Radiused fretboard on Kentucky KM-250S?

[mad dawg]

Could the text in this auction be true?

(link to auction) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3738558623&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT)

[John Flynn]

Maybe in the sense that the Earth is radiused, but up close, it looks flat! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I suppose it could be true. There is no reason Kentucky could not have tried radiusing. I have never heard of it and it seems unlikely in that price range. I would contact the seller and double check.

[pickinNgrinnin]

I've seen that before too and it seems like false advertising to me. I have a Kentucky 250S and the board is flat - like all the Mandolins they make.

BTW...if you are looking for a nice, used 250S, I have one for sale. Bargain price. Shameless plug http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I have a 250s also. The fretboard is just as flat as the earth! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Also it was good to see that I only paid $25 more than that when I bought mine on ebay about 18 mo ago.

Take Care! -Ed-

PS The fretboard really is flat for those of you wondering.

[Ken Berner]

The 250S I used to own was Korean-made, however I spoke with Saga once and they confirmed my suspicion that they interchanged necks on occasion. At that time this model had a fleur-de-lis inlay on the headstock, but mine had that funky "moustache", so I got in touch with them. I got a neck from a lesser model, but it didn't make any difference 'cause the instrument was a piece of ####.

[mad dawg]

I just learned from Mickey at FOTW that the KM-250S #does indeed now come with radiused fretboards (but not the other KY A-styles). I wonder if this feature is going to make much of a difference in unit sales, since it is usually purchased as a starter mandolin, and many such buyers might not even be aware of the significance of or difference between radiused and flat? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

(At the very least, this makes the 250S an interesting option for a cheap travel mando.)

[danmills]

I have a Kentucky 250S with a slightly radiused fretboard. I've seen other mandolins with much more curve to the fretboard, but mine is definitely not flat. It was my first mando, purchased ~April '03 from an EBay seller for $125. I was very happy with it as a starter mando.

Since then I've bought a '95 Flatiron A-5. The flat fretboard is the only thing about it that I'm not completely satisfied with, but it's not a big deal.

[Ken Berner]

danmills, Is your Flatiron the Artist, Performer or Festival model? I have a '92 F5 Artist that has a very slight radius, and my '93 A5 Artist has a flat fretboard, which I think was standard. As I did not buy either mandolin new, the F may have been bought with an optional radius. I really can't tell any difference in the playability; both are great instruments!

[danmills]

Is your Flatiron the Artist, Performer or Festival model?

None of the above, I beleve, although I get the impression the meaning of those model designations has drifted considerably from year to year. In any case, it's not the Artist, because the neck and headstock are unbound. It's not the Festival because the back is bound. And although I've seen Performers with both bound and unbound backs, this one just says "A5" on the label, along with the serial number and signature. The fingerboard is absolutely flat.

Dan

[Unseen122]

Kentuckys have to be the best deals on mandos I have an M-380 love it and for a list of $450 you don't have to sell your soul I use this mando to play real gigs this is not just a starter mando this is a good instrument. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif