What was the sound of the older Kentucky mandolins? A heavy-duty mandolin, it was made with pressed solid wood.
A new and improved version of Kentucky is now available that offers a number of must-have features. Regardless of whether it is your first or tenth mandolin, you won’t find anything as good as Kentucky at mid-range prices.
Is this too much fanboying on my part? I’m sorry, I was just stating the obvious!
In any case, we’re going to review the great Kentucky KM-150 mandolin today. If you’re interested in getting a Kentucky for you, please stay with us!
Kentucky Mandolins KM-150: What Makes It Top-Notch?
In my early days of playing mandolin, I looked for a sturdy instrument with well-joined parts. A decent tone is also important, without any unnecessary harmonics or vibrations.
Then, I learned about Kentucky KM-150, a product whose quality and affordability make it unbeatable. The mandolin’s high-quality finish and affordable price make it a great choice for beginners who don’t want to spend a fortune, but still want a good-sounding instrument.
There are many options at lower and higher prices, but this mid-ranged price is quite fair for the overall quality of the mandolin.
Because of this, if you’re a beginner and willing to spend less than $500 on a mandolin, there are few to none that fall under the Kentucky category.
Kentucky KM-150 Specifications At A Glance!
If you’re in a hurry, you can look at the listing below to get an idea of the product’s specs. Everything will be explained later.
Size: 26.38 x 10.25 x 3.38
Weight: 5 lbs.
Back and Side Material: The Solid Alpine Maple
Finish: The Sunburst high-gloss
Body Style: A-Model
Fingerboard Material: The Tone wood
Top: The Solid German Spruce
Scale Length: 13 ⅞”
String Material: The Alloy Steel
Number of Strings: 4
Kentucky KM-150: An in-depth look at its features
You’ll get an overview of the major features of the mandolin, explained here.
The quality of the sound
Beginner-friendly mandolins might raise the first question that comes to your mind: what does it sound like? Well, it doesn’t give you the best sound quality over all the other choices, but it’s close to the best in this price range.
Mandolins in the middle range are always known for their mid-level sound quality. You shouldn’t expect it to be so loud, but it still delivers a smooth and decent sound that is more than enough for its price.
Furthermore, the high-quality finish protects the wood, which could have a subtle impact on the sound of the mandolin. All in all, you’ll be pleased with the quality-price ratio.
The Playability
The Kentucky Wildcats always play well together. Mandolins have a wide neck profile and large frets that make them very easy to play. Despite not being that slim, the neck still provides a fast feel. It’s fairly comfortable going up and down the fingerboard.
Due to the space between the frets when you play high on the fingerboard, the large fret may not be your cup of tea. However, as long as you play below the 15th fret, you won’t even notice it.
Since you probably won’t play that high often as a beginner, the trade-off will be well worth it.
The Design
Kentucky is the pinnacle of mid-range mandolins, and its design plays a huge role in this.
Additionally, it comes in a beautiful design in addition to amazing tonality. As well, Kentucky’s fit and finish can’t be questioned. An attractive and classic look is created by the mandolin’s sunburst finish.
Generally speaking, the body is pretty solid, nice and clean.
The Hardware
Let’s start with the tailpiece of the mandolin. Beginners will enjoy playing this guitar because it comes with a stock tailpiece. The Kentucky does, however, come with a standard screw pattern, so if you prefer cast tailpieces, you can easily upgrade.
Regarding the tuners. The tuners are of average quality, nothing special about them. Despite their not being the smoothest tuners, you can easily turn the mandolin with them, and they will hold well.
A compensated saddle is located on the Kentucky bridge, providing you with an improved intonation. Thumbwheels are also available to customize the intonation. A few customers have complained that the wooden endpin for the strap buttons of their mandolins is too tight. Watch these carefully.
There is no glue on the endpins, so they may come loose. You shouldn’t consider this a flaw, as it’s just a feature. Not everyone prefers the glued endpins.
Easy to use and set up
It is very important for beginners to understand this part. In this case, Kentucky failed to please the users since it is not readily available. Users must set it up before using it. This is what beginner users find frustrating.
However, it is not a difficult process to set this mandolin up. With a Philips screwdriver, the screw can be removed easily. You can then set up your bridge by using a ruler to measure from the nut to the 12th fret. The process isn’t difficult at all.
I don’t see anything wrong with using the mandolin. It’s extremely user-friendly so you’ll surely enjoy playing the mandolin over and over again.
A list of the pros and cons of the Kentucky KM-150
You can better make an informed decision about whether Kentucky is your cup of tea by understanding its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
- All-wood construction is of high quality
- Finished in a beautiful high-gloss
- Beginner-friendly for smaller neck sizes
- Provides a mid-range price
- Tonality is excellent
- Featuring handcrafted parts
- For the price, this is an amazing sound system
Cons
- No case included, you’ll have to buy one
- Setup required
- Lower register has a dull tone
Questions & Answers
Question: What is the price of a decent mandolin?
Answer: You should spend at least $300 on a good mandolin.
Question: How does a mandolin sound good?
Answer: When you want the sweetest tone, you should use a relaxed grip on the pick.
Question: How difficult is it to play the mandolin?
Answer: Mandolins are very easy to learn and play since they have fewer strings than other instruments.
Question: What is the difference between an A-style and F-style mandolin?
Answer: There are no points on the A-style mandolins, while the F-style ones have two points on their lower part.
Conclusions
By now, you should know the ins and outs of Kentucky KM-150. Hopefully, now you know whether or not it meets all of your needs. Despite the fact that this mandolin isn’t the best, there are thousands of reasons why it is an unbeatable option. So, if you think it is the best option for you, feel free to select it!