Kentucky, Rover, and Blueridge blems on eBay [Archive]

View Full Version : Kentucky, Rover, and Blueridge blems on eBay

Jim MacDaniel

Jul-09-2009, 9:19am

Saga routinely sells their blems on eBay, and I recently picked up a brand new KM-172 for just $150. The only issue with it was a ding on the back of the neck where the headstock meets the neck, but it was such that they couldn't sell it to a dealer, so they moved it as a blem on eBay. (A couple of years ago I also picked up a KM-250S for $80, and I couldn't find an issue with it to tell you the truth.)

Here is a link to Saga's eBay store front (http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/rhaus1999) for these blems, and they currently have several mandolin blems in the storefront, including another KM-172, this with binding bleeding, and a KM-505 with a ding in the soundboard. They also have several different Kentucky F-models listed, as well as a Rover F.

They all have BIN prices, but also include a Best Offer function, so don't be afraid to bid low; it worked for me on the first try, but now I'm thinking I could have won it with an offer of $130 instead of $150. :(

Jill McAuley

Jul-10-2009, 9:24pm

Jim MacDaniel

Jul-10-2009, 9:54pm

You might want to keep an eye out on their listings, Jill. I've seen a few 505's listed the past few weeks. If you save a search, they usually don't include the model in the listing title, so you might want to just search by seller, with mandolin in the title.

Jill McAuley

Jul-11-2009, 12:03am

Thanks for the tip Jim, I'll do that!

Cheers,
Jill

Alex Orr

Jul-11-2009, 8:38am

Wonder was it a Cafe member who got the 505? I'd been toying with the idea of getting it as a keep at work mando. Shoulda struck while the iron was hot, ah well...someone got a bargain, fair play to them.

Cheers,
Jill

Or the KM-1000 that was listing at $450 due to a small break on the headstock? I'll be keeping this in mind. Thanks for the heads up Jim.

John H.

Jul-11-2009, 9:13am

Hi all,
Last night I pulled the trigger on a Rover Rm-75 for just under $250, the only blemish being that the logo was messed up under the lacquer, just cosmetic. Just in time, too, cause my Fullerton Gloucester's top is starting to sink. It seems like the treble brace is loosening up near the tailpiece. I'll have to get in there with a mirror to see how bad it is.
I have bought a Km-380 (with a teeny neck!), and a really nice Km-340 from rhaus in the past, great folks to deal with!
I'll let you know how it is when it comes in, I've heard nothing but good reviews on it from everyone here on the Cafe', so I was confidant to go for it.http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

John Hudak

David Casal

Jul-12-2009, 8:46am

Jim MacDaniel

Jul-12-2009, 10:21am

hi
i´m bidding now for a Rover, its first time dealing on ebay so im not to sure how it goes. the seller send me a contraofert (dont know if the corret name is counteroffer).
this means im out of bid?
i dont have much money so i cant pay what he ask plus shipping. i put a price just to try my luck, if it is aceppted i´ll have to sell one guitar.:redface:

Hi David,

If you received a counteroffer, that means the seller rejected your offer, and responded with a price he would accept. At this point you are under no obligation to pay, or to bid again, but you can continue the dialog by A) rejecting his counteroffer, B) accepting his counteroffer, and C) responding to his counteroffer with a new counteroffer of your own. (I think you and he may be able to submit up to three offers/counteroffers each.)

-jim

David Casal

Jul-12-2009, 3:18pm

hi jim

thank you, i choose the C option, i cross my fingers and wait

Payit Forward

Jul-12-2009, 3:27pm

(I think you and he may be able to submit up to three offers/counteroffers each.)

-jim

Yes - keep in mind that after 3 rejected offers you will be locked out of the "auction".

Eric F.

Jul-13-2009, 7:41am

Wonder was it a Cafe member who got the 505? I'd been toying with the idea of getting it as a keep at work mando. Shoulda struck while the iron was hot, ah well...someone got a bargain, fair play to them.

Cheers,
Jill

It was. :)

I bought it to keep at work. I made a low offer and he accepted it under the condition that I buy a gig bag for $15. That worked for me. I'll let you know how it sounds once it arrives later this week.

Jim, thanks for the tip!

David Casal

Jul-13-2009, 10:20am

enjoy:)

maybe next time will be my chance:mandosmiley:

David Casal

Jul-13-2009, 10:23am

i post too quikly, i think, you´re talking about another one...
im in again:grin:

Jill McAuley

Jul-14-2009, 11:13pm

It was. :)

I bought it to keep at work. I made a low offer and he accepted it under the condition that I buy a gig bag for $15. That worked for me. I'll let you know how it sounds once it arrives later this week.

Jim, thanks for the tip!

Well done Eric! And glad to hear that you made an offer and got it for even more of a bargain price!

Cheers,
Jill

Jim MacDaniel

Jul-14-2009, 11:23pm

Hey Jill -- I know it's another oval hole and you were thinking about a 505 as your work axe, but these KY oval holes are great little performers for the price, and here (http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-S005-Kentucky-Mandolin_W0QQitemZ290331065976QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4399147e78&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50) is one, also in amber, with just a minor finish flaw in the back. Asking price is $170, and I'm sure he would take $150 based upon my experience, so you might want to offer less to see what happens, if interested -- and you can arrange to pick it up at Saga's will-call in South SF to save yourself $20 bucks on shipping.

Jill McAuley

Jul-15-2009, 12:36am

Thanks for that info Jim - that is very tempting!

Cheers,
Jill

Eric F.

Jul-20-2009, 8:47am

OK, so I have had a chance to put a bit of playing time on the KM-505. I am very impressed with it. It is a serious mandolin. Oh, it won't make you stop lusting after that Dude or Nugget or whatever your dream mando is, but this thing is quite nice. The price-to-tone ratio is very favorable, especially at less than half the usual street price. I keep shaking my head when I play it, because I can't believe I paid so little for such a good-sounding instrument. The ding on top that sent it to the eBay blemish pile is large and noticeable, but who cares?

David Casal

Aug-02-2009, 4:26pm

lost in ebay treaks, i finally "win" an auction, a Balalaika of 1980, (dont know why i come to that) i expected it this week, maybe its a new open door for me

terzinator

Aug-03-2009, 7:22am

I just scored a KM855 from them for $495 last week. A couple of minor (can't hardly tell) finish blems, and there's a crack in the fingerboard binding. Looks like the very end of the fingerboard (last few frets or so) is a hair high, but if I just file one or two frets down up there, it's a non-issue.

Sold a Mid-Missouri M2 to get it, and I LOVE playing this thing.

Picker G

Aug-16-2009, 2:22pm

Hello Jim
I can't thank you enough for this thread. I had been looking for a while for a decent mandolin to start with. The problem was I had a limited budget to work with.
Because of your tip I was able to pick up a KM-250 blem with slight (barley noticable) finish flaws. The seller accepted a low offer of $150 provided I buy a hard case ( I was going to buy one anyway).
I am so happy. I haven't been able to put it down scince I got it. I think I'm going to like playing the mandolin.
Thanks again,:mandosmiley:
Greg (new member)

John H.

Aug-22-2009, 3:13pm

Hi Guys,
I wanted to let you all know how GREAT my Rover Rm75 sounds, loud and punchy. The monday before last, I went to the bgrass/string band jam that I go to and that little bugger could be heard above 2 b@nj0$, 5 Martins, 3 fiddles, harp player, and a guy with a P-bass with a small amp! My buddy the bass player heard me "jes fine" from across the room where he was sitting. For the dough, it was well worth it.
The only downside (for me) is the neck is smaller than I would like, but I like a "baseball bat" neck anyways.
I hope this helps anyone considering one of these mandos as a excellent starter or backup (or even as a nice gigging) instrument.
John Hudak