#1
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Just scored a killer deal (Kentucky Mandolin)!
I have been eyeing a more high end mandolin for years, but haven’t been able to justify the high prices. In my Celtic band, I have been relying on the Godin A8 which is great live but obviously not all that inspiring unplugged. I have some other lower priced acoustic mandolins, but again, nothing incredible.
For years, I have had my eye on the Kentucky KM-1500, which is their premier mandolin and it gets a ton of praise. It is not an easy brand to find here in Canada but it is listed on Amazon. The Amazon posting is generally listed at $3000-34000 but for some reason, it dropped significantly over the past three weeks. It just got to $1700 and I grabbed it immediately. I can’t believe the deal I got. I literally just saved at least $1200! I just had to post this somewhere! |
#2
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 Last edited by SpruceTop; 05-09-2021 at 11:50 AM. |
#3
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Great deal... congratulations!
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#4
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That's a great deal, it's back up in price now. I bought a Deering Terry Baucom banjo from them several years ago when they lowered the price $2000. They'll do that sometimes and once one is gone they'll raise the price back up.
Enjoy your new mandolin!
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Martin D-28 2017 Martin D-18 2020 VTS Martin 0000-18 Sinker Gruhn 2018 Martin J-40 Adi custom 2018 Martin OM-28 Adi Gruhn Special McPherson Sable Fender American Professional II Telecaster Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Northfield Big Mon Engleman top Northfield Big Mon Adirondack top Companion custom woody banjo Fender '68 custom Vibro Champ Reverb amp |
#5
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"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday." |
#6
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Thanks everyone! I am definitely excited. The last time I watched it drop this low, I waited one more day to see if it would go lower and I guess someone bought it because it went back up to $3200. That was devastating. I guess I just didn't need it at that time!
I also scored a Trinity College Bouzouki, which goes for $1200 new here in Canada, for $600 a few years ago on Amazon as well. It doesn't do this with a lot of products but I do find folk instruments tend to drop significantly at times. I guess the market/demand just isn't as high for them. Maybe next I will score a banjo! I will post pics once it arrives. |
#7
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Those master series Kentuckys are pretty good. You'd have to get a Northfield F5S to do much better and that's a lot of money. Bet the Kentucky has prettier wood too. Get a good setup.
I'm at the point where I'd need to buy a Northfield Big Mon, Collings or Gibson to get better. Significant investment.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#8
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Congratulations.
Br1ck’s suggestion that you get a good setup is advice you should heed. On mandolin, setup makes all the difference in the world, considerably more so than on guitar. whm |
#9
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Mandolins, octave mandolins, bouzoukis etc, are kind of available in three levels IMO. Level one is the lower priced mandolins (Epiphone, Gold Tone, lower priced Eastman & Kentucky). These are not bad at all but definitely more beginner models. Level two are the higher end Eastman and Kentucky models. Asian imports but very well made. The Kentucky 900 and up models are not even close to the lower models and I have read that they are not even made in the same factory. Level three is a massive leap in price and that's Collings, Weber etc. For what I saved, I could probably sell this mandolin and get a used Collings but I really just wanted a mandolin I could be proud of, I don't necessarily need one that I am afraid to take out lol. In terms of set up, I am absolutely getting that done. It will come with the bridge off and I don't even want to attempt that set up. My Trinity College Bouzouki came the same way. I strung is up and tried it for fun but the angle of the bridge on those helps with intonation so I need to get both set up! |
#10
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Congrats on scoring a great deal. Does it include the case?
You could even go higher in Levels: Level 4 for the likes of an Ellis, Level 5 for the likes of a Gilchrist or a Dudenbostel, and Level 6 for vintage Gibson Lloyd Loars. |
#11
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Mandolins are certainly befuddling little things. I bought a Michael Kelly F style on closeout to practice setup on for my upcoming mandolin build. I was playing it all the time. Why? F style disease.
Northfield and Collings are what I can get my hands on, and so far I've liked the Northfield Big Mon over the Collings. Time to look for a used one I guess. I'd really rather have a 20 year old luthier build, but that would take a real leap of faith. I don't want to wait for an adi top to open up either.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#12
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The fiddle player in my band just went through this all but it's even harder with violin. You basically have low priced or average mandolins, ones made by luthiers that are just insanely expensive or vintage. She ended up going vintage. I can't remember what she paid but it was thousands. |
#13
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It's crazy though, when I first started playing mandolin in my celtic group, I had an affordable A style Epiphone. I still have it actually. I installed the Fishman M-100 and that set up was honestly fantastic live. Even unplugged, that mandolin has a nice enough tone. I then moved to the Godin A8. Just a great plugged in tone. You can see by the amount of professional artists using it that Godin knocked it out of the park. I actually think they just recently discontinued it though. Anyway, I really like it but struggle with the flat fretboard and honestly, I just miss the resonance and feel of a normal mandolin, even when plugged in. I recently tried an Eastman 615 live with a K&K pickup. I haven't been that happy playing mandolin in years. I felt like I played better. I do think Eastman mandolins look a bit better than Kentucky but that's being a bit nit picky. |
#14
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Well, I'm 70, and I'd hate to just get it sounding good and drop dead. It would be just my luck. My home built is really coming into its own after 2 1/2 years, so that is certainly an adi thing. Plenty of well used mandolins out there, no waiting.
I love the adds, bought new in 03 and gigged in an active Bluegrass band. No closet queen, but played in. That is right down my alley, but still pushing $5000. It's just how it is.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#15
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