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Yes, he is Mike Otis from NY. Well known in the Old Songs Festival and a great luthier according to the professional players that have his instruments. I am commissioning # 10. He makes maybe 2 a...

Yes I am having an A5 built and he usually uses red spruce. He has some englemann spruce which is considerably lighter but he has never used it before. I don't want to take a chance on something that...

Someone posted here that a KM1000 sold for $3,000 on ebay but when I checked the prior sales section I couldn't find any record of the sale. Hard to believe that someone would pay that kind of money...

What wood would builders or experienced players recommend for the top of an A5 mandolin. I've seen the sitka spruce on a Kentucky KM1000 and red spruce is common also. Anyone have experience using...

Thank for all your input guys. A few years back I saw a KM 1000 sell for $1500 so $2k today sounds about right. $3K would be for a 1980 or 1981 Sumi in excellent condition? So $2500 for the mandolin...

Hmm....so a 1981 Sumi KM 1000 is worth between $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the person's opinion. What has been the going price on ebay? Did I read that 1 sold for $3,000? So with a replacement MOP...

Thanks guys. I can't be certain that it is a maple top but the grain does not look like spruce to me and the fact that my friend who builds mandolins couldn't be certain what kind of wood it is even...

Now I'm confused. I have a KM1000 but I thought the top was maple. The grain doesn't look like spruce to me. Even my luthier friend said "you might be right" when he looked at the unstained inside of...

I have a Kentucky KM1000 with the flowerpot on the head and silver plated tailpiece (which I had to replace due to corrosion with a gold colored Kentucky tailpiece since they no longer made the...

I have the Martin backpacker and while it is a nice mandolin for the price (I paid $150 new with a case but they are usually around $200) I find the sound is a bit tinny with not much sustain. Of...

Well I must agree, having ordered an Otis 5 years ago and my name has finally moved up on the list. Each instrument is custom made so he can only make a few a year. If you are interested in a custom...