Is this really a Kentucky?

[blind road]

Going for about 3 bills, where's the logo?

[mandroid]

Does it say Saga Musical Imports on the label inside ? 'Kentucky' is their Brand Name

[blind road]

Ah, these are the Blue Ridge guitars of mandolins. That explains a lot. I pmed the seller. He thinks its an 80s model #unknown because its not legible. As for guitars, saga did run their saga name in the beginning before using the blue ridge logo. Actually decent guitars, got me curious.

[JEStanek]

I've never seen one without the headstock logo. Even the bottom of the line KM140 has it. To me it looks like a well done International Violin Kit. Did those Early Kentucky's have paddle heads? I've only seen snakeheads.

Jamie

[Bill Snyder]

Rovers are made by Saga. They have an "open book" headstock similar to the mandolin above. Perhaps the older Kentucky mandolins had a headstock like this as well?

[CES]

Didn't Saga sell mandolin kits for a while, or am I "misremembering?" If they did, could be one of those builds...

[blind road]

Didn't Saga sell mandolin kits for a while, or am I "misremembering?" If they did, could be one of those builds...

They still do but have a plain headstock

[MikeEdgerton]

I bought one of the first Kentucky mandolin models that came out. It had a snakehead and I never saw one that didn't have the name inlaid on the headstock. With that said that doesn't mean this is a bad mandolin, even if it said Kentucky on the headstock it wouldn't add to the value. I don't know if I'd pay 300.00 for it either way.

[blind road]

It is a curious thing. Here's the logo of mando in question and a Kentucky logo, identical. Of course headstock shape is different as well as tail piece

[blind road]

I guess I was hoping this might be some early model that had something special going on, who knows

[MikeEdgerton]

It's an import, possibly from Japan, not unlike dozens of other mandolins brought in with and without brand names. It reminds a lot of the Penco products. If you like it buy it. It's not an investment.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...970-s-Penco-F5

[blind road]

I'm just trying to get a better sound than my Morgan Monroe, and learn about mandos. Reminds me of when I started out on guitars I probably bought every cheap brand on the planet. And I found out you get what you pay for but looks like I have to learn it the hard way. I had a Penco guitar and they are decent for what they are. I'll probably pass on this one. I want volume and tone(who doesn't) but don't have much for funds. I might get lucky and find someone who want a guitar trade

[allenhopkins]

That fleur-de-lis is a common headstock inlay, found on some US-made and some Asian-made instruments. Kentucky's not the exclusive user.

[blind road]

That fleur-de-lis is a common headstock inlay, found on some US-made and some Asian-made instruments. Kentucky's not the exclusive user.

A closer look, exact, I'd love to see another brand

[almeriastrings]

Antoria used the same logo back in the 70's.

Nothing about this mandolin suggests it is a Kentucky to me. I certainly would not pay much for it. You do get what you pay for, and in this case, I suspect you would not be getting very much.

You could get a new, genuine, recent Kentucky KM-150.... these really are "as good as it gets" in the lower priced mandolins, for around $350. You would not do better without spending substantially more.

[Seattle]

It doesn't look like the fleur-de-lis on my Kentucky. Regarding the KM-150 you can get it for a lot less than $350.

[blind road]

Antoria used the same logo back in the 70's.

Nothing about this mandolin suggests it is a Kentucky to me. I certainly would not pay much for it. You do get what you pay for, and in this case, I suspect you would not be getting very much.

You could get a new, genuine, recent Kentucky KM-150.... these really are "as good as it gets" in the lower priced mandolins, for around $350. You would not do better without spending substantially more.

The Antoria logos on old guitars look more like the Gibson design. I think that's good advise with the entry level Kentuckys if one could not confirm it's origin or play it. Here's the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/302168483308...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[almeriastrings]

They used a whole range of different 'fleur-de-lis' type designs as they sourced instrument from various factories. I have seen many variants. There was no consistency. You could also buy these overlays in bulk....they appeared on many far-Eastern instruments in the 70's and 80's.

That mandolin is far overpriced, in my opinion.

[Mandoplumb]

A knock off of a Kentucky? Really? I'm working on a knock off of a Rouge, think I can sell it for about 1/2 the price of a real Rouge.

[MikeEdgerton]

...I'd love to see another brand...

Here are a few.

Three more, a Flatiron, the best known headstock with this design in the world, and a 1930's Gibson F7.

[blind road]

Mike, you are awesome. That settles it for me, appreciate all the replies.

[allenhopkins]

A knock off of a Kentucky? Really? I'm working on a knock off of a Rouge, think I can sell it for about 1/2 the price of a real Rouge.

So what color would "knock-off rouge" be? Orange instead of pink?

Or by chance, to you mean "Rogue?"

[blind road]

A knock off of a Kentucky? Really? I'm working on a knock off of a Rouge, think I can sell it for about 1/2 the price of a real Rouge.

I hear ya. I wasn't thinking a knock off of a Kentucky but maybe an older model Kentucky/saga. Thanks to Mike I see even Gibson, flatiron and others used that headstock design so it's probably some laminate import. Thought maybe someone might recognize it.

[FLATROCK HILL]

So what color would "knock-off rouge" be? Orange instead of pink?

Or by chance, to you mean "Rogue?"

You beat me to it on this one Allan, except that your comment was much more clever than mine would have been.

Actually, I was going to give Mandoplumb the benefit of the doubt. In order to avoid any legal issues the counterfeit "Rogue" is going to need a clever misspelling...like its counterpart, The "Givson".

[MikeEdgerton]

Most of what was there was probably inlay. You can buy the stickers though.

https://www.inlaystickers.com/collections/for-headstock