Kentucky comparison please

[jim1966]

Can i please have comparison between Kentucky km 700 and km 805. I am looking to buy but not sure which is the "better" mandolin and I can not play them first. Flying blind.

[MikeZito]

To the best of my knowledge, (I am not an expert) I often hear that the 700 and 800 series are very, very similar in quality - it isn't until you hit the 900 series and above, that you get a real upgrade.

Anyone else with a better first-hand knowledge care to chime in?

[Jim Broyles]

The Kentucky KM-805 Artist F-model Mandolin features:

Solid, hand-carved and graduated select spruce top
Solid, hand-carved select highly flamed maple back and sides
Vintage high-gloss Nitrocellulose lacquer traditional sunburst finish
One piece maple neck with dovetail neck/body joint at 15th fret
Radiused fingerboard with M.O.P. dot position marker sand modern extension over the body
Bound rosewood fingerboard and peghead overlay with a unique torch-style inlay
Vintage-style bridge with small adjustment wheels
Traditional 2-screw truss rod cover plate
Bone nut
Highly polished nickel silver frets
High-quality nickel-plated Gotoh tuners with engraved plate and removable buttons

KM-700 F Style:

All Solid Wood Mandolin Sunburst Finish
Brand New With Full Factory Warranty
Hand-carved solid spruce top
Hand-carved solid highly flamed maple back and sides
Maple neck with adjustable truss rod
Bound, rosewood fingerboard with Saga's new distinctive fingerboard extension design and m-o-p position inlays
Newly designed, traditional style mother-of-pearl and abalone peg head inlay
Traditional high-gloss sunburst Nitrocellulose finish
Multi-ply binding on top, back and headstock
Adjustable compensated stained rosewood bridge
Nickel-plated hardware

[Folkmusician.com]

what years are the two mandolins in question?

[jim1966]

700 is 25yrs old and 805 is 2011

[Folkmusician.com]

So first up (as you probably know), these two mandolins have nothing in common, not even close. They will feel different, sound different, etc...

I am very familiar with the 805. I actually have one now and I sold a lot of them since they came out in 2007. Not so much with the Japan era KM-700, though I have seen a fair amount of Japanese Kentuckys over the years. Japan production was before my entry into the business. I became a Kentucky dealer when they were made in Korea.

The 805 has a slim neck with a "V" profile. The V is not quite as pronounced as the master models, but more so than the rest of the current Kentucky line. These are not bad mandolins.

Most Japan Kentucky's are closer to the current master models in overall quality. Again, I am not real familiar with the 700. I am aware that there were some variations of it. 1993 should have been among the last of them made. If it were a good example, I might lean toward the 700. It would depend on where it was coming from and the return policy.

I know you won't be able see them prior to purchase, but a lot would depend on the individual instruments (both of these have the potential to be nice mandolins). Especially with something 25 years old. If buying sight unseen, and these are from different sellers (so the seller can't give an accurate comparison), I would be a little more inclined to hunt down a newer master model, simply so you know what you are getting.

[jim1966]

Thank you for info. I believe they are both honest sellers and both look to be well loved mandolins. I have exceptionally long fingers so I believe that a slightly wider neck with “larger” frets would be more comfortable for me. My current mandolin feels a bit cramped for me. Although I am a complete novice and that might go away with practice. I had played a 2006 Gibson f5g and it felt and sounded wonderful. I’m not sure what it was that was different, I think larger frets but not sure. I am not set on only Kentucky but am preferring a F style. Thank you again