Kentucky-KM380S-Artist-AModel-Mandolin?sku=518035)
It does look like they've added some other Keytucky mandos to their list, even some F-style ones.

[Eric F.]

Thanks for the suggestion.

Oh, you're welcome. I'm good at helping others spend their money. I remember seeing one of Andy's early oval A models - I think he might still have been building under the Driftwood name - and falling in love at first sight. Anyhow, you're going to have a killer F-hole instrument and a nice backup for it, so you'll definitely need an oval. And then a flattop. And a bowlback, and a 'dola. ... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[TomTyrrell]

The highest end Kentucky that MF carriers is the 380s, how would that compare to a 505?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product....=518035 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Kentucky-KM380S-Artist-AModel-Mandolin?sku=518035)
It does look like they've added some other Keytucky mandos to their list, even some F-style ones.
Well, here's your reading comprehension test.

Kentucky 380S (http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/details.asp?ProductID=KM-380S)

Kentucky 505 (http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/details.asp?ProductID=KM-505)

Musician's Friend probably isn't the best place to buy your next mandolin. You're going to want it setup by someone who knows what he is doing.

[TNFrank]

The 505 looks like a bit nicer mando. Quality wise they both look good though. As far as set-up, I've been doing my own set-up on guitars and basses for years, the Epi MM-30 wasn't hard to set-up at all. Why spend money on something you can do yourself? I know, not everyone has the time or know how but for me it's not all that hard. If MF would carry the 505 at a decent price I'd for sure look into it. They do have a 855 F-Style but it's in the $800 buck range, way out of my spending limit.

[Ken Olmstead]

TNF - The new KM-675 is a great F style mandolin for someone's hard earned cash and it has a more traditional look. It plays and feels like the 505 and has a sound that is very similar. Little less "pimped" than the 855. I am not sure what these go for $ wise.

[Mr. Loar]

The highest end Kentucky that MF carriers is the 380s, how would that compare to a 505?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product....=518035 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Kentucky-KM380S-Artist-AModel-Mandolin?sku=518035)
It does look like they've added some other Keytucky mandos to their list, even some F-style ones.
The 505 has a radiused fingerboard and the extension is cut shorter so that you can pick away from the bridge without getting the "pick clicks" off the fingerboard. I think the finishes might be different too. The 505 has a "thin finish". Other than that they're pretty close. I'm getting my 505 for $442 with a hard shell case. I don't like those soft cases.

[TomTyrrell]

The 380s has a carved top and back. The 505 has a hand carved top and back. Many other differences. Basically the 380 is the top of the bottom and the 505 is the bottom of the top in that brand.

I don't know what your fascination is with Guitar Center but if that's where you have to buy I guess you have to take whatever they have.

[terrierguy]

TNFrank
If cost is an issue and you would rather have the 505 here is an option.

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/KENTUCKY-KM-505-DELUXE-ARTIST-A-MODEL-MANDOLIN_W0QQitemZ180240242479QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1 01
79QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/KENTUCK....iewItem</a>

Have fun with whatever you decide.

[TNFrank]

The 380s has a carved top and back. The 505 has a hand carved top and back. Many other differences. Basically the 380 is the top of the bottom and the 505 is the bottom of the top in that brand.

I don't know what your fascination is with Guitar Center but if that's where you have to buy I guess you have to take whatever they have.
By Guitar Center I guess you mean Musician's Friend and it's because I have a Platnium Card so I can CHARGE IT,LOL. That way I can get something and pay it off over a couple three months otherwise I'd never have the cash to buy it. I might have to look into the 675, it sounds pretty decent.

[TomTyrrell]

You do know that other stores accept credit cards, right?

And yes, Musician's Friend is Guitar Center is Music123.

[TNFrank]

You do know that other stores accept credit cards, right?

And yes, Musician's Friend is Guitar Center is Music123.
This is a credit card issued thru MF to use to buy from them. It's not a generaly CC that I can use anywhere.

[Ken Olmstead]

Mr. Loar, did you ever get your Kentucky? I just got a new 505 in a trade deal and I am really impressed with these! It comes with dreadful strings but the set-up is good. The radius board and larger frets makes the Kentucky very playable!! Fit and finish is far above what is normally expected of a $500 import and the woods used are really nice looking. I won't lie about the sound and tell you it sounds better than my Fern (I just couldn't do that even if it was true!) This thing sounds very good and does not give away its import origins with its sound. I have been wanting to upgrade my old 250s since about 2 months after I got it but it has been to Mexico twice and the cabin and camping but with the 505, I won't be complaining so much to my wife how inferior the mandolin is to my Fern. Also, this will easily funtion as my back up stage mandolin. These are a big thumbs up for me! I will check in after I have had it for a month or so and see how it settles in.

[MikeEdgerton]

You need to look at this (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=53800;hl=neck) thread.

[Mr. Loar]

Mr. Loar, did you ever get your Kentucky? I just got a new 505 in a trade deal and I am really impressed with these! It comes with dreadful strings but the set-up is good. The radius board and larger frets makes the Kentucky very playable!! Fit and finish is far above what is normally expected of a $500 import and the woods used are really nice looking. I won't lie about the sound and tell you it sounds better than my Fern (I just couldn't do that even if it was true!) This thing sounds very good and does not give away its import origins with its sound. I have been wanting to upgrade my old 250s since about 2 months after I got it but it has been to Mexico twice and the cabin and camping but with the 505, I won't be complaining so much to my wife how inferior the mandolin is to my Fern. Also, this will easily funtion as my back up stage mandolin. These are a big thumbs up for me! I will check in after I have had it for a month or so and see how it settles in.
Thanks for asking, and I'm happy to hear that you're happy with your KM-505. I was on the verge of sending the second one back because it had a neck twist. I had a house guest over Friday night for my birthday party and I let her play the Kentucky. She fell in love with it!!!! In an attempt to make everyone's lives better, I decided to give the instrument to her. I loved the look on her face when she was playing it. Her only mandolin is a Johnson "A" model. It made me feel good to watch her play the Kentucky. So....I made myself happy by giving her the mandolin, made myself happy because I didn't have to spend an hour packing the instrument up, made myself happy by not having to drive to the UPS store and use gas, made the UPS driver happy, and finally, I made the store owner happy because they didn't have to pay shipping again and avoided the restocking work. It felt really good to give on my birthday!!

Everyone wins!!!!

[Ken Olmstead]

Wow, nice guy, Mr Loar!! Putting an instrument in someones hands that has very little means otherwise is a lot of fun. I have had the opportunity to do that twice!

Amazing that you had so much trouble, but I have had that happen on other instruments so I can feel your pain. The dealer I bought from locally had 4 to choose from. Of course he had them all set up. I played all 4 and quickly found the better two, but then it took two hours to decide which one I preferred of the 2. All four of them were worth the money. I will heartily stand by my "rave" review but, I guess I had the good fortune to play before I purchased. Which, ultimately made the difference in this case. Probabaly not good to order Kentucky's sight unseen based on your experience.

[Mr. Loar]

Wow, nice guy, Mr Loar!! Putting an instrument in someones hands that has very little means otherwise is a lot of fun. I have had the opportunity to do that twice!

Amazing that you had so much trouble, but I have had that happen on other instruments so I can feel your pain. The dealer I bought from locally had 4 to choose from. Of course he had them all set up. I played all 4 and quickly found the better two, but then it took two hours to decide which one I preferred of the 2. All four of them were worth the money. I will heartily stand by my "rave" review but, I guess I had the good fortune to play before I purchased. Which, ultimately made the difference in this case. Probabaly not good to order Kentucky's sight unseen based on your experience.
I think about buying another one but then I talk myself out of it and tell myself to wait for the Poe. Five months is not a long time right?

[Ken Olmstead]

If you don't have a mando then 5 month is forever! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif But if you have something to play, the Kentucky will gather dust once the Poe arrives anyway! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif If I had the $$ I would cancel my Poe order and buy that Driftwood floating around, what a beauty (with an approval of course!) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Mr. Loar]

If you don't have a mando then 5 month is forever! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #But if you have something to play, the Kentucky will gather dust once the Poe arrives anyway! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif If I had the $$ I would cancel my Poe order and buy that Driftwood floating around, what a beauty (with an approval of course!) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
No, I'm on track for the Poe and have "The Loar" to tide me over. It's developing into a great sounding instrument.

[Ken Olmstead]

Your golden then!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif