1983 KM-Dawg Grand Artist (83727) Video
From Reverb Listing::
1 of 48 made. John Monteleone designed this Grand Artist-style mandolin to Dawg’s specifications and provided the carving plate templates, then the instrument was crafted in Sumi’s workshop.
A rare and outstanding sounding F-style mandolin. The sound is crisp, great pop to the notes and bell like highs. Works as well for fiddle tunes as it does for jazz.
In excellent condition with the expected wear for an instrument this age. Finish checking, minor scratches, etc. No sign of structural damage or repairs. The only work I’ve had done to it is a professional fret dress a few months back.
Comes with original case, and what the shop I purchased from believes is the original pickguard. The case is solid but the feet have fallen off, so be careful of scraping the bottom against any scratchable surfaces!
The action is currently set such that a 1.4mm pick just slides under the G strings at the 12th fret, but is held by the E strings at the 12th. Comfortable action that lets you dig in without intrusive buzz. Has a bit of a fretboard hump (common to these instruments) that’s more pronounced on the treble side where the neck meets the body, but the fret dress addressed a lot of the concerns around how this could impact playability. Your mileage may vary for buzz if you want to bottom out the action (but that’s not a tradeoff unique to this instrument). At the current setup I find the E strings ring out clearly with great projection.
This very early Dawg is owned by the website owner. It is stock and in great condition other than for two surface cracks on the top.
From Fiddler’s Green:
https://fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com/products/kentucky-km-dawg
One of only 48 total made, this a rare bird. The KM-DAWG was a collaboration between Kentucky, John Monteleone, and David "Dawg" Grisman. Based on the famed Monteleone Grand Artist model. We are unsure of the actual date of manufacture on this one as the first digits of the serial number usually indicates the year it was made. This one has a serial number of 306-103 (EDIT: We have discovered it was built in 1983). These were made from the 80's to the early 90's with a very limited amount produced.
We have had the pleasure of having several of these rare mandolins come through the shop over the years and they have all been fantastic, this one included. Beautiful rich tone, with a crisp and clear voice not unlike the voice of Monteleone mandolins.
This one has been played a lot over the years and has its fair share of wear in the form of scratches, dings, and finish checking, but it is structurally sound with no cracks or repairs. The only "damage" to note is that the original pick guard has had the tip broken off. It is not currently installed but will be included in the sale. Comes with an oblong hardshell case that is a little beat and sports a lot of old stickers, but still functions.
From Reverb Listing:
https://reverb.com/au/item/6804787-kentucky-km-dawg-1985-antique-vintage-sunburst
This is a rare and highly collectable and playable instrument... one of only 48 ever made.... a high quality handmade Sumi mandolin in the style of the Monteleone Grand Artist with specs influenced by David Grisman.
The back and sides are bookmatched curly maple, the neck curly maple, the soundboard is bookmatched sitka spruce. The fretboard is arched with a scalloped extension and inlayed with solid mother of pearl. The headstock inlay is brass wire and engraved mother of pearl. This mandolin is easy to play and has lots of volume and punch and great tone! You don't see many of them for sale as they are considered collectable as well as great instruments for the real musician. There are articles online for research as well as past KM-Dawg models that have sold. Comes with a hard shell case and a soft gig bag.
From Reverb Listing:
https://reverb.com/ca/item/18565201-kentucky-dawg-mandolin
The famous Kentucky Dawg is a reproduction of the Monteleone Grand Artist. Made by the Sumi team in Japan in cooperation with John Monteleone. There was only 48 of these made.
Serial number 88402.
It has a full tone with a great chop and good volume. With hard case.
From Reverb Listing:
https://reverb.com/item/47470735-kentucky-km-dawg-mandolin-very-rare-hard-to-find-sunburst
This is a very rare and highly collectible instrument that was one of a limited run produced in Japan. A handmade Mandolin in the style of Monte Leone the grand artist. If you are a collector of high-end Mandolins I'm sure you're aware of what this is, if not do some research very rare hard to find mandolin excellent quality. And it plays and sounds superb.
do a Google search on this mandolin or check out mandolin websites if you can even find another one available. Prices continue to go up on these limited edition very cool mandolins. ( I think 1 of 48 produced. )
this is one of the later ones and is as good a quality mandolin as you would expect.
it has been played and well cared for but has some light player wear and is not mint, but it is in excellent condition,
I would guess the arm rest was put on after , but it was there when i got it.
It has a good aftermarket hardshell case included.
From Mandolin Cafe, posting by Todd Bowman in 2018:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/137141-quot-New-quot-KM-DAWG
I have wanted a KM-DAWG since the day I received the Saga Master Model brochure back in the 80's. I settled for a KM-1000 and that was streching my budget back then. Every once in a while I google "KM-DAWG" to see what turns up. I typically find myself late to the party to buy one when they do show up for sale. As Maxwell Smart used to say "Missed it by that much!"
Around the end of year holidays, I found myself with free-time and running the search again, following numerous google image results until I stumbled on KM-DAWG 90803 sitting in the "Last Guitar" shop in Tokyo, Japan. My heart leaped. Have I found one for sale, and can it be shipped here? The answer to both those questions were "yes".
I secured the purchase on 12/26/17. I downloaded all the photos from Last Guitar's website and sat night after night studying them while impatiently waiting for 90803 to arrive. Because of the holidays, it took longer to arrive here -- sitting in customs -- and who knows where else. I started to worry with thoughts like "Did I get taken?" "It's a fake, the model and serial number are handwritten, it must be a fake."
Then yesterday, it finally arrived. I knew from studying the photos that 90803 has seen its share of the road -- dings all over the front, worn finish off the back, finish crazing, all the signs of a 27? year old well used mandolin. It must have had a refret as there is no visible fretware.
I played it a while, then decided to re-string it with my favorit EXP74s. After playing it for the past two days, there is no doubt in my mind that it is authentic and the work of Sumi. The tone is absolutely amazing. I got it for an amazing price and would have been happy paying 2-3 times more. Sumi is a master!
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