Although I don’t often play much above the 8th or 9th fret, on those occasions when I do need to get up higher on the neck, the extra access comes in very handy. One of the nicer features about this mandolin is that the neck joins the body at the 14th fret, not at the 10th fret like most other 'A'-style/oval-hole mandolins.
![kentucky mandolin a style kentucky mandolin a style](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0865/4148/products/KM-252_1024x1024.png)
I think it is worth noting that, even though I play with a very light touch, the strings on this mandolin are not necessarily set as low as possible - and even with the strings at a slightly elevated level, I can still play it lightly, and have no problem with easy fretting. To be honest, I found the thick neck a bit off-putting in the first moments of playing it, but even with my smallish hands/fingers, I easily adapted to it in less than 45 seconds.Īction / Playability: After a proper set-up from the seller, the action on this mandolin is smooth, easy and consistent, all the way up and down the neck, with no dead spots. For comparison sake, I will say that this neck is substantially 'thicker' than my Gibson, Washburn, Martin and The Loar - but very, very similar to my Eastman. (Note that a 'thick' does not mean 'wide' - the girth is vertical from the fretboard-down, and not horizontal from side-to-side). and this instrument most certainly follows that apparent pattern. Neck: Having never owned and/or played a Kentucky mandolin before, my only impressions came from fellow Café members who seemed to form a general consensus that Kentucky's have 'thick necks. Personally, I like to be 'different' - and this mandolin certainly looks and sounds 'different' than the scores of f-hole, sunburst and/or F-5 style mandolins that seem to permeate the mandolin world. I was first attracted to this mandolin because the look of the mandolin reminds me very much of my beloved 1929 Martin Style-20, and other similar Lyon & Healy mandolins from that era.
![kentucky mandolin a style kentucky mandolin a style](http://mandolinbros.blob.core.windows.net/gallery/105222.jpg)
To be quick and concise, it should suffice to say that this is definitely a higher-end Chinese-built mandolin.
![kentucky mandolin a style kentucky mandolin a style](https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--zMcgQVFn--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1516510271/hbodrj9rjckdgqsqakkf.jpg)
With that in mind, I thought that I would share some of my initial thoughts about the instrument - especially since there seem to be very few (if any) reviews on the internet:Ĭonstruction and Aesthetics: Upon reasonable inspection of the mandolin, I can find no significant problems with fit, build, or finish. The mandolin arrived this past Monday, and I have been playing it consistently ever since. it will be hard to find a better F-model mandolin on the market today that represents the quality and value of America's new Favorite.After several months of consideration, I finally pulled the trigger on a new Kentucky KM-272. Like other Master Model Kentucky Mandolins, the body of the KM-1050 features a hand-carved and graduated Adirondack spruce top, and a back, sides and slim comfortable neck made of select Northern maple to assure the best tone possible. All combine to make for a mandolin with a playability that is unmatched.
![kentucky mandolin a style kentucky mandolin a style](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0865/4148/products/Knetucky_KM-606_Mandolin-2-5_1024x1024.jpg)
These features include an ebony fingerboard with a compound radius, a wider nut and saddle for more comfortable string spacing, frets that are taller and wider than those found on vintage instruments, and a skillfully scooped fingerboard extension with inlaid nickel-silver fret markers to retain a traditional look. Mandolin players, especially those proficient in playing other fretted instruments with wider string spacing will appreciate the new KM-1050! At first glance, this new master-level mandolin shares similar specifications to the popular KM-1000, but looking more closely you will discover a few more player-friendly features first pioneered by Saga and Kentucky mandolins in the late 1970's as a result of collaborations with the best mandolin players of the day.