I have wanted a KM-DAWG since the day I received the Saga Master Model brochure back in the 80's. I settled for a KM-1000 and that was streching my budget back then. Every once in a while I google "KM-DAWG" to see what turns up. I typically find myself late to the party to buy one when they do show up for sale. As Maxwell Smart used to say "Missed it by that much!"
Around the end of year holidays, I found myself with free-time and running the search again, following numerous google image results until I stumbled on KM-DAWG 90803 sitting in the "Last Guitar" shop in Tokyo, Japan. My heart leaped. Have I found one for sale, and can it be shipped here? The answer to both those questions were "yes".
I secured the purchase on 12/26/17. I downloaded all the photos from Last Guitar's website and sat night after night studying them while impatiently waiting for 90803 to arrive. Because of the holidays, it took longer to arrive here -- sitting in customs -- and who knows where else. I started to worry with thoughts like "Did I get taken?" "It's a fake, the model and serial number are handwritten, it must be a fake."
Then yesterday, it finally arrived. I knew from studying the photos that 90803 has seen its share of the road -- dings all over the front, worn finish off the back, finish crazing, all the signs of a 27? year old well used mandolin. It must have had a refret as there is no visible fretware.
I played it a while, then decided to re-string it with my favorit EXP74s. After playing it for the past two days, there is no doubt in my mind that it is authentic and the work of Sumi. The tone is absolutely amazing. I got it for an amazing price and would have been happy paying 2-3 times more. Sumi is a master!
Here she is:
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