MK strikes again.

[357mag]

Got caught up in a feeding frenzy the last month or so to spend a Grand or so on a new/used mando. Uh Uh. Just didnt have the dicipline. Needed a fix and needed it fast.
There was a MK "Classic" in The Classifieds. $550.00 almost mint with an Allen tailpiece and case. Got some pics. Gorgeous flame wood--- Oh well. Sent the MOs this morning. The next few days will be very strssful while I wait for it.

If it plays as good as it looks, I will again revel in affordable mediocraty. Michael Kelly rules!

[JEStanek]

Hope you enjoy it.

Jamie

[acumando]

Looks like somebody snatched up the last of the $350 Legacy O's at MF... if i wasn't in the middle of a long-distance move i would've gotten one myself...

still some f-holes left, looks like
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7....3

[bjc]

and they had those lower line A's for $199 at MF...for a beater how bad could it be? Please, no Loar owners need to chime in...tee hee :-)

[JKWMD]

I purchased a MK Legacy Deluxe from MF for $299 as well. Just didn't like the workmanship or the dull sound. I sold it for a pretty nice profit (>$130) on eBay and ordered a Mid-Mo. Was that wrong?

[Steve Cantrell]

My Legacy Deluxe is a great mando with a good tone that has drawn compliments. A good bit of mando for the money. Maybe I just got a good one. So...is that wrong?

[bjc]

Every mando is different...just like everyone of my Les Pauls are different...some good, some not so good (I've sold the "not so good") but when you get a good one you hold on to it...

[Steve Cantrell]

I think you're right about that. Sure, I'd love to upgrade, but I don't think I'll be selling this mandolin with a great sound just because it says "MK" on the headstock. Sorry if I got a little peeved there. Life is good.

[357mag]

When I bought my first MK a little over a year ago, I was brand new to the mandolin. I bought it on the strngth of three things. It had a fairly good reputation on here. It was affordable, and to be honest, MK has some pretty slick advertising. It was/is a Firefly and is a 2003 from what I understand. I got it used, and after a set, it is quite acceptable for what it is.
Since then I have heard alot of folks complain about the detail in finishing and the general concensus seems to have gone down.(MK? Are you listening?)
The one I am getting is about a year old so I will have to wait and see.

[pickinNgrinnin]

It's possible you paid too much for the MK.

Elderly was selling this one new for $500.00 An upgraded tailpiece is nice but it's hard to imagine an MK would have that high of a resale value. The used mando market is not that whippy these days.

MK's were the rage here about a year or so ago. Did you get an approval period from the seller?

[JKWMD]

It seems like the Pac-Rims are pretty hit or miss. I've heard awesome Kentuckys and I've heard some pretty cruddy ones. I've heard an amazing Morgan Monroe and I've heard some really nasty ones, too. The MK I bought from MF could have most certainly sounded better after a professional set-up, but I still didn't like the loose tailpiece, the finish work in the scroll, or the finish. I had 45 days to return and figured I would give eBay a shot in the interim. Glad I did!

[357mag]

No. I bought it straight up. Didnt even know to ask about a return policy. The seller was legit and represented the mando for what it was. The set up I did on my own because of arthritis in my left hand and need a low action. Is a keeper. Even if I ever get in a position to afford a more serious instrument, Ill hang on to it. Most folks who have played it, like it and say its a pretty good value for the price. Hope the new one is as good.

[arbarnhart]

I shop and buy at the low end, but I would be really cautious about a used low end mando. There are good ones out there, but if you read this thread the people that are the happiest talk about never selling. I have a '77 Takamine dreadnaught ("lawsuit" Martin copy) guitar that I will never sell. I have had two different guitarists, both quite skilled and both who own some nice instruments, tell me never to sell it but if I get desparate and stupid to call them first. One of them told me I probably would get under $500 for it and would probably have to hold out for some time to get close to that figure and there is no way I could get another like it for under a grand. Now, it is possible that someday I will have a few nicer ones or just not really care and sell it anyway. But the ones trading hands more often are probably not so special.

As I said, there are certainly exceptions, but I would want to play it first or have an approval period before I jumped at a deal on a used one (major caveat - if the model sells well and commonly for more on eBay, then I would be less afraid because I could just sell it).

Even buying cheap instruments new remotely, I do note that I am a discerning customer and will return the instrument for repair or replacement if it isn't a good one (politely tell the vendor to cherry pick mine if they don't want it back). My $200 Washburn had been removed from the plastic bag, bridge set reasonably well and strings detensioned only slightly for shipping. The finish on it is perfect. I know from discussion with others that not all of them ship that way.

[Guitar Jeremy]

"I do try however to play the heck out of whatever mando I happen to be #playing. Way more fun than trying to come up with big bucks especially if you are married and or have kids."

I was happy to read that. I have a Phoenix because I'm a professional musician, and I needed a professional mandolin. However, I had to stop spending money on just about everything for several months to afford it, and that process was extremely difficult and frustrating at times.

Having more than my share would be a way to escape from my life. Sometimes, I fall into that pit. It is fun to constantly dwell on a next purchase, but I would rather use that energy for my relationships and artistic aspirations.

[Keith Erickson]

357mag,

Best of luck to you on the your new MK.

[John Zimm]

I hope you enjoy your new MK. I have owned a Firefly Flame for a year and a half and I love it. I will confess that I played a few dozen MKs and not all of them sounded that great, but with a little patience I found one with great sound (to my ears anyway). I'd love to get one of those a-styles one day. Oh, and a legacy-o...

-John.

[good_ol_al_61]

357mag:

Have had my MK Legacy Elegante Limited for about 4 months now. Love it. Does just what I thought it would do.

I still get compiments from those who own Flatirons, Gibsons and others. Three weeks ago, David Long picked it for a minute and said, "not bad". The compliments I mostly get are about the good looks of the instrument. A semi-endorsement to me is when Jesse McReynolds played it. I mentioned to him that it was an inexpensive import. He half-smiled and put his finger into the f hole and peered into the hole at the construction. "Well, it still sounds good and it looks well made." he remarked. Then he handed it back to me with a positive nod and look of approval. Very positive and wonderful moment for me. What more do you need than that?

I have however, just ordered an Arches A style. I will always keep my MK especially for use at jams. I will use my A for playing at family gatherings where a chop is not needed.

I hope you will enjoy your MK's as I have mine.

[phriend2spin]

I too just bought the MK Legacy Deluxe and I love it. This was an upgrade from my first mando that was an electric/acoustic crafter. I play the crafter in a big church just about every other Sunday so I wanted to get something nicer. I looked around for the best deal and when I saw that musiciansfriend.com had these mandos for cheap I couldn't resist. My only complaint is that the first fret is a bit harder to play but man this thing is awesome. I am totally impressed with the finish and details. The tone is sharp and has great bite. I mean how can you go wrong with a $699.99 mando that was now $299.99? This has to be the best deal out there.

[357mag]

Well thanks for all the good words, fellow MK,rs.
I feel better already. My current one is also a Firefly. And coincidentaly, the first fret on it was also hard to play. A set up cured that though, and it plays very nicely now.
Guess Ill recieve my new/used one early next week. Maybe even Saturday(maybemaybemaybe).

[Keith Erickson]

Well thanks for all the good words, fellow MK,rs.
I feel better already. My current one is also a Firefly. And coincidentaly, the first fret on it was also hard to play. A set up cured that though, and it plays very nicely now.
Guess Ill recieve my new/used one early next week. Maybe even Saturday(maybemaybemaybe).

You know come to think of it, I had experience the same problem on the 1st fret with my MK A+. #

I just decided to continue to work at it and deal with it. #The mandolin sounds great and I'm able to achieve the sounds that I desire.

I wish you the best of luck. #It sounds like you are having fun with MAS on your MK's. # #

[gnelson651]

Interesting about the 1st fret being hard to play. I had the same experience when my $299 MK Legacy DLX from MF which arrived last Friday.

I spoke to MF about not receiving a warranty card. Apparently, MF just sends the instrument as received by the manufacturer. No setup in none. Of course, for a low price of $299 for a $699 MK, I wasn't expecting it to be set up.

Also had intonation problems on the treble side of the 10th fret. A professional setup cured the intonation problem but the action still seems too high for me. My fingers hurt after I play it awhile. I don't have this problem with my Eastman 805, the action is like butter. Wonder if the 1st fret problem has anything to do with the radiused fingerboard? Although, a few months ago I played a Rigel A Natural and the action was smooth as silk.

Anyone else buy a $299 MK from MF or Music123? If so, how was your experience?

Glenn Nelson
Las Vegas, NV

[357mag]

Glenn, along with what ever else was done to my Firefly when I had it set up, it was very visible that they cut the string notches deeper in the nut. That cured the first fret being hard to play. I even had light strings put on it because of this dang arthritis and it is fine now. No issues at all.
Im curious to see if the one being sent shows the same problem. If everything is OK and its just the first fret problem, I may just try to deepen then myself.

[Tim Saxton]

I just got my MF Legacy F4 mandolin. I pulled out of the box and tuned it up to pitch. It wont fret a clean note from the 6th fret to the 14th on any srting. Every one of those strings buzzes and rattles. I looked at the fret board and it seems to have a hump at the 12 fret or so. It then dips down and runs up to the nut. It is not a out of wack truss rod either. I adjusted the bridge and truss rod and this did not help. Unsure what to do. Maybe it needs to have the frets off and finger board planed and refretted.

I called MF and the are all out and wont exchange it for the more expensive ones they have in stock. I hate to send it back for a refund but I may have too.

Tim

ps. That is what I get for trying to buy one cheap.

[357mag]

Thats a shame. I would send it back in a heart beat and get out from under it. I was gonna say something before, but I dont know anything about the music industry. I was in the firearms business for many years at a distributer level so I dealt alot with the factories. They had whats called "Special production runs" X number of units would be turned out and distributed to discount houses like K-Mart etc. This was before the internet. These guns had many production and assembly corners cut to lower cost and addvertised cheap to the end user. Some got through the line OK and were fine. Others were junk. I just wonder if this is a similar situation. I saw the MK Lagacy O advertised at MF for $349.00. Elderly and others were holding the line at $745.00.?!?!?!
$299.00 aint exactly the cost of a loaf of bread.

[GTison]

send it back!

how bout MK vs. Eastman