Kentucky km-180b

[DryBones]

trying to help out a friend get info on his mandolin. Kentucky A KM-180B serial number 20417. Anybody know about these? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[mandoforme]

Japanese built Kentucky. I remember seeing one for sale in a music store about 8 or 9 years ago for $595.00. Black face mandolin. Had nice tone. Don't see them come up for sale very often.

[DryBones]

thanks, anybody else?

[mythicfish]

I bought one on Eekbay a while back for $100. After I installed a decent bridge and shaved down the bracing it didn't suck so much. They go for about $200
these days ... but you can always hope for the the "greater fool" to come along and pay much more.

Curt

[DryBones]

thanks Curt, just looking for some history on the model. The guy I know got his from somebody who was going to throw it away because of neck issues. He had somebody fix it for about $100 and I tell you it sound pretty good! probably has a lot to do with the guy who is playing it though. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mrmando]

$595? If only I had known!

I have a soft spot in my heart for the KM180B, since I played one for a few years. Sold it to a student, for a lot less than $595. Now she's married and living in Nairobi; I don't think she took the mandolin with her.

It was a fine instrument to learn on. I think the top is solid spruce, but pressed, not carved, and the back & sides are plywood. This sort of limits the expressive range of the instrument, in my experience. I did get to a point where I felt the instrument had nothing more to teach me, so I got a better one.

[Gregory1967]

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