Older Kentucky oval holes

[dorenac]

In the late eighties I had an F4 style Kentucky mandolin, which I now regret selling. Does anyone know the model numbers for those, as well as have any been seen around lately?

[Andy B]

I have a KM 1000 with an oval hole, basically an F4 style mando with a neck that joins the body at fret 12 but an elevated fingerboard extension. There's a nice flowerpot inlay on the peghead. It has an 85 SN, though I bought it new in 1995. It was a little shopworn--I think it had been there for a while. It sounds less tubby than some oval hole mandos I've heard. It is the only F4 KM 1000 I've ever seen.

[Andrew B. Carlson]

I have a KM 1000 with an oval hole, basically an F4 style mando with a neck that joins the body at fret 12 but an elevated fingerboard extension. There's a nice flowerpot inlay on the peghead. It has an 85 SN, though I bought it new in 1995. It was a little shopworn--I think it had been there for a while. It sounds less tubby than some oval hole mandos I've heard. It is the only F4 KM 1000 I've ever seen.

That sounds pretty neat. Got pics?

[dorenac]

There was an alpha/numeric system that designated an oval-hole model. But I don't recall now how that worked.