I've played lead guitar and bass for 40+ years in bar bands, inherited a Michael Kelly Legacy from my FIL and learned enough to get thru some Grateful Dead last year for a jam band situation, switching between lead guitar, bass, and mandolin. Currently managing and producing for a young original country songwriter who needs mandolin on original tunes. So I'm now doing a deep dive ... learning the the right way, working on on instrumentation and arrangements for recording sessions, etc.
I've learned how to set up the MK, added a piezo, etc. and it's working out okay. But am curious about a few things:
Due to years of motorcycle accidents and fights my hands aren't in the best shape and I'm struggling sometimes with fingering. Are there mandolin brands that have even slightly wider necks and string spacing?
Is it possible to replace the tuners with something having more spaced/staggered in the horizontal plane to make tuning with the tiny keys easier? I've seen pics of some brands that appear to show the keys more staggered making access easier.
For an upgrade, still within our budget, are the sub $1000 Kentucky models noticeably better than what I have? Was looking at the KY 150 or 250. Or higher spec used. Or Loar LM-510?
What price range in Loar, Gold Tone, or KY puts me ahead of the MK Legacy?
Thanks all!
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