new mk for 1/2 price

[gospelman]

I was searching a popular website for instruments and found a michael kelly legacy deluxe (tobacco sunburst) for $349.99 (free shipping) while the satin amberfade model was $699.99 like most of the other sites. I chatted with a representative and was told that the price was correct because the item had been discountinued. I'm pretty much a beginner but in light of the research that I have done, this price seems too good to be true. What do you guys think? By the way, am I allowed to say the name of the website on this board?

[Lane Pryce]

Zounds like a musicians friend. No prob. If its not a blem its a good price. Lp

[Richard Russell]

Probably a very good deal! A few months ago, the discontinued Legacy models were going for $299 at Musicians Friend. Several Cafe members bought them. Some were well pleased. Thing to do is order it and when it arrives, check it out and even have an experienced player inspect it if you can. Don't hesitate to send it back if it has problems. If it's a good one, you have a great mandolin to learn with!

[mr51]

Yes, that is an excellent price. #If you are interested in one, you'd better act quickly.

But also be prepared to spend a few dollars on it once you get it for a good setup. #If it is anything like the two MKs that I have, the neck and bridge will need some slight adjustments after you receive it. #At least with Musicians Friend, you have a full 45 days to play it and fall in love with it, or send it back for a refund.

[mandoforme]

Gospelman, if the MK Legacy Deluxe sounds like the one I have, then it is an outstanding deal! #I bought mine for less than $400 from a Cafe member. #I received mine with a perfect set up. #It stays in tune very well. #I can play the heck out of it and it still will be in tune. #The tone is the best I have ever experienced in a Korean made mandolin. #Give it a try! You can always ship it back. #Does the MK you are looking at come with a case or a gig bag? #If you buy it without a case or gig bag, let me know, as I will send you a free ballistic nylon gig bag that will help protect it.

[Darren Kern]

I got one of the music123.com closeout MKs, and it wasn't even worth the discount price, nowhere near. Worst sounding mandolin I've ever heard. Well, except for the Fender I played today at a music shop while testing the new tuner I just bought.

[Greenmando]

Half price is their cost. Last year we had a thread here about Guitar Center clearing out their Gibson F9's. All you had to do was find a GC with one in stock and offer them half price and they sold it to you. Memory tells me it was either $1600 or $1800. Probably a hundred of us on the cafe bought one at that price.

[gospelman]

Thanks for the input. #I decided to try one. #When I get it, I'll have a collegue of mine look at it. #He played on the Grand Old Opry with Bill Monroe so I guess he knows what he's doing. #If I don't like it, I'll send it back. #I did order a case for it but thanks for the generous offer mandoforme. #I think that I'm really going to like this message board.

[mandoforme]

Yes sir, if your colleague played with Mr. Monroe, then I would say he knows what he is doing. Let us know your thoughts when you receive your MK mandolin. Welcome to the Cafe!

[signel]

How does that MK compare to an epiphone F5? I played the epiphone today and it sounded/felt fairly good for a cheapie mando.

The Dean was I played was junk.

[gnelson651]

I bought one of those $299 MF, MK Legacy Dlx. The neck was warped and it plays like sh*t; Thin and tinny sounding. I had to get a setup on it right away and it still is not right. Its still hard to play at the 1st fret. plus it buzzes at the 9th-11th fret. From what I hear, it is hit or miss with MK's.

Good Luck

[signel]

It seems the MK's are real hit or miss. I just got one off music123. If it plays bad, I'll send it back. I do have 45 day returns so I am not worried.

[dreamingtree41]

Thats what I hear about MK. That is the reason I havn't purchased one, I don't want to have to deal with the return etc. I am now trying to get the money for a RM-75 I think my midspring i should have the cash for a new mando!!

[Jim Broyles]

I owned an RM-75, and now own an MK, and I would say that the Michael Kelly is superior to the Rover. If you want to save your pennies for an F style, I strongly suggest an Eastman 515.

[mandoforme]

I guess it is hit or miss with other builders as well. I played an Eastman 615 about six months ago that I thought was terrible. The tone was very thin. The MK I have now would blow it away in terms of tone. It might have been a set-up issue, but then again this mandolin came from FQMS. First Quality usually does a good job setting up new instruments.

[Jim Broyles]

mfm, I would say that the MK Legacy would blow the Rover away as well, but my MD515, which did have a mandovoodoo setup for the original purchaser earlier last year, is the best of the 6 mandos I've owned. Maybe Steve Perry's touch is required on a mando. Seriously, from what I gather on the site, Eastman value to price ratio is pretty high regardless of who does the setup.

[steve in tampa]

It has always seemed to me that when dealing in 2nd tier quality products, the "top of the line" model that they make is the only one worth looking at. To many compromises in lower end products, though there are some lucky ones.

[dreamingtree41]

I have a hard time buying instruments of the internet... I like to play it first. As far as MK's go... too pricy. I have some wonderful college to look forward to so... well you get it. Also there are no MK dealers in the great state of Idaho. And as far as Eastman goes...haha too pricy again. Oh well... Karma or something right?

[mr51]

Just wondering if you ever got the 1/2 price Michael Kelly you were asking about. If so, what do you think of it.

[signel]

I got my MK in the mail a week ago and it was C grade with some damage. The top scroll work on the peghead has been glued back on. It doesn't change the sound or function at all.

I paid less than half price, and so far I have been more than happy.

While getting it setup, I had plenty of time to play Collings (I want this tailpiece) , Gibson, a vintage martin. I have to say that my MK does not sound far off.

The big difference is the materials used. The MK has the mass produced look. I'd say it is better than epiphone to gibson, and that is a tall order considering how nice the collings mandos are.

[bluegrassjack2]

You guys talk about playing mandolins for long periods of time and they are still in tune. What gives some mandolin the ability to and some not, is it the tuners, nut or???

[gospelman]

By the way, my mk is still on backorder and the latest arrival date is Jan 20. #I'm waiting on pins and needles. #It will be great to have a mandolin with lower action and have some type of lows because my Johnson 120 has to be set up really high to keep it from buzzing.

[Mark Walker]

It DOES appear - as is probably the case with most 'production' type instruments - that the purchase of a Michael Kelly can indeed be a 'hit or miss' endeavor.

A cousin of mine - who gives mando lessons (and truly is one of the best mandolin pickers on the planet and in a popular bluegrass band) - just spent around $500 on a matte-finished Michael Kelly F-style. #He said he chose it off a rack from among a bunch of other mandolins - including other MK's - because it had the 'best' sound and 'playability' compared to the others nearby.

Now - to be fair - he bought this for one of his students. #This particular MK DOES seem to play pretty nice, but I was not impressed with the tone at all - it had no 'bark' and was rather quiet and 'tinny.' #He put some Elixer strings on it before her first lesson and that did help the tone and volume a bit. #And for the money (his student HAD been looking at some used custom-made mandolin for $2000 - which he said had NO depth or tone!) this will be MORE than adequate. #

However, comparing the MK to my Silver Angel F-style's overall tone, volume, and deep woody voice, the MK sounded like a single-speaker a.m. car radio compared to a BOSE wave machine! #

[Bob Borzelleri]

"However, comparing the MK to my Silver Angel F-style's overall tone, volume, and deep woody voice, the MK sounded like a single-speaker a.m. car radio compared to a BOSE wave machine!"

I was with you all the way up until I saw the BOSE reference.