Kentucky KM 800 - Japan - (1985)

Hi everybody.
This is Pier Luigi from Italy. I'm a newbie in the forum.
I'm not a real mandolinist; just like many others I'm a guitarist who wants to play mandolin too.

I got the opportunity to buy this one:
https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm...id6431626.html

I haven't found many informations on the net about this model.
I would like to ask someone more skilled than me:
- Is this model an all solid wood one?
- When it comes to acoustic guitars, japanese instruments are usually pretty well crafted, even in the 80s. It must be better than any China made contemporary instrument (Kentucky KM 150 for instance). Can someone confirm this for this mandolin too?

Thank you all in advance.

I own an 80’s Japanese made KM 650 which is a very good mandolin. I also owned an 84 KM Dawg that is a great mandolin.

These mandolins definitely punch above their weight and are great value.

That Dawg was “the one” that got away from me Kirk!

There is a lot of information about this model to be found in these threads. It also contains images of the original catalog page.

User Flatrockhill posted this message with the catalog listing.

Thank you so much.
I tried the search field in the forum, but I must have used in the wrong way, I did not find anything.

There no mention about solid woods, anyway in a $1150.00 mandolin I can take it for granted, I presume. Don't I?
it's only mentioned in this more recent Saga Catalog 2005
https://www.jedistar.com/pdf/saga/Sa...log_2005-6.pdf
page 45
Attachment 196208

On the KM 650 and the Km 800, the tops are carved solid spruce and the back and sides are described as deluxe solid maple. The back is solid but not carved. The KM 1000 and above also have carved backs.

I have a KM805, it's a very nice but not "great" mandolin, it was well worth the $600 U.S I have in it. Top and back are solid wood, not laminate.

Hi everybody.
Here it is. Thank you for all your advices.
Attachment 196525
Anyone knows how to verify the year?
Attachment 196526