Kentucky 180s

[de24]

My local shop is carrying a used Kentucky 180s but I can't find much about these with a Google search.

Anybody have one of these? Is it all solid or a pre-cursor to the laminate sides of the 140s?

Where does it fall in the Kentucky line of today?

Thanks.
de24

[MikeEdgerton]

The top was solid, the back and sides were laminated as I recall. I'm assuming they made these in Korea as well as Japan. Does it show a country of origin?

[John Flynn]

The 180s's I have seen were Japanese made and were very decent instruments. they seem to sell for relatively good prices used, compared to the general Kentucky price range. I saw one in EC with a gig bag priced at $400 at a local store. It sounded great and it went pretty fast. I think they were the top of the line A model at one point.

[Steevarino]

My first mandolin was a Kentucky 180S. #I couldn't have asked for a better first mandolin. #It lasted me about two years, until I got a bad case of scroll envy, and had to sell it, along with a lot of other stuff, to buy my first F-5 mandolin.

I bought the 180S right (around $250), and as I recall, I got more than that for it when I sold it on consignment at a music store. #Of course, that was quite a few years ago...

Still, you can't ask for more than that!

Steve

www.CumberlandAcoustic.com
www.RedLineResophonics.com

[mandocaster]

I liked the 180s better than their lower line Japanese F's, back when I worked for the Fifth String in Berkeley, co-owned by the guy that imports Kentucky