Super Rare 1980's Kentucky KH-600 Mandola

I recently purchased a super rare Kentucky KH-600 mandola that was made during the early 1980's and it sounds fantastic! I have never seen another one, however, and I was curious if anyone else has one and how your experience has been with it. The only information I've been able to dig up so far is a page from an old Kentucky catalog that features the KH-600 and a mention of the model in the Frets article from the early 80's saying they were made in the Maruko plant. If you have had experience with a KH-1300 and KH-DAWG, feel free to post pictures and discuss those as well. Thanks!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uNXj1XEmdXg
Here's a link to a sound clip.

Very Kool horn! Sounds great to me, I'd have to have a pickguard installed if I had her, I've got a complex, I just have to have a guard or can't play too well, I'm not a pinky planter, just a mental thing. Makes me want to get a mandola, Nice pickin!

Congratulations on your KH-600. Yes, the instruments from the Maruko plant are well built and sound great. I have both a KH-1300 and a KH-Dawg. The both sound fantastic and have a similar sound.
Nice picking.

Thanks bluegrasser78! Yeah, I think a loar-style A-5 (but mandola sized) pick guard would look pretty good on it. This is my first mandola and I'm loving it.

Thanks Aehle. I'm jealous that you have both a 1300 and a KH-DAWG! What gauge strings work the best for you on them? Right now I have D'Addario EJ 76s on mine and they seem to be working good.

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Originally Posted by Eric Davis

Thanks Aehle. I'm jealous that you have both a 1300 and a KH-DAWG! What gauge strings work the best for you on them? Right now I have D'Addario EJ 76s on mine and they seem to be working good.

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I've always used J76's, they seem to work with well on these mandola's and the scale.
I had the KH-1300 in the classifieds last spring but no nibbles. A couple of years ago one sold with in a couple of hours for $4,000 that wasn't as nice as mine. I don't really need two mandola's and thought i would keep the KH-Dawg only because it has had some repairs and would be more difficult to sell. They both sound and play very similar.

Got it. I'm surprised the 1300 didn't sell. These Kentucky mandolas are the real deal.

I'm the lucky owner of a Dawg 'dola from his private collection. It's in near perfect condition and is a pleasure to play.

There's info on the web about the Dawg mandos - I don't know the legality of posting them here.

Here's my Dawg 'dola:

That's a nice looking KH-DAWG, 40bpm! Thanks for the pictures. Nice to see another one of these nice mandolas in western Washington!

Hi Eric, I purchased my first Made in Japan Kentucky Master Model instrument about 20 years ago and went on a mission to acquire at least one of each model crafted in the Maruko factory. I purchased the only other KH-600 'dola I have come across in 2013. I noticed your instrument for sale a few months back and it is one serial number from mine... Like yours, my example is resonant and plays well, retaining proper geometry after only 30 years! I have never been able to locate a case to fit it properly. These can be great instruments. You play well. Keep it up. Best, Sam

Hi Sam, thank you for sharing about your KH-600; I now know there is at least one more out there! I'm also glad to hear that yours is holding up strong and still sounding good after 30 years. I am surprised that a standard A-model mandola case will not fit it. Are they a slightly different body shape than a normal A-style? If you have any pictures, would you mind uploading some? We would love to see it! Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by Eric Davis

Got it. I'm surprised the 1300 didn't sell. These Kentucky mandolas are the real deal.

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A lot of what Kentucky has offered is "the real deal"... sometimes surprisingly so!

Very true! Especially true with these 80's Master Models.

Did you see the KM-1500 that just hit the classifieds yesterday? That’s a great price!

I did! Looks like a nice one.