Hello--I am new to this forum, but not new to the world of music and mandolins. I am primarily a fiddler, having played since I was nine. I have played for a long time in various local and regional groups, and have also recorded some. I am also a keyboard player, having taken both classical violin and piano as a kid and also into college and beyond. But these days I have been performing mainly with modern country bands playing fiddle, keyboards, and mandolin. I also played mandolin and a little guitar when I was younger.
What I wanted to say thanks about is all the forum advice on various mandos even before I joined. When I wanted to double on mandolin in a band setting I did a lot of research and decided on a Kentucky KM-1000 as my mandolin of choice. I got a really good deal on a used one, and after a few pickup combinations (Baggs Radius, K&K), settled on the Fishman M300 Nashville pickup. This combination, along with a very good Ehrlund preamp, has allowed my mandolin to be heard in a full band context with drums and electric guitars. I am really finally loving this mandolin for live performance and also playing at home. This summer I also bought a used Ovation MM-68, also for live performance, and have been somewhat happy with it as well, as it simplifies setup somewhat since it already has a preamp built in. It does have a very different sound from the KM-1000 as has been noted, but I think it still may be a keeper for a second mando and kind of a "beater". It seems pretty durable relatively speaking. It is also nice to have a slightly different voice for some things.
More recently I got a really good deal on a Kentucky KM-1500, and while I am still just getting it set up correctly. It appears to be an absolutely OUTSTANDING mandolin! Sustain for days, very loud, and very warm, clear tone and easy to play with the radius fingerboard which is a natural for me coming from fiddle. I was thinking of this one also for live gigs, but it is so good I may keep it purely acoustic for either recording or very safe and "high end" acoustic gigs, certainly not the bars! But I have to say thanks for all the advice given here which has led me partly to these wonderful and relatively affordable instruments. I think in all three I have less wrapped up in them as you would have in one Gibson F5, although I understand the differences. Thanks again!
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