Richard - Posted - 07/26/2011:  12:43:11

Kentucky mandolins have been made in Japan, Korea and China over the years.  I guess is that the quality will be very inconsistent.  Any one have experience with this brand and what have your observations been?

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 07/26/2011:  18:29:42

I can only say that I have a Kentucky 600 that didn't disappoint nor especially impress me. I had it professionally set up and it improved markedly. After a year of playing it daily, I *think* it is better than ever. There is variability in everything...from match sticks to automobiles, and including musical instruments. I tried out Martin guitars atl a dozen stores before I found one I liked more than others. That said, I was replacing a J-50 deluxe Gibson taken from me at gunpoint (actually three gun points...in Mexico) and that guitar sounded the best of all. Maybe it is my imagination. Maybe, most of the variability is what someone imagines??

Muscle Tone - Posted - 07/26/2011:  20:26:59

I have played 3 different Kentucky Mandolins and I can honestly say that it really isn't inconsistant quality. The three that I have played were pretty decent. There was one that I played that I actually thought sounded better than a really expensive Gibson. You can't go wrong with any of Saga's products.

Edited by - Muscle Tone on 07/26/2011 20:27:46

Canister - Posted - 07/27/2011:  07:42:59

Mine was all I could have asked for.

Charley Wild - Posted - 07/29/2011:  15:51:44

I've played four. One was a cheaper A model that was okay. Just okay. Two were 675's. One was very good and the other, a used one I should have bought, was great! Lastly I  briefly played a 1000 which was very good but I think the used 675 was better! The fit and finish on the ones I played were fine. I didn't see any obvious flaws.

mandolinman31639 - Posted - 07/31/2011:  16:33:14

Say what you will Saga instruments have proven themselves to be high quality and compare well to instruments costing thousands more doesn't matter if it's mandolins, banjos, or guitars can't wait to try anything they make.

ccravens - Posted - 08/01/2011:  06:59:15

I would say inconsistent.

Edited by - ccravens on 08/01/2011 06:59:29

TSSN - Posted - 08/01/2011:  08:18:01

I have played them, both new and used.  I would say the quality is inconsistent.  However, I think Kentucky is a good brand.  Much better than some other plywood makes, whose names I will not mention.

I own a Hohner, which gets less respect even than Kentucky.  I have found them inconsistent as well, but I do believe the one I purchased sounds better than average.  That was why I bought it, popular conventions be da#ned...

The best thing to do is try before you buy, and/or get a good setup done on it.

Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/03/2011:  10:15:50

I own a Hohner, which gets less respect even than Kentucky. I have found them inconsistent as well, but I do believe the one I purchased sounds better than average.
===========
TSSN,
Never played a Hohner Mandolin, but I do have a Hohner acoustic Guitar WHICH I LOVE! Had it for at least 9 years now, and it's just gettin' broke in good. My favorite Guitar by far. I'd like to try the Mandolin from Hohner.

Hedgehog - Posted - 08/03/2011:  11:19:22

SAGA - I am the proud owner of a GF-85 Gold Star 5 string banjo (reissue). It’s an all around darned great banjo especially for the money. If their Kentucky Mandolins are as good they are likely to be very nice. Would I buy another SAGA product? Probably never again. Why? I don't like their business practices and I'm somewhat ashamed of owning a SAGA product. ...but I admit to loving my GF-85 non-the-less. So what’s the rub I have with SAGA. A couple of years ago Recording King moved from one factory to another (their own), during the move many parts, granted many of them were rejects, illegally ended up in someone else’s hands. Flint Hill banjo's were built from those illegal parts and sold at a deep discount price by SAGA. Adding fuel to the fire, last week I read an article about a SAGA music store in California selling guitars as Gibson Guitars and Gibson was suing SAGA over it as did Recording King before. I don't mind competition, I don't mind playing on an even field, I don't like out and out theft, but if lawsuits’ are any indication SAGA doesn't seem to mind dipping their toes in the dirty end of the pig sty.

Edited by - Hedgehog on 08/03/2011 11:22:06

TI_USER - Posted - 08/24/2011:  19:55:21

The original Kentucky's from Japan were very highly regarded mandolins. I owned a KM-850 from 1984 for 17 years and it was a very good mandolin. I never played one from the Korea era but my understanding is that is was not a good period for Kentucky. However, the newer Kentucky's from China have received very good reviews, especially from the KM-505 model on up. Many consider the KM-1000 and KM-1500 to be professional level models that can stand up to the big boys. I read all the time about satisfied users on MC all the time. Many consider the models below those two some of the best entry level and mid level mandolins available.  But I think you'll find inconsistency in many brands, including big names.  I have played fantastic Gibson's and I have played lousy Gibson's.  I once played a wonderful Weber Gallatin, but one of the worst sounding Weber's I played was a $6000 Fern.  I don't think this is something unique to Kentucky or any other Asian import.

Edited by - TI_USER on 08/24/2011 20:00:23