How do you determine the age of a Kentucky mandolin?

Hi,

I'd like to know how to determine the date/year of manufacture of a KM 650. It has a five-digit serial number that starts with 13.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
John

SOME people say that the date is in the serial number. But not always. And even then some of the numbers I don't believe match the year. Saga doesn't keep records that they release. So you will just have to go by construction features to narrow it down. A picture posted would be a good way to get help on that. However being old doesn't seem to affect the value much. But I always like to know too.

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Thanks for the tip. I was given a year/location, but I'm trying to figure out how accurate that is, so won't post here to avoid leading someone in one particular direction. I've only had one other F-style, and what's interesting to me is that on this KM-650, the scroll gets wider the further away from the body you get (the Epiphone MM50 I had didn't appear to do this; maybe all do and I just didn't notice?).

I have one of these. Best I can determine on mine is that this model was made in the mid 1980's in Japan. I feel very lucky because mine seems to be a very fine playing and sounding insturment. My opinion and the feedback from respected players that have tried it. Sp far when I start getting the MAS infection I just have someone else play it while I listen. Then I am satified for awhile.

Was going to say that you could saw through the neck and count the growth rings, but decided that would be stupid, facetious and unhelpful. You can contact Saga here, but others have said serial number info's hard to come by there.