Proud Kentucky Pickers - Let's see 'em!!

[Ken Olmstead]

I am happy for you, Ken. You're stacking up quite the imported lumber pile, there!

My new KM-171 is getting the same spa treatment and indoctrination my 1050 received a couple months back. Then I am heading off to the woodshed before I add anything else... <sigh>... like that beautiful Eastman 'dola you recently picked up.

I will add one more instrument this year (a Loar LH-700 arch top guitar to complete the "Loar Four" theme I have going) but I am selling two pretty high end guitars also. That will end this rash of madness! I have bought 3 instruments over the last 5 months or so, all "value" oriented imports, and I have to say that each and every one has been a true winner! They have all needed some setup or modification, but I do that no matter how much I spend. I do not foresee "upgrading" any of them. The Kentucky KM-1050 is as good as any mandolin I have had and I have had a couple gems!!

Looking forward to the pics and review of you KM-171!!

The 'dola is fantastic, highly recommended!!

[Zissou Intern]

That arch top will be cool, Ken. I am living vicariously through you at this point...

[Ken Olmstead]

That arch top will be cool, Ken. I am living vicariously through you at this point...

I'll try not to let you down!

[Ken Olmstead]

Finally, my KM-172!



My Kentucky collection is becoming quite respectable!

[Andrew B. Carlson]

Alright, who nabbed the '83 KM-1500 for a steal from the classifieds? You. Are. A. Lucky. Picker.

[Ken Olmstead]

Alright, who nabbed the '83 KM-1500 for a steal from the classifieds? You. Are. A. Lucky. Picker.

It would be great if they post pics here!

[Zissou Intern]

Ken, I am digging that KM172!

[Ken Olmstead]

Ken, I am digging that KM172!

Thanks man! It needs a set up bad but I am loving the sound!!

Since I started this somewhat mammoth thread, I feel it is only appropriate that my 2000th post be in here!!!

[dwtzs]

Hello everybody from Spain.

I'm a newbie with the mandolin, and I just registered here.

I have a Kentucky KM-300e, a present from a friend almost six months ago, but I started to play it less than two months ago, and I love it!

Mainly I'm bass player, but this instrument is really enjoyable, and it's pretty cool when I use in the practice with the band.

And there are some pictures of my little "axe":




And the whole family:




PS: sorry for my poor English, I usually don't write in English and I don't practice.

[almeriastrings]

¡Bienvenido!

Es bueno ver mas entusiastas mandolina de España!

Bonita colección.

[Ken Olmstead]

¡Bienvenido!

Es bueno ver mas entusiastas mandolina de España!

Bonita colección.

Yeah, what he said!! Sweet man, love my 300e!!

[Paul South]

Not sure if this is the proper place to ask this, but since you are all Kentucky mandolin enthusiast thought I would try.

What do you think the value of either a KM 630 or KM 675 would be. They are both 2003 models. And if you have any specs or where I could find them for that year.

If I should take my question elsewhere please advise and I will ask there.....thanks, Paul

[Jim Nollman]

I had an interesting Kentucky mandolin experience this afternoon. An F5 mandolin has been for sale locally for a week now. It was built by one of the top small shop builders in the country. The pictures online were gorgeous.

I didn't have the full amount to buy it right now, but i knew i just had to take a look and give it a test run. I figured if I really wanted it, i could either do a partial trade with the seller for my 1984 Kentucky 850, or sell mine on EBay, and on a great day maybe get as much as $1800 for it.

I visited the seller with a friend who is a string instrument collector. I brought my Kentucky along, just in case he wanted to take a trial run with mine. He also told me he had a '23 snakehead A1 (his keeper), and a 1920 dobro, so I knew it would be a fun experience, no matter what happened monetarily.

I played the seller's F5 for about 5 minutes, then played the same tune on my Kentucky 850. It was obvious immediately that the tone of the for-sale instrument was not as rich overall as my Kentucky 850. The chop wasn't as good either. The woods were about the same quality, as was the workmanship. I was pleasantly surprised when both the seller and my friend agreed overwhelmingly with my assessment.

[Ken Olmstead]

It was obvious immediately that the tone of the for-sale instrument was not as rich overall as my Kentucky 850. The chop wasn't as good either. The woods were about the same quality, as was the workmanship. I was pleasantly surprised when both the seller and my friend agreed overwhelmingly with my assessment.

It is so easy to be enticed to buy a more expensive instrument but often you don't get better, just different. Having a well set up, somewhat played in Kentucky in the hands of a player is a valid musical hook up all day long!!

[Zissou Intern]

A couple of Kentucky mandolins:

[lflngpicker]

A couple of Kentucky mandolins:

Beautiful pair, Zissou Intern! Nice photo, too.

[Mark Wilson]

A couple of Kentucky mandolins:

Agreed. Nice picture.

Admiring the burst on the 1050! How does the 171 sound with the upgraded tailpiece and bridge?

[Zissou Intern]

Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen.

The 171 came with an okay rosewood bridge and stamped tailpiece. The Northfield cast tailpiece and the CA bridge were fitted at the same time. I think it certainly gained sustain when they were added.

The 1050 has a strong traditional Bluegrass tone. I like these mandolins very much and am fortunate to have them both.

[chaztoo]

I'm pretty excited to have my Kentucky KM-505 back from the luthier and ready to go. I bought it off ebay for a song, but it wasn't in as good of shape as the lady said. I have a friend that did some work on it for me and now it wants to be played. I tune it to open G (GDGB) because I'm a slide guitar player and probably crazy. I haven't taken any good photos, but I did upload the video in the link above of me playing and singing a Ry Cooder tune. Thanks to the whole cafe for all you guys taught me as I researched my first mandolin purchase.

[Zissou Intern]

I enjoyed the song, Chaz. Thanks for sharing. Your 505 has a nice, thick, hollow tone.

[Rob Beck]

Nice playing (and singing) chaztoo!

[chaztoo]

Thanks, guys! It took two trips to the bench to get it in shape. He brought it back to me set up for standard tuning and when I put it in the looser tuning the neck tension was wrong and it buzzed again. So he set it up again and now it really dances. These are fussy little things, but I love them.

[Ken Olmstead]

Finally got my KM172 back from the setup guy, ridiculous amount of time but it does indeed play and sound fantastic!!!!

[lflngpicker]

You were patient, Ken. Glad for ya! Enjoy it.

[OldGus]

Oh Ken....http://anchorage.craigslist.org/msg/4507431292.html, you might want to check this out.