My new 1980's Kentucky 850

[Jim Nollman]

I couldn't believe it when my low bid won the EBay auction for this beauty. Plus the case. I've been looking for one of these high end Japanese-made Kentuckys from the 1980s, ever since i got to play one at a jam and was blown away by the sound and the choice of woods. It's another manner of beast entirely from other Asian imports I've played over the years. It appears to be made in 1983.

[MikeEdgerton]

Nice, there's a cafe user that has one of these that has posted many times that he'll never part with his. Looks great.

[Bernie Daniel]

You done good -- very good! Post a video of it when you can!

[mandobassman]

I played a 1984 KM-850 for 17 years. It was a fine mandolin. Unfortunately, I got myself in a financial bind about 10 years ago and was forced to sell it. I have often regretted selling it. It too had beautiful woods and a very nice sound. It was a year old when I bought it for $400. That was a good deal even in 1985. It served me well. Enjoy it and play the heck out of it.

[OldGus]

I wonder if those are hairline cracks or just lacquer checks above and possibly below the treble F hole...

[F-2 Dave]

Very nice. I've never been a big Kentucky guy, but something like that could turn me around.

[Jim Nollman]

As far as the possibility of a crack, all i can say — until I receive the instrument — is that the seller made no mention of one, but did honestly describe a small amount of checking and finish flaws. He also wrote that the instrument was structurally sound. I have no reason to doubt him. He is a mandolin player with too many instruments, and plans to unload a bunch on EBay in the next several months. I actually suggested to him to consider using the Cafe classifieds.

A few weeks ago i did have a bad experience with a mandolin on EBay. It was described as functional and playable as is, but arrived with a fingerboard separating from the neck, and the neck separating from the body. After talking to the seller about these issues, I concluded that he was not being devious. He was just a non-musician who'd bought a big job lot which was being divided up for EBay sales, and was sloppy for not going over the instrument properly. He made good, and has agreed to reimburse me in full, and also pay for the shipping for me to return it to him.

[Eddie Blevins]

Jim,
I played one of those for about nine years. I remember it to be an 83 or 84. They are great imports. Enjoy.

[Nick Gellie]

Well

Is this a Kentucky KM-850 model?

[mandobassman]

Well

Is this a Kentucky KM-850 model?

No! Look at the photos of the OP's mandolin. That is a KM-850. Other than the shape, they look nothing alike. Look at the headstock inlay and the back, especially the center seam coming from the neck heel. The wood is entirely different. What you have looks more like a KM-630.

[Nick Gellie]

Thanks for that

[Jim Nollman]

I received the 850 this morning. I have to say, it is as well put together as anything I've ever owned by the more appreciated builders. I had been somewhat of a snob about Asian instruments until I played a Kentucky-1500 a friend of mine bought just a few months ago. At first, I was speechless when he told me how much he'd spent on it.

Then I played it in a room with an Eastman 915 and a few recent Gibson F5s, and realized that his top-of-the-line Kentucky was holding its own with these other mandolins, all of which cost at least as much if not quite a bit more.

Not that my new 1984 Japanese-built 850 has anything in common with his Asian-built 1500, other than the fact that learning to respect his label made me start reading the discussions about older Japanese built Kentuckys here on the Cafe.

It's not a Gilchrist. Nor does it attain the depth of tone of my Ben Wilcox three point, although obviously, both the sound and the purpose are distinctly different.
I'm happy as a clam to get it for less than 1k. The blue hard shell case is more than icing. And the seller put new strings on the instrument just prior to shipping.

[TEE]

I still have the KM-850 I bought new in 1983. Soon to be thirty years. You have probably saw the pictures of it on the other thread from a couple of years ago or so.

Like you, I have a custom mandolin that is my stage mandolin but the KM850 is a good mandolin. That thing has a nice powerful chop.

[Picken]

Wow i own Kentucky KM-850 serial #12868 inside says saga music on gold tag, i like my mandolin so well not sure if i would ever sale it .. seen one on reverb asking $1,600.00 for it