Kentucky Mandolin KM-805 quaility issues

**poul hansen** · Nov-11-2020, 11:21am

I started working on my Kentucky Mandolin KM-805 wreck and was surprised and disappointed to find things that I would never expect on a 1600 $ instrument.

The wood inside all the scrolls is raw. No sanding or laquer. The same is true for the sides of the F holes, except for some runout, that ran down the sides.

The binding was a bit short in one side, where it meets the nut, so they put a piece a white plastic there, although the rest of the binding is white/black/white/black.

The headplate was also too short, so they just left a groove between the plate and the nut. I don't know if a glueglob in there was original or added later!

As with all instruments, you sometimes wonder if you should sell some of the cheaper ones, acquired when starting out, and buy a really good one instead. But if this is what to expect, I have to think twice.

I know it might just play fantastic but you have to look at it as well

It could of course be a oneoff but then you never know what you get.

**Eric C.** · Nov-11-2020, 11:48am

Reading your other post about the head stock break, the short binding near the nut probably occurred with the original head stock break. The short head plate most likely as well. The sanding (or lack of) and the bare wood in the scroll is pretty common, especially on lower priced F-styles like the 805. I'm personally a huge fan of the block inlays on that model!

**poul hansen** · Nov-11-2020, 2:03pm

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Reading your other post about the head stock break, the short binding near the nut probably occurred with the original head stock break. The short head plate most likely as well. The sanding (or lack of) and the bare wood in the scroll is pretty common, especially on lower priced F-styles like the 805. I'm personally a huge fan of the block inlays on that model!

No, nothing to do with a break. "Lower priced" ? It sells for 1600 $

https://akustikken.dk/product/kentucky-mandolin-km805/

**Eric C.** · Nov-11-2020, 2:31pm

Originally Posted by poul hansen

No, nothing to do with a break. "Lower priced" ? It sells for 1600 $

https://akustikken.dk/product/kentucky-mandolin-km805/

That's pretty inexpensive for an F style. I would rather buy a used KM-1000 at that price point though.

**Pittsburgh Bill** · Nov-11-2020, 3:43pm

I have owned two Kentucky's. A KM-635 (I think) an older F style with a laminate top and my current KM-950 and this has not been my experience. I have no complaints for either and find the 950 to have exceeded all my expectations for a mandolin at this price point.
"MAYBE IT WAS BUILT ON A MONDAY".
This saying may not have relevance to you in Danmark (Denmark?) but here in the US it reminds me of when quality control on US made vehicles from the mid 70s through the mid to late 80s was so poor we regularly joked that all cars must be made on Mondays (when workers were calling off work to recover from the weekend).
Anyways, I am sorry to hear of your misfortune and am curious if other responders will tell of similar experiences with Kentuckys.