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Thread: Kentucky KM 250 vs KM 505

  1. #1

    Default Kentucky KM 250 vs KM 505

    I've been very interested in Kentucky mandolins for awhile; they seem to always sound great and their price is great, too. At this point, I'm about ready to make a purchase, but I'm confused as to the difference between the 250 and the 505; they sound and feel almost identical and, minus the gold tuners on the 505, look pretty close too. So here I am tapping into the collective wisdom of the Cafe. Can anybody help?

  2. #2
    Mandolindian rgray's Avatar
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    Default Re: Kentucky KM 250 vs KM 505

    Differences per Saga website -

    505 has a "select spruce top" vs. 250 spruce top (both solid and hand-carved)
    505 has "select highly flamed maple back and sides" vs 250 flamed maple back and sides (both solid and hand-carved)
    505 neck joint at 15th fret vs. 250 joint at 14th fret (both one piece maple)
    505 ebony radiused fingerboard vs. 250 rosewood radiused fingerboard
    505 ebony bridge vs. 250 rosewood bridge
    Both with bone nut
    Other cosmetic differences such as hardware color and inlay

  3. #3
    Robert Fear Folkmusician.com's Avatar
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    Default Re: Kentucky KM 250 vs KM 505

    They are the same basic mandolin. The 505 is done a bit nicer.

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    Robert Fear
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    "Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
    " - Pete Seeger

  4. #4

    Default Re: Kentucky KM 250 vs KM 505

    When I read about the 250, it does usually say that it is hand-carved as well. Am I seeing bad information there?

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