New Mandolin Player... Have a Loar 520, is a Kentucky 800 Better?

[Eric F.]

Best I’ve played was a Collings at Sam Ash, it was nice but dang it’s ugly. And not cool ugly but Chinese misinterpretation ugly.

I'm sure you know what name was on the headstock of the mandolin you played, but ... Collings instruments are made in Austin, Texas, not China. I've never heard one called ugly before. In fact, most people say they are aesthetically perfect. What did you find ugly about it?

[cap217]

Got the Kentucky 1050 back this week from the tech for a full setup. What a difference it made. This is now a complete mandolin that I am 100% happy with play ability and sound. I am finding that I like features such as larger frets, radius board, and especially the higher fret scoop. Not sure about the wider nut, I mean its fine but I dont know if I prefer it. Only way to know is to play the same mandolin with all the same features except width. But Im not worried about that. Maybe in a year or more Ill start searching again but until then Im just going to play.