I'm clearly in the wrong business

Trad Strings
1

The following was posted this last August over at the Mandolin Cafe. Obviously I need to quit making woodwinds and start making mandos…

"For the past year or so I have been following the prices of mandolins that are listed right here in classifieds. This is by no means a complete listing, but I thought some people here might find it interesting…

Builder Style Year Description (Short) Price
Altman F ? MF-5 $5,000.00
Andersen F 1982 F-5 (S/N 50) $6,000.00
Apitius F ? Grand Classic $8,000.00
Apitius F 2003 Grand Classic $8,000.00
Apitius F 1997 Grand Classic $8,500.00
Apitius F 2000 Grand Classic $6,500.00
Apitius F 2004 Grand Classic $8,000.00
Brentrup A 2002 21-V $4,400.00
Brentrup A ? 21-V $4,300.00
Brentrup A 2002 21-V $4,400.00
Brentrup F 2001 23-L $5,800.00
Brentrup F ? 23-V $7,500.00
Brentrup F ? 23-V $6,500.00
Brentrup F ? 23-V $6,500.00
Brentrup F 2004 23-V $7,000.00
Brentrup F ? 23-V $7,000.00
Brentrup F 2005 23-V (Bluegrass) $9,500.00
BRW F 2004 F-5 $4,600.00
BRW F 2004 F-5 $3,950.00
BRW F 2004 F-5 (Distressed) $3,400.00
BRW F 2004 F-5 (Heirloom) $3,400.00
Collings F ? MF-5 $6,400.00
Collings F ? MF-5 $8,500.00
Collings F ? MF-5 $6,000.00
Collings F ? MF-5 (S/N 358, Varnished) $11,610.00
Collings F ? MF-5 (S/N 406) $7,200.00
Collings F ? MF-5 (S/N 61) $6,500.00
Collings F ? MF-5 (S/N 83) $5,850.00
Collings F ? MF-5 (S/N 84) $6,000.00
Collings F ? MF-5 (S/N 89) $5,950.00
Daley F 2005 F-5 $5,400.00
Daley F ? F-5 Classic $5,500.00
Daley F 2003 F-5V (S/N 3) $6,500.00
d’Angelico 1957 Double Cutaway $21,000.00
Davis F ? F-5 $4,500.00
Dearstone F ? D5-MV $6,500.00
Dearstone F 2001 F-5M $5,000.00
Dearstone F 1995 F-5M $5,200.00
Dudenbostel A 2002 A-Model $14,500.00
Duff F 2004 F-5 $10,000.00
Duff F 2002 F-5 $6,200.00
Duff F 2004 F-5 $5,000.00
Flatiron F 1986 F-5 $3,950.00
Flatiron F 1985 F-5 (S/N 85008009S) $2,800.00
Flatiron F 1991 F-5 Artist $2,900.00
Flatiron F 1996 F-5 Artist $3,200.00
Flatiron F 1993 F-5 Performer $2,500.00
Flatiron F 1993 F-5DC $2,600.00
Gibson F 1922 F-4 $7,500.00
Gibson F 1921 F-4 $4,450.00
Gibson F 1917 F-4 $5,700.00
Gibson F 1916 F-4 $5,500.00
Gibson F 1912 F-4 $4,000.00
Gibson F 1916 F-4 $5,700.00
Gibson F 1925 F-5 $105,000.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5 $4,150.00
Gibson F 1933 F-5 $61,500.00
Gibson F 1923 F-5 (Lloyd Loar, S/N 73675) $90,000.00
Gibson F 1965 F-5 (S/N 307331) $3,100.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Adam Steffey Model (S/N 37) $5,500.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Adam Steffey Model (S/N 43) $6,000.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Adam Steffey Model (S/N 45) $7,500.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Alan Bibey Model (S/N 24) $4,800.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Bill Monroe Model (S/N 140) $9,000.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Bill Monroe Model (S/N 163) $8,700.00
Gibson F 1991 F-5 Bill Monroe Model (S/N 17) $10,000.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Bill Monroe Model (S/N 90) $8,950.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Doyle Lawson Model $7,000.00
Gibson F 1929 F-5 Fern $46,500.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Fern $4,600.00
Gibson F 2002 F-5 Fern $4,250.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5 Fern $4,100.00
Gibson F 2004 F-5 Fern $4,500.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Fern $5,250.00
Gibson F 1928 F-5 Fern $25,000.00
Gibson F 1924 F-5 Fern (Lloyd Loar, Mar 31 1924) $135,000.00
Gibson F 1928 F-5 Fern (S/N 87367) $50,000.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Fern (S/N 90448) $80,000.00
Gibson F 2004 F-5 Fern (varnished) $7,250.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Fern (varnished) $7,500.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Fern (varnished) $7,000.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Fern (varnished) $6,500.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Fern (varnished) $6,500.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Master Model $11,500.00
Gibson F 2002 F-5 Master Model $8,900.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Master Model $10,500.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5 Master Model $9,000.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5 Master Model $11,750.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5 Master Model $11,000.00
Gibson F 1974 F-5 Master Model $3,500.00
Gibson F 2003 F-5 Master Model $9,750.00
Gibson F 1996 F-5 Master Model (Blonde) $15,000.00
Gibson F ? F-5 Master Model (Distressed) $23,600.00
Gibson F 2002 F-5 Master Model (One Piece Back) $9,800.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5 Master Model (S/N V70322) $10,000.00
Gibson F 2004 F-5 Master Model (Varnished) $12,500.00
Gibson F ? F-5G $3,500.00
Gibson F 1991 F-5G $2,900.00
Gibson F 1999 F-5G $2,950.00
Gibson F ? F-5G $2,950.00
Gibson F ? F-5G $2,800.00
Gibson F 2004 F-5G $3,400.00
Gibson F 2001 F-5G $2,800.00
Gibson F 1982 F-5L $3,750.00
Gibson F 2004 F-5L $5,200.00
Gibson F 1992 F-5L (S/N 2485109, Blonde) $8,900.00
Gibson F 1995 F-5L (S/N 51008129) $4,150.00
Gibson F 1989 F-5L (S/N 9248118) $5,000.00
Gibson F 1937 F-7 (S/N 94927) $11,500.00
Gilchrist F 1996 F-5 $24,500.00
Gilchrist F 1998 F-5 $21,000.00
Gilchrist F 1998 F-5 $22,500.00
Gilchrist F 1992 F-5 $24,500.00
Gilchrist F ? F-5 (S/N 01499) $23,500.00
Gilchrist F 1989 F-5 (S/N 0188) $21,500.00
Gilchrist F 1991 F-5 (S/N 249) $25,000.00
Gilchrist F 1998 F-5 (S/N 419) $25,000.00
Gilchrist F ? F-5 (S/N 505) $26,000.00
Gilchrist F 2001 F-5 (S/N 517) $25,000.00
Gilchrist F 1979 F-5 (S/N 7975) $22,500.00
Gilchrist F ? F-5 (S/N 96340) $24,000.00
Gilchrist F ? F-5 (S/N 96346) $23,500.00
Gilchrist F 1994 F-5 Model 5 $23,000.00
Gilchrist A ? Model 3 $17,500.00
Gilchrist A ? Model 3 $15,000.00
Gilchrist A ? Model 3 (S/N 01508) $17,000.00
Gilchrist A ? Model 3 (S/N 03554) $15,000.00
Gilchrist A ? Model 3 (S/N 93252) $23,500.00
Gilchrist A ? Model 3 (S/N 94293) $16,000.00
Gilchrist A 1997 Model 3 (S/N 97395) $14,500.00
Gilchrist A ? Snakehead Oval-Hole $11,500.00
Givens F 1983 F-5 $5,000.00
Givens F 1975 F-5 (S/N 27) $7,000.00
Givens F 2003 F-5 Legacy $3,000.00
Heiden F 1995 F-5 $7,500.00
Heiden F 1999 F-5 Artist (S/N F34) $15,000.00
Hillburn F ? F-5 (S/N 21) $4,800.00
Hutto F 1995 F-5 $7,000.00
Hutto F 1998 F-5 $6,800.00
Kelly F ? F-5 (S/N :sunglasses: $3,750.00
Kimble F ? F-5 $7,950.00
Kimble F 2003 F-5 $6,000.00
Kimble F 2004 F-5 $8,500.00
Kimble F ? F-5 $8,500.00
Lewis F 2002 F-5 (S/N M159JR) $9,000.00
Monteleone F 1996 Grand Artist $25,000.00
Monteleone F 1990 Grand Artist $24,500.00
Monteleone F ? Grand Artist $24,000.00
Monteleone F ? Grand Artist $22,500.00
Monteleone F 1996 Grand Artist $24,000.00
Monteleone F ? Grand Artist (S/N 103) $25,000.00
Monteleone F 1983 Grand Artist (S/N 103) $23,500.00
Monteleone F 1990 Grand Artist (S/N 146) $23,000.00
Monteleone F ? Grand Artist (S/N 59) $24,000.00
Newson F ? F-5 $5,000.00
Nugget 2 Pt ? 2 Point (198) $17,500.00
Nugget A 1985 A Model (S/N 98) $9,700.00
Nugget A 1985 A Standard (#98) $10,000.00
Nugget F 1997 F-5 $25,000.00
Nugget F 1994 F-5 $20,000.00
Nugget F ? F-5 (Deluxe Sunburst) $21,000.00
Nugget F ? F-5 (S/N 100) $28,500.00
Nugget F 1999 F-5 (S/N 223, Blonde) $25,000.00
Nugget F ? F-5 (S/N 246) $23,000.00
Nugget F ? F-5 (Standard) $20,000.00
Nugget F ? F-5 (Standard) $23,000.00
Pomeroy F ? F-5 (S/N 67) $3,950.00
Pomeroy F 2004 F-5 Blackface $3,200.00
Randy Wood F 1998 F-5 $8,500.00
Randy Wood F ? F-5 $5,995.00
Randy Wood F 1996 F-5 $5,600.00
Randy Wood F 2002 F-5 (S/N 1502) $6,500.00
Randy Wood F 1999 F-5 (S/N 2199) $7,500.00
Rattlesnake F 1998 F-5 $4,750.00
Smart F ? F-5 $8,500.00
Smart F 2001 F-5 $6,500.00
Smart F 1997 F-5 $6,000.00
Smith Creek F ? F-5 (S/N 72) $5,500.00
Stiver F ? F-5 $3,100.00
Taggert F 1998 F-5 (S/N 85) $3,900.00
Triggs F 2005 F-5 $10,000.00
Tucker F ? F-5 (S/N 16) $6,500.00
Tucker F ? F-5 (S/N 9) $9,000.00 "

2

And the winner is:
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Drum Roll Please
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Gibson F 1924 F-5 Fern (Lloyd Loar, Mar 31 1924) $135,000.00

I am actually about to build an Octave Mandolin. :stuck_out_tongue:

3

well, signed Loars are rare, i’ve seen them go for $180k for a 1923 somewhere in July (around Big Mon’s mandolin b-day). Loar didn’t actually build them either, IIRC.

i think also most of the builders today (and there are a lot of them building now, at least compared to a decade or two ago) generally don’t make a lot of money building mandolins, seems like a lot of them build guitars also and that is probably how they make ends meet.

there are also plenty of posts on MC breaking down the number of hours spent making an F style and a lot of these guys are making somewhere around minimum wage if you look at it that way.

EDIT: speaking of Loar, since Loren is an A-style aficionado, here is one of Mark Taylors copies of the only Loar-signed A5 in existence:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7392828306&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

The great exponent of Monroe-style mandolin, Mike Compton, is selling it – you can BIN for $7500.

4

Perfect, I’ll take two - who do I make the check out to?


Loren

5

this guy

6

Jeez Loren- you and I could BOTH quit woodwind making, learn to make mandolins and make out bigtime!


Unseen-- is that the Music Maker’s octave mando kit you’re building? Let us know how it works out. Somewhere on the web is a site on which some person built the kit, including doing some custom work like adding bindings etc. He has a LOT of really good pics step by step.

7

Imagine the prices if rock stars and fans collected mandolins the way they collect vintage guitars. Any number of guitars I love are completely out of my price range because of guys who can’t play but like to have them on their walls and rock stars who can play but just collect way beyond their needs.

8

I had considered the Music Maker’s, but I did not like the idea of Laminate Woods. So for $45 more I am going for Don Kawalek’s Kit which have gotten some good reviews on the Cafe and is Soild Spruce and Walnut, but he has Redwood and Mahogany which you can get with a bit of extra cash. I asked Don if I could get a custom scale length and he has been very nice to deal with, but it turns out I couldn’t afford the customization.

9

I looked at those prices and compared them to dulcimers, which is the bulk of my work. After I stopped whimpering and crying, I too decided I am in the wrong business.

Anyone want to swap their mando business for a well established dulcimer one.? :laughing:

10

Don’t you DARE!!!