Would it be a dumb move?

[Jeff Mando]

See a number of Swedish bands with Eastman mandolins when they tour here in the US.

??? How many Swedish mandolin bands are there? I must have missed those tour dates.....

[Steve Ostrander]

Don't do it. You'll get a scroll but it will sound like....well, like an MK.

[multidon]

I had an idea awhile ago for an add on scroll, but not cheap plastic, nicely made wood (available in a variety of colors) and attached with a clamp, like an arm rest. I’d buy one!

[HonketyHank]

Check out Soliver's A to F conversion kit / armrest. NFI.

[Br1ck]

I do not hear a lot of difference between my MK and the likes of the other popular imports, but someone who can live with their Kentucky should have higher aspirations, a Kentucky 1050 at least,and really something like a Northfield F5S. IMHO the next upgrade should be huge. That could last you a lifetime.

[Capt. E]

When it comes down to it, Kentucky mandolins are in my opinion among the best pac rim instruments. I would consider trading the 505 only for a small shop US made instrument. KM 505's have been near the top of the list in price/sound for many years.

[Mark Gunter]

Check out Soliver's A to F conversion kit / armrest. NFI.

[Eric Platt]

??? How many Swedish mandolin bands are there? I must have missed those tour dates.....

Not sure. But there are a number of bands where the fiddler and/or the guitar player switch to mandolin for some tunes. For the last couple of years at Nisswa Stammen in Minnesota, there were a couple of bands where members had mandolins. Either they've always been around and I never noticed (as I didn't concentrate on mandolin earlier) or it's more of a thing these days. Dunno.

[Peter Barnett]

There is a bluegrass band from Norway, Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra. It’s close to Sweden.

I Had been looking for an F style and stumbled across a killer deal on a Weber Yellowstone A style. I have not looked at another mandolin since. I love it! The right A can be awesome.

[Alex Orr]

I've never heard an MK that sounded good, and don't get me started on the tacky inlay. Keep the 505. Without hearing either of the instruments I can tell you your mandolin sounds waaaay better than the MK.