My New Kentucky KM-1000B

[houseworker]

Bought this off Amazon, who were offering a terrific price a week ago. I only paid standard shipping, but they got it to me (in the UK) in two days.

The fit and finish are absolutely superb, I doubt I'd find better. Other than installing the bridge it needed no set up, and it's a very easy transition from my F-4.

Saga's replica Loar case and a suitably Christmas backdrop, what more could I ask for?

[Jill McAuley]

Well done on that one! Lovely mandolins them!

Cheers,
Jill

[f5loar]

And looks like it came with the fancy case cover too! You got the deal of the decade on that night. I'm thinking it was around $850 and that is just a super deal on a 1000 even if it is black finish. The black finish one has a less retail price then the traditional cremona sunburst finish.

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

Wow well done sir. So it came with the replica case also? The sale price was great even if it was for the mandolin only (as I had thought originally). But if it came with that beautiful case - then like f5loar said you got the deal of the decade. Congrats.

[houseworker]

I have to admit the case was extra. But again, Amazon did a good price and really cheap 2 day shipping. I actually bought the case first (it's been hard finding someone who'd ship them abroad) and then went for the mandolin two days later after reading Tom's report on his KM-900.

[almeriastrings]

Well, you did great. These mandolins are hard to fault.

[strings777]

That black top looks sweet...congrats on the purchase and Merry Xmas! For some reason though, I thought that Norfolk was in Virginia?

[houseworker]

That black top looks sweet...congrats on the purchase and Merry Xmas! For some reason though, I thought that Norfolk was in Virginia?

Merry Xmas to you too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk

[lsisco]

Happy for you.... I also have a KM1000 and a KM1500 both are sweet and proud. Welcome to the Kentucky group. These new Master model China Kentuckys are unbelievable great. And yes I owned for many years a Gibson F5G. Again WELCOME

[Ivan Kelsall]

Seems like you got a terrific deal & kudos to the sellers getting it to you in 2 days. As a rider to this thread,for anybody in Europe,there's a beautiful condition 'used' 2009 Kentucky KM-1000 for sale in the Classifieds,by a member in France.It's half the 'typical' price of a new one in the UK,
Ivan

[houseworker]

Isisco, thanks for the welcome, both here and in the group.

Ivan, I'd also spotted Eric Deneve's classified listing. It is a really beautiful instrument, and if it had been there when I made my purchase I would probably have gone for that instead, even with it costing rather more than I paid.

The Kentucky sunbursts of that vintage seem far more attractive, or is it just that the finish fades? almeriastrings has an absolute stunner, I think from the same batch.

[almeriastrings]

I have not seen any evidence of fading on them. They just seem to have a very nice, restrained (certainly well done) tobacco type 'burst. Not garish at all. The finish is also really thin. I'd be interested to see more photos of that black-top, incidentally. I have never seen one in person.

[houseworker]

I have not seen any evidence of fading on them. They just seem to have a very nice, restrained (certainly well done) tobacco type 'burst. Not garish at all. The finish is also really thin. I'd be interested to see more photos of that black-top, incidentally. I have never seen one in person.

The finish, like yours, is really thin and of the highest quality. The grain of the top (which is evenly spaced and very tight) is easily visible under the black. At the moment its gloss is rather overpowering, and shows fingerprints something rotten, but I'm confident that given time it will dull down and age nicely.

I'm reluctant given the current temperature to photograph it out of doors under natural light. So for now this is probably the best I can manage as far as a picture goes:

[Wilbur James]

Congradulations

[Ivan Kelsall]

houseworker - If i could warrant a 3rd Mandolin,i'd be looking very seriously indeed at Eric Deneve's beautiful KM1000.A typical price over here is £1,579 UK, & Eric's price for a 2 year old,near perfect one, is a really good deal for somebody.
Your 'blacktop' is a beauty !.Don't worry about finger marks showing,if you play if enough,they'll soon be hidden by the scratches,
Ivan

[MiG-19]

Congratulations on acquiring a beautiful and well-made instrument! I think the black top looks great on the KM-1000.

[almeriastrings]

Nice match between the top and the well-flamed sides there...it works well. They really do make a very fine mandolin (and I don't just mean 'for the price' either). Properly set up and played in, these can be good by any standards. The level of craftsmanship and materials used are impressive. Even I was tempted by that one in the classifieds, and I already have one! Do I have a bad case of MAS, or what?

[joni24]

Woohoo, it's a real beauty! Would love to see a photo of the back side as well... the different grain patterns tend to be quite beautiful. Best of luck with it, you made an excellent choice.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I'll be perfectly truthful here. I have 2 great Mandolins that i'll never part with.The Kentucky KM-1000 in the classifieds is making my mouth water.Only the fact that there must be somebody else who'd benefit from such a lovely instrument at a great price,is keeping me from buying it. I was very lucky to be able to afford my 2 Mandolins,others,especially at this cash-strapped point in time,aren't so lucky.I just wish somebody would buy the darned thing & ease my MAS !,
Ivan

[houseworker]

I'll be perfectly truthful here. I have 2 great Mandolins that i'll never part with.The Kentucky KM-1000 in the classifieds is making my mouth water.Only the fact that there must be somebody else who'd benefit from such a lovely instrument at a great price,is keeping me from buying it. I was very lucky to be able to afford my 2 Mandolins,others,especially at this cash-strapped point in time,aren't so lucky.I just wish somebody would buy the darned thing & ease my MAS !,
Ivan

It's Christmas in less than 24 hours, make the seller happy and treat yourself. If a deserving recipient turns up later, you could always sell it on.

It's not just almeriastrings and yourself, I'm feeling the irresistible pull of MAS too!

[almeriastrings]

You need another. You know you do.

Absolutely have to have one for alternate tunings, for example... I keep mine in 'Get Up John' tuning (a useful excuse, and I am sticking to it). They don't take up much space, and that one is a great price....

[Ivan Kelsall]

"Alternate tunings" - Now there's something i haven't been into for a long time. I used to use several different tunings on banjo,but soon tired of re-tuning every time i wanted to use one.I could never see myself wanting to keep a Mandolin in one tuning only (the 'Get Up John' one) for the few tunes that i like that use it.
Houseworker - I have thought of buying it to sell on at whatever it cost me.I e-mailed the link to the Mandolin to a friend of mine,but he's obviously not responded. Also, the lack of response from anybody (else) in the UK,seems to signify a lack of interest over here.
I'm sure the seller will eventually get a buyer,it's too good an instrument to miss,
Ivan

[Willie Poole]

You should have put it on your Christmas list Ivan....Santa has been know to do wonderful things....

Willie

[Ivan Kelsall]

I'm amazed that nobody's gone for this.The seller is willing to ship inside Europe & also to the USA. It's a good deal for someone out there,
Ivan

[Wastafair]

Hi everybody,

(I apologize for my bad english)
I am Eric, seller of the KM 1000 you are talking about. Thanks for your nice remarks.

Ivan, Willie, Almeriastrings, Houseworker: LOL for me reading your comments!!!
Ivan, the instrument is not sold yet !

Joyeux Noël and Happy new year everybody.
Eric