Why is the Kentucky KM900 being discontinued?

[Cranial-nerve-zero]

Can anyone in the know please tell me why the Kentucky KM900 is being discontinued?

Thanks!

[Russ Jordan]

where did you hear that?

[yankees1]

<Removed by Moderator>

[B381]

<Removed by Moderator>

Really.....smdh

[Seter]

Over the years they've recycled model numbers for dissimilar instruments and used different numbers for very similar instruments.

[George R. Lane]

It is still listed on the saga website.

[Willie Poole]

Ky was also making the KM-950 and 956 models, the same as the KM-900 except they have a radius fretboard, larger frets and a scooped fingerboard extension, BUT I have also read where even those models will be discontinued...It could be true because I have had a few people contact me wanting to buy my KM-956, these are great bluegrass sounding mandolins and maybe some people are speculating that they will go up in value, the last KM-956 that I saw for sale was $1050 used...Hmmm...

Willie

[William Smith]

They'll still have/make something similar I'd bet. They made many over the years so there are many out there that people will sell or trade up. Some of those A-5 styles from Kentucky are just as good as mandolins costing
3-4x's! I had older Korean builds but never the newer models and what I've heard the newer builds have it going on to my ear anyway!

[Folkmusician.com]

I hadn't heard anything about the 900 being dropped from the line.

[Cranial-nerve-zero]

Hi sorry, I'm a bit of a newbie here! A friend of mine had said they were being discontinued but when I asked him about it he said he wasn't sure. I guess they still are being sold. Sorry! I should check my facts before posting :S

[Jon Hall]

I'm glad that these 900 series instruments are not being discontinued. I've had my KM956 for almost a year and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

[multidon]

Folks, that settles it. If there were any truth to this Robert Fear would certainly know.

[The Mandolin Store]

We were told a few weeks ago that the KM900 is being discontinued by our contact at SAGA music. There are many changes coming in the line including a hefty price increase effective August 1st on the higher end models.

I suspect that the sales of the KM950 are so much higher that it didn't make sense to continue making the KM900. We have a few KM900's left and a few more coming from the handful they had left in production.

Regards
Dennis

[colorado_al]

I'm also guessing that the KM950 is a higher margin product. It is essentially the same as the KM900 but has a radiused fingerboard and larger fretwire, which is only slightly more expensive to make, however the delta is $600. If more people are buying your higher margin product, why continue making the equivalent lower margin one?

[Jesse Kinman]

I am very pleased with mine, have no current plans to sell it, only to modify it cause I don’t exactly like the flat fretboard and small frets. Once I get my custom build I will turn it into a 950 as far as the specs. It sounds too good to risk selling it and finding a used 950 that might not sound as good! And besides I will gain some more experience for when I decide to build mandolins myself.

[multidon]

I am “Surprise”-d Dennis knew this but Robert did not.

[Dave Greenspoon]

I suppose it is only fair Saga is cutting the line. I hear tell that some retailers are starting to cut the brand, at least as far as mandolins.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From colorado_al - " ....why continue making the equivalent lower margin one ?" . Mostly because it's what some folks can only afford - so you have a foot in both camps. IMHO - 'a sale is a sale',& if you can sell 2 or more mandolins at $1,000 each,why not ?. Also,not everybody wants a radiussed fingerboard or larger frets !.

The KM900 has been one of the Kentucky brands best selling instruments,receiving high praise from their owners - so why cut it ?. I know that manufacturers like to 'refresh' their product lines every now & again,but if you've got a ''best seller'',to me it makes little sense to discontinue it,
Ivan

[MikeZito]

There are many changes coming in the line including a hefty price increase effective August 1st on the higher end models.

Hummm - I guess this is not a good time to have MAS since I am on short-term-disability for the next month.

I am curious if the will be a 'hefty price increase' because there will be a hefty increase in quality, or because of other economic factors . . . maybe both?

[almeriastrings]

Hummm - I guess this is not a good time to have MAS since I am on short-term-disability for the next month.

I am curious if the will be a 'hefty price increase' because there will be a hefty increase in quality, or because of other economic factors . . . maybe both?

The quality is already excellent. I think you are just seeing various economic factors at work. Same product, but will cost more...

[lenf12]

<Removed by Moderator>
Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[MikeZito]

<Removed by Moderator>

Uh Oh . . . .

[George R. Lane]

<Removed by Moderator>

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

Your going to get this thread shutdown. I know from my own experience.

[MikeEdgerton]

If anyone feels the need to discuss any hot button issues it's a big old Internet and there are lots of places to do it. The Cafe isn't one of them. Thanks. Carry on.

[soliver]

I'm headed to Carters Vintage come Sept.... you guys have me thinking I deffo wanna put my hands on a 900 or 950 if they have one!