I’m glad you finally found your mando! If you recall we recently talked about my Weber Aspen I that I was thinking about selling. I really think the 500 will be better for you than a flat top. Also, I can’t say enough good things about the Mandolin Store. They are simply the best to deal with…..I have total trust in buying online from them. Happy picking!!!!!!! Rick
Thanks so much for this review. I have been looking for my first mandolin since trying to play on my Dad's old stiff Kay. Sooo hard to fret but I really want to get a good one. Have been looking at the Eastman but not so keen on a China build so was glad to see your very positive review of the Kentucky. I think you have turned my head to Kentucky.
Kentucky mandolins have a pickguard, which I approve of. If you take it off, or buy a mandolin without a pickguard, before long there will be abrasions on the lower bout. I bought a KM 250 for my secretary who loves bluegrass, particularly Flatt and Scruggs. She was delighted!
Nice choice. I went with a KM270 because I wanted an oval hole. These Kentuckys are NICE! I bought mine through another store and the setup was miserable, but I'm OK with doing my own work.
Nice!... I bought the KM-250 from The Bluegrass Shack in New Athens Illinois a couple months ago and Chris set it up so good its so easy to play, I love it! The km-250 also has the radius fret board which I'm a big fan of... Thanks for sharing your experience 👍
Hello from England, that's a nice mandolin and case. Here in England for some reason we don't get a case or gig bag at this price point. I'm a 77 yr old guitar and mandolin player. Thank you.
Kentucky blows Eastman out of the water for sound (volume and full, woody tone). I have the KM 250, KM 270, and KM 276. Yes, the nut slots not having been filed to the right depth and width is an issue with Kentuckys when they arrive. (Having played everything in the Mandolin Store on 11 occasions when they were in Surprise, AZ), I can tell you that only when you get all the way up above $ 3K that you can start comparing any mandos to Kentucky. Even up there, I don't think anything can top the tone and volume of my main mandolin, an oval-hole Kentucky KM 276 (I have owned a Weber antique distressed and a GIbson F9). Other than nuts, the other issue with these cheaper mandolins is that they are not as readily playable up the neck as a Collings, Weber, or Pava at the $3.5K level.
Hey Mandy, have you tried to change the strings on your Kentucky yet? I snapped the E strings tonight and thought it would be no big deal...boy howdy, that tailpiece cover is hard to get off! I watched a couple videos and used a coin to press back on the cover until it (finally) came loose. I had to use way more pressure than I thought I would. Just a heads-up, if you haven't tackled it yet.
One of these years, you gotta come up here and visit the Mandolin Store; then we'll take Jon over to Carter Vintage or Shiloh Music and drool over guitars...Probably need to leave the checkbook/credit card at home though; LOT'S of temptation😎
Great review. A good retailer near me has an offer on one of these at £100 more than the Eastman 305. Do you think the Kentucky KM-500 is worth the extra ? It would be a first Mandolin for me
I’ve owned an Eastman and this Kentucky. I prefer the sound of the Kentucky that I have over the Eastman that I had. But what I’d do if I were you is listen to sound sample from both and go from there. The Eastman I had was the 504. You will love mandolin! Have fun.
@@BanjoLemonade I ended up buying a Kentucky km252 on a stupid deal (cheaper than a new 150). I think a lot of folks don’t like the amber finish on it. Sounds great to me
Kentucky makes a good mandolin! I might check out that store… I’ve been thinking of getting me my own mandolin for years now. Hey Lemonade is that a Howard Miller on your mantle? Looks like we might have the same onion head style clock?!👍
Hey - that’s a Hermle (German Made), they call that a slope shoulder. We bought that last year for our Anniversary because both our Grandma’s had one on their mantle! Love it. Gotta turn the chimes off though for videos, haha
Hit LIKE for more review videos!
I just got an Eastman MD-514 from The Mandolin Store and it arrived in a couple of days set up and ready to play.
I have a Kentucky KM-250 that I'm quite fond of. Very fun to play!
Got my Eastman from the Mandolin Store a couple years ago, and I love it! Had them add a pickup to it. Great customer service! 💕🎶
Yep they are great!
I’m glad you finally found your mando! If you recall we recently talked about my Weber Aspen I that I was thinking about selling. I really think the 500 will be better for you than a flat top. Also, I can’t say enough good things about the Mandolin Store. They are simply the best to deal with…..I have total trust in buying online from them. Happy picking!!!!!!! Rick
Hey Rick, yes awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience here.
Thanks so much for this review. I have been looking for my first mandolin since trying to play on my Dad's old stiff Kay. Sooo hard to fret but I really want to get a good one. Have been looking at the Eastman but not so keen on a China build so was glad to see your very positive review of the Kentucky. I think you have turned my head to Kentucky.
Hey Trudy, it’s a good mandolin, but it is a china build also.
Grrrrrrrr!! My local music shop don't even know what a bloody mandolin is! I'm jealous coz I love this here instrument
The headstock inlay is beautiful!
Yes and those Kentucky’s sound real nice too.
Kentucky mandolins have a pickguard, which I approve of. If you take it off, or buy a mandolin without a pickguard, before long there will be abrasions on the lower bout. I bought a KM 250 for my secretary who loves bluegrass, particularly Flatt and Scruggs. She was delighted!
A very nice mandolin. ENJOY IT. Look forward to seeing you play it on your channel. Have a blessed day!
Thanks so much!
@@BanjoLemonade I like to warm up on mandolin with "I'll Fly Away" ruclips.net/video/uJO7pXoip3s/видео.html
Nice choice. I went with a KM270 because I wanted an oval hole. These Kentuckys are NICE! I bought mine through another store and the setup was miserable, but I'm OK with doing my own work.
Yeah I looked at that one too! I do like that oval sound too. Yes my experience too with setup being terrible elsewhere. Haha
Nice!... I bought the KM-250 from The Bluegrass Shack in New Athens Illinois a couple months ago and Chris set it up so good its so easy to play, I love it! The km-250 also has the radius fret board which I'm a big fan of...
Thanks for sharing your experience 👍
Aha so the 250 has the radius, nice! Thanks
I hope the own the beautiful Kentucky KM500 🙏 one day 🙏 beautiful instrument in every way ❤️
Hello from England, that's a nice mandolin and case. Here in England for some reason we don't get a case or gig bag at this price point. I'm a 77 yr old guitar and mandolin player. Thank you.
Howdy!! Thanks for your comment. Hmmm, I would think you should get a case. Their cases are nice.
That’s a beauty and sounds amazing
thanks! I like it
Kentucky blows Eastman out of the water for sound (volume and full, woody tone). I have the KM 250, KM 270, and KM 276. Yes, the nut slots not having been filed to the right depth and width is an issue with Kentuckys when they arrive. (Having played everything in the Mandolin Store on 11 occasions when they were in Surprise, AZ), I can tell you that only when you get all the way up above $ 3K that you can start comparing any mandos to Kentucky. Even up there, I don't think anything can top the tone and volume of my main mandolin, an oval-hole Kentucky KM 276 (I have owned a Weber antique distressed and a GIbson F9). Other than nuts, the other issue with these cheaper mandolins is that they are not as readily playable up the neck as a Collings, Weber, or Pava at the $3.5K level.
Being an older Canadian ,having grown up with both metric and imperial measurements, I was wondering how wide 2 ticks would be.
Hey Mandy, have you tried to change the strings on your Kentucky yet? I snapped the E strings tonight and thought it would be no big deal...boy howdy, that tailpiece cover is hard to get off! I watched a couple videos and used a coin to press back on the cover until it (finally) came loose. I had to use way more pressure than I thought I would. Just a heads-up, if you haven't tackled it yet.
Yep dealt with that already. Thanks!!
One of these years, you gotta come up here and visit the Mandolin Store; then we'll take Jon over to Carter Vintage or Shiloh Music and drool over guitars...Probably need to leave the checkbook/credit card at home though; LOT'S of temptation😎
Haha yeah definitely leave the cards at home!
Great review. A good retailer near me has an offer on one of these at £100 more than the Eastman 305. Do you think the Kentucky KM-500 is worth the extra ? It would be a first Mandolin for me
I’ve owned an Eastman and this Kentucky. I prefer the sound of the Kentucky that I have over the Eastman that I had. But what I’d do if I were you is listen to sound sample from both and go from there. The Eastman I had was the 504. You will love mandolin! Have fun.
@@BanjoLemonade must admit I prefer the Kentucky tone
@@BanjoLemonade I ended up buying a Kentucky km252 on a stupid deal (cheaper than a new 150). I think a lot of folks don’t like the amber finish on it. Sounds great to me
200 series also has radiused fretboard. Only 100 series is flat.
Did they close the Nashville store? Im fairly close and wanted to swing by but I can’t find any information.
They moved back to Ohio. Finally found some info with more googling.
Yep they did.
@@BanjoLemonade Shame, looking to upgrade and kinda wanting to play a few. Not sure of any other great stores in the Nashville area.
Kentucky makes a good mandolin! I might check out that store… I’ve been thinking of getting me my own mandolin for years now. Hey Lemonade is that a Howard Miller on your mantle? Looks like we might have the same onion head style clock?!👍
I have a Eastman guitar that I love… I had made my mind up that if I got a mandolin eventually it would be either a Eastman or a Kentucky.
Hey - that’s a Hermle (German Made), they call that a slope shoulder. We bought that last year for our Anniversary because both our Grandma’s had one on their mantle! Love it. Gotta turn the chimes off though for videos, haha
Yep my oval is an Eastman but I favor this new one (KY).
I just saw ur video by chance and ur cute so you can have like and my heart as well 💓
👏💥🤙
👍
These things are so expensive now. I was watching mandolin reviews from a few years ago and they are $200 cheaper
Yep inflation everywhere.