Kentucky km-162 or 254?

[Dan Krhla]

My beater (NY PRO) is starting to bug me, buzzing tailpiece, frets dont feel as nice as my Eastman, etc, so I was looking for an upgrade to my day to day mando. #Something to take to work to fiddle with at lunch in the car, leave on the couch to pick up when the mood strikes me, etc. #I have been reading the forums a lot lately. #I liked the Bean Blossom (http://www.instrumentalley.com/Bean-Blossom-BAM-200-Solid-Mahogany-Mandolin-p/mam-200.htm), KM-162 (http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/KM162.htm) and the KM-254 (http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/KM254.htm) so far. #I know one (254) has a radiused fretboard, will that make me not like my Eastman?

Any input on these would be appreciated. #I like A with F-holes I think. #Not a ton of bluegrass, mostly Old Time, blues and kids songs.

[Jim MacDaniel]

The two Kentucky models are new, but you could do a lot worse for a beater than the 254's predessor, the old burgundy version of the KM-250S. I have one that I am pretty happy with for the money, and the radius, while subtle, does feel nice to my hands. I also like the new fretboard extension on the 254, plus the binding on the headstock, both nice visual improvements over my 250S.

[Dan Krhla]

Cool, thanks. I think I mis-used the phrase "beater". More of an everyday mando. I have a Fishman M-200 pickup on my Eastman and I became instantly paranoid the day it came back from shop. The flimsy looking wire scares me, the jack scares me. I pretty much use it for recording and when I don't *need* the pickup for whatever I am doing, I feel better playing the NYPro. I guess a weird analogy for it would be I have pants to mow the lawn in (NYPro) and nice dress pants to go to a wedding / funeral in (Eastman) what I am looking for is a comfy pair of everyday pants that are great for casual day at work, or a holiday dinner or the like.

[Caleb]

I really like the look of the 162 Kentucky. Nice honey color on top. I'm sure with Elderly setup it would come to you as a really nice box for any occasion.

[Folkmusician.com]

The new KM-160 and 250 series are both nice instruments.

IMHO, the finish on this first round of KM-254 is not all that great. The KM-250 (sunburst), is very nice though. Finish aside, I really like the new Kentucky's and do not think you can go wrong with either of these. The KM-162 is the deal here.

The KM-250 does have the radiused fingerboard. The 250 has a 14th fret neck joint where the 160 has a 12th fret joint. They both have nice Gotoh tuners. The 250 tuners have removable buttons. The 250 adds binding on the headstock. The 250 has the fret board extension, the 160 does not.

I have images of the KM-250 and KM-254 that we have not had a chance to post online yet. I will see about getting that done today.

[Jim MacDaniel]

Robert -- do you have a date yet from Saga when they expect to deliver their new oval-hole Kentucky models?

[Dan Krhla]

Just ordered the KM-162 from Elderly, with a boulder bag and a set of Light Elixir strings. Just have to keep my eyes peeled for a braided leather tan / honey strap http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I will report when I get it!!!

[Folkmusician.com]

The KM-170 series should be in around mid March. I would not set this in stone though. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ron6827]

I purchased the first KM-162 that Elderly put on their web site. There was no photo posted at that time. So, I think mine is the instrument in their new photo. This is my first mandolin but I have a lot of experience with other string instruments. I am happy with this instrument. The KM-162 sounds like a mandolin should. I am not trying to be funny but I tried some other higher priced mandolins that had poor volume. The instrument has very low action with no buzzes. I checked each string at every fret using my Korg chromatic tuner. The intonation seems right on all the way up the neck. I mostly strum with my finger nails as I have always had trouble hanging on to picks. The instrument is quite loud even without a pick. A pick does increase the volume. The sustain is amazing for a carved top instrument. This mandolin is very well built. I inserted a small mirror inside the sound chamber and did not see any glue. The wood work is very nice. I saw two braces running most of the length of the soundboard. The instrument is also beautiful. It is my understanding that the KM-160 and KM-161 are the same instrument but with different colors. I am not a big fan of sunburst finishes. So, I was happy to find this amber color available. I bought from Elderly because of their reputation for doing good setups. I also purchased the Canadian hard shell case that Elderly sells and it fits my KM-162 perfectly.
Ron

[Dan Krhla]

Thanks for getting me even more jazzed up Ron! I ordered mine on Sunday and am anxiously awaiting an "order has shipped" email. Mine is also coming from Elderly (as did my Eastman). I opted for a gig bag because I already have 3 decent HS cases. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Glad to year you like yours. I also loved the honey finish, nice change of pace, as well as the non-gold hardware. Can't wait to make my "I got it and love it post" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Jim MacDaniel]

Just ordered the KM-162 #from Elderly, with a boulder bag and a set of Light Elixir strings. #Just have to keep my eyes peeled for a braided leather tan / honey strap...
Here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=21810&query=retrieval) is a link for custom straps in the classifieds that should be able to address that need.

[Dan Krhla]

Hmmmm, I'll check that link out right now, even tho the beautiful mando is not here yet:O

[ron6827]

devilstone, did you receive your KM-162? I am curious to find out what you think of it.

[MongoMando]

I like Kentucky. Just fine for everyday use. Get one of the older ones from Japan-- so much the better.

[Dan Krhla]

Hey All,

Got the KM-162, man what a beauty! I love the look! The sound, well, the sound is great too. I've only had it ~ a couple weeks but so far I love it! It really plays nicely. No dead notes, no problems that I can see or hear. I got it from Elderly, it came set up well, intonation was like 98% and that's more than close enough for my picking! Another 'bonus' us that this thing stays dead on in tune, I love it! I am only using a gig bag with it these days, playing with it on my lunch break and it's just easier coming and going. I thought for sure with only a gig bag that the tuners might move a bit day to day but so far so good! I'll throw a pair of Elixirs on this weekend now that I saw the awesome pic-torial on frets.com for a better way to do the strings around the posts. http://frets.com/FRETSPa....g1.html (http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Mandolin/MandoString/mandostring1.html)
As a bass player, I always measured the string, cut it then wound it. I don't know why I took the same approach with mando, but I did, and it was a PITA. I can do strings / lemon oil the fretboard on a mando in like 20 minutes, and most of that time is following the directions on my lemon oil bottle that says 'wait 20 minutes and buff'. The strings that came *on* the the mando look like they may have come out of a package that had "Support the 1976 Olympic Games" printed on the front http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif which is weird 'cuz the KM-162 just came out this year. The strings were *really* beat and for what ever reason, the picture on the elderly site has the tail piece cover having some viney engravings on it and the one that came in the package with my mando is very plain, just the "Kentucky" logo. I didn't say anything because I prefer it and it looks great with the honey top!!! I'll post another topic or update this one once I get to know <doesn't have a name yet> better.

Thanks for the advice, I know I made a great purchase!

[ron6827]

My KM-162 came, from Elderly, with nice new strings. I can not imagine a need to change them now. I have had problems with plastic coated strings on my Larravee Parlour guitar. I just did not have the strength in my sixty-eight year old hands to press them. I replaced the coated strings with silk and steels and the Parlour became a wonderful, easy and fun guitar to play.
Ron

[MongoMando]

I'm having a little trouble with that, too. I'm wondering if an octave would be a little easier to squeeze.

[Dan Krhla]

Hey Ron, Did your tail piece come plain or with a design like the one pictured on the site? Just curious...

[Folkmusician.com]

So far, all of our KM-160 series tailpieces have looked just like this:
Kentucky Mandolin Tailpiece (http://www.folkmusician.com/picpop.php?item=km-161&mainimage=km-161-4-f.jpg)

[Dan Krhla]

Man, That's the one I got. I had to solve the mystery, and looking at the Elderly Picture (http://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/90N/KM162_bridge-tailpiece.jpg), the tail piece might look more carved because of the pattern on the carpet? I monkeyed around with their pic in some different imaging programs and I think that may be the case? Anyone else venture a guess? Please? Look at both pics and let me know:) If that's the case, I apologize to Elderly, the tail piece on the site looked more "designed" to me but it might just be the angle of the shot & the carpet reflection. BTW, I *much rather* prefer the one I got to the one I thought I was getting http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ron6827]

My tail piece looks like yours. Simple and I like it that way.
Ron