kentucky mandolin demonstration

A quick comparison between the Epiphone MM30 and the kentucky KM 630. Two reasonably priced mandolins but the latter is a far superior instrument.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mandolin
• Kentucky
• km
• 630
• Epiphone
• MM30
• comparison
• demonstration

[DuskY1991]

Do you have any experience with Tanglewood mandolins?

[crowebroke]

@DuskY1991 I'm afraid I don't. Living in the Uk you have to travel a bit to get access to mandolins. As they're a fairly low-end instrument i would imagine you'd have to play a few to hit lucky with one that's playable as they all differ from instrument to instrument. As others have siad, set up is the key - especially with mandolins.

[crowebroke]

@crowebroke Eastmans ahve an excellent reputation, though, again, I have not played one myself. Good luck.

[kungfugerbil]

Looking at current UK list the KM630 is 6 times the price.... That's not really a 'fair' comparison. Would also agree with the setup sounding out on the mm30. Nice playing though.

[crowebroke]

I just sold the Epiphone on Ebay for £112. I bought the Kentucky from Ebay, oner month old, for £300. So I think the "six times" figure is a little out.

[mxmatt03]

What is the very last tune you played called? I've been wanting to learn that song for a while now.

[crowebroke]

@mxmatt03 Greensleeves.

[Mandolin1944]

Nice little video mate! I think mxmatt03 was asking about Southern Flavor.

[ghsr82]

it doesn't even sound like you tuned the epiphone

[deadpoolhulk]

Lovely stuff.

[AdventOctober]

I can definitely here the quality difference between the two mandolins but in my experience I think its clearly a set up and/or tuning problem. I have a kentucky km850 and an Epiphone MM30 and I can honestly say that with the right set up, I think they are about the same. The kentucky does have a deep sound. Check out one of my vids playing mandolin with the mm30 and you can really tell what difference a good set up makes.

[jj35265]

jesus.... ding up those mandolins some more why don't you

[DuskY1991]

@alicelookingglass How well was it set-up when you bought it unseen? I've read it can be kind of hairy on the Kentucky mandolins (as in directly from the factory). I don't mind buying off eBay, actually.

I'm already a member of the Café and getting good replies already.

Thanks!

[alicelookingglass]

@DuskY1991 I'm afraid I bought mine unseen from Ebay. However, if you try the Mandolin Cafe website there are many good dealers and private sales which may meet your needs. Good luck.

[DuskY1991]

I'm back. Do you know of any dealer that has good deals on Kentucky mandolins? Like, inclding a set-up and maybe even a hardshell case? Again I don't live in the UK, but I have tried the KM-550 and am confident that I will like that or the 505. But I feel it's all a bit too expensive here.

Please let me know, thanks.

[DuskY1991]

@crowebroke That's a pity, I don't live in the UK but on European mainland. I know a few guitar stores that have a handful of mandolins in stock but it's mostly Eastman as far as I am aware. Tanglewood have exceptional guitars and I would expect their mando's to be just as exceptional. But you're right, set-up is key and I have to be sure that the TWs have notes past the 12th fret! Thanks for your reply!