Kentucky

**tin ben dur** · Oct-21-2008, 7:08pm

Originally Posted by tin ben dur

merci mon cher for the photos. Glad to have ya here. Awesome Kentucky. Looks of the 80's. It looks kinda unusual to me. Top bound on the front but side bound on the back. Thanks again for sharing.

Yeah I am stupid. merci mon ami not mon cher.

**tin ben dur** · Oct-21-2008, 7:12pm

Howard that is a very nice example of a vintage KM. Looks to be side bound also and varnish. That a dream machine. I love it.

**GTison** · Oct-21-2008, 7:42pm

That's the best looking back (if original) I've ever seen on a KM.

Here's another attempt at posting pics of mine. I bought it in '84

**GTison** · Oct-21-2008, 7:54pm

The above top bound. Serial number " 212 09 " . Single bound back, fretboard, headstock. Note the short tailed "K" in Kentucky logo. Also the original tuners with the gear above the string-post gear. They advertised these tuners as being below the gear. Must have been after mine. Very responsive and loud, it favors the trebles. It was the best I thought I could afford at the time. I am the original owner.

**hlebowi2** · Oct-22-2008, 5:59am

Originally Posted by Fretbear

That is very intereresting Howard, and the first time I have heard of one of these "going under the knife". I used to own an '84 KM-1000. How much did John have to reduce the plate thicknesses? Were they way out of specs?

Fretbear, I knew of John's reputation (had contacted some other cafe members who had him do the same to their '80s Kentuckys) so I told him to do what he thought he could to improve on the sound, I didn't ask the details of thickness, etc.

**hlebowi2** · Oct-22-2008, 6:04am

Originally Posted by tin ben dur

Howard that is a very nice example of a vintage KM. Looks to be side bound also and varnish. That a dream machine. I love it.

Thanks! Just for fun, the number on the label looks like 84 11 1 1 (at least the first # looks like an 8, although it could be a 3).

Howard

**tin ben dur** · Oct-22-2008, 8:53am

I am glad to see this thread staying alive. Lots of very nice Kentucky's added. I wish I could compile pictures, people, serial numbers on a website like ibanezmandolins.com and the journal. That would be awesome. I also may have another addition coming. Maybe?