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Thanks for all the replies. I did see the A5 plans at StewMac and will probably get a set with my Siminoff book because they're pretty cheap (50% off if I get a membership, which I'm probably gonna...

I've done amateur woodworking longer than I've done amateur mandolin playing, but so far the two have never met. In 2022 I aim to change that. I've been getting a little more into hand tools for my...

Here's another weird one. Based on the fact that no one's nibbled in spite of the low price I must not be the only one concerned about the provenance. Has an A4-ish fretboard with a Florida, A2...

They were about that bad on the '74 F12 I used to own, and the peghead wood grain was almost identical as well. Plus these were the years subject to 'binding rot' so some of that may be repair.
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This one has me wondering:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-GIBSON-1970-F5-MANDOLIN-WITH-ORIGINAL-HARD-SHELL-CASE/173757614848

The headstock looks right for a ~'70 F5, as is the case, but there's...

Skip, thank you for the clarification. Are the pictures exaggerating the pattern, or is that more or less consistent with how the mandolin looks in person?

I can't recall ever seeing that exact inlay on a Kentucky before, but based on the binding and the script for "Kentucky" I'm thinking it may have been a 90's KM700. Certainly it is something from...

It is that one, however I think it must have been retopped entirely as the lump scroll top is flat in the scroll area and this mandolin now appears to sport a carved ridge in that area. The seller...

On further reflection it does appear to be what the seller says. The logo is correct for a ~'72 A12. It would have take a whole new top to make the scroll look like that, but i was incorrect to...

please delete, post was incorrect.

Does it look anything like this one?

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/120705-Kentucky-KM-1000-Japanese-era-All-Black

The Japanese-built early 80's mandolins did in fact say only...

Guess the verdict is in then. Thanks guys. I did run across the ad because it was so close to home. I doubt I'll get into Baltimore any time soon, but it's good to keep an ear out for stuff like...

What say the vintage experts? Legit or not? Obviously had some bits and pieces replaced (tailpiece, tuners?). It strikes me as off somehow. Binding seems too bright, finish seems too good. If...

For the most part you'll pay a good bit extra for an F-style over a similar A-style. There's just more work in them. You didn't say what your budget is, but I'm going to infer that it's around $300...

They wear, not very fast though. I had a BG120 I used for probably a year of pretty steady gigging. I hadn't realized how worn it was until I broke out a new one and compared the tip. It had...

I have gigged for a couple years with a FP mandolin. I was concerned about durability but I can say that it has held up extremely well. All I do is wipe it down after playing, and occasionally clean...

I haven't been on the forum as much the past few months so I missed this thread. Having owned this instrument for the past 3+ years I can make a few comments, which are hopefully appropriate. In the...

My guess would be it went back to the factory for repairs in the 30's, and it required a new fingerboard which they replaced with whatever was handy from the production floor. Also, sorry for the...

Might be too late to this thread, but I'd recommend you give the Wegen TF 140 a shot if you like this style of pick. It's my personal pick of choice. I really prefer the slicker material of the...

Len, you're right that they're very different. The Kentucky still needs a lot of "catching up" playing, but it's a great instrument. The weber is definitely louder and cleaner sounding. The...

Thanks for all the great info! Strange that it would have a different logo placement than your 18XXX KM-1000, when the s/n would indicate that it was a later build? Also, any idea when the KM-1000B...

Dating a Kentucky by the s/n alone is like dating a 60's Gibson by the s/n alone :) They repeat, change format, and differ depending on the factory they came from. I'm pretty sure that when they...

I would also go with the MD315, or if you're not hung up on the scroll get the 305 and have enough left over for a nice Travelite case.

Jim, I do believe this is the same mandolin you used to own. You mentioned in an earlier PM to me that there were two small dings in the finish from the case latch. This mandolin has two small...

Just picked this mandolin up today. Trying to answer a few questions. I have read all the Japanese-era Kentucky threads I could find. My guess is it was a mid-80's build? It says "Kentucky" and...