Above: In 2004, Saga Musical Instruments, a huge distributor of imported mandolins, introduced a retooled version of the KM-300E electric mandolin, which it's selling as part of its Kentucky line. Unlike the old KM-300E, this one's a 4-stringer, with a bound basswood body, bound maple neck with a 7-inch radiused rosewood fretboard and adjustable truss rod, nickel-plated brass “Deco-style” tailpiece that accepts both ball-end and loop-end strings, a Tune-O-Matic style bridge, and a "lipstick-tube" pickup in the neck position.

Below: Two electric Kentucky models were sold during the 1980s. The KM-400E (left), a semi-hollow 4-string model, was the more expensive of the two; the KM-300E (right) was a solidbody 5-string. I once owned an example of the latter and was never completely happy with it. Your mileage may vary. John Baxter, proprietor of the MandoZine Web site, owns a KM400E (in fact, that's his in the picture). Both models were discontinued several years ago and are hard to find.