2000s Kentucky KM-260 Archtop A-Style Mandolin

Overview: While this looks the same as the older Japanese Kentucky models, it's a more modern interpretation with all-ply construction. This is a budget instrument but dear lordie does it have a ton of volume and power. It's loud!

Tone: It's midsy and punchy and has a lot of carrying-power. It will cut but it's not an elegant sound -- it's all forward and snappy with a hair of woodiness to its lows. It would make a great "campfire jam" instrument because of that and its no-frills, take-anywhere vibe.

Feel: It feels rather Gibson-like but with a narrower nut width than the oldies. It's an average "quick/modern" mandolin neck.

Interesting features: There's nothing to write home about, here -- it's just a basic, no-frills, practical instrument. I suppose the multi-ply body binding and bound fretboard are nice touches, though.

Repairs included: I gave it a restring and quick setup.

• Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium soft V
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 9 7/8"
• Body depth: 1 3/4"
• Top wood: ply spruce
• Back & sides wood: ply maple
• Bracing type: tonebar
• Bridge: adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 36w-10 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: It has scuffs and small scratches here and there throughout. The top shows some distortion under the bridge feet (very typical for ply-top mandos of this style) but it's holding pat just fine. It's missing its pickguard but the rest is there. The frets show mild wear but nothing that hurts playability.

It comes with: No case, sorry.

Consignor tag: HKS