Look at all the Gilchrists!

[fredfrank]

I've noticed there are no fewer than six Gilchrist F5 mandolins for sale in the classifieds! Is sombody out there trying to torture me?

Kinda reminds me of when I was in high school and I wanted a new Corvette. They were priced out of my range then, and they still are.

Let's hold it down on placing ads for these Gils, folks. There might be some folks out here with weak hearts, not to mention empty bank accounts!

[fishdawg40]

What is a brand new Gill running at? I've noticed many of the used ones are at $22,500...

[pickinNgrinnin]

I was thinking along a similar line. I can't recall seeing so many Gilchrists for sale in the 5 some years I've been here. An interesting development. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[SternART]

If you are lucky enough to be at the beginning of Steve's new wait list.....I understand the price is $22k.

[Glassweb]

That's the current price as I hear it.

[fredfrank]

They do hold their value well, don't they?

[Tony Sz]

Fredfrank,
If you traded in the Gibson and the Collings, you probably could swing the Gilchrist! I see you already are willing to say goodbye to the Collings. I have a Gibson MM I'd be interested in trading. Maybe we can talk....
Tony S.

[SternART]

The F5C I have listed is an amazing instrument, hearing Mike Marshall play it at the Symposium
made me reconsider if I really want to let it go.

[kudzugypsy]

it is interesting to see the prices on gils sort of level out from the last few years - i think they have been in the low $20K range for a while - the interesting thing now is that they arent moving at that price. those mandos would have been gone in hours 2-3 years ago.

so what happens when the top makers say they are going to open their lists at "market price" and the market price falls to say $18k? it is going to be really interesting over the next few years, imo, because if you DONT have that preceived price appreciation, then its a hard sell to justify that kind of money. if they go up, as they did many times over, then you dont blink..its a win-win situation. you get one of the finest mandos being made, and you get some *investment* gain out of it too.

[chuck.naill]

I've noticed there are no fewer than six Gilchrist F5 mandolins for sale in the classifieds! Is sombody out there trying to torture me?


It is hard to imagine that that many owners are getting rid of such an acclaimed intrument. Do you think it part of the elusive nature to upgrade or a chance to take advantage of the market?

chuck

[red7flag]

I am a big Gil fan and have been for many years. I have a friend with an early Gil that simply is awesome, although it looks beat up. It was appraised by Gruhn for 24k. Even though most of my picking buddies are professional with initials after their name, none of them have come close to spending that much on an instrument. My friend payed 4k when he bought it. I just wonder if there is a limited number of people that both have the resourses and desire to part with it for such an instrument? There are now a few mandos in that range: Gils, DMM, Dudes (I think). I am not sure about Nuggets and Pags. To me if I had that kind of money to throw around, to me Gil would be a good investment, I think time will treat them well, but I would get it to play it. Oh my, would I play it. In my banjo days, there was a book out with pictures of a collection of banjos a Japanese gentleman had collected. To me that is obscene. A banjo is meant to be played. While many are beautiful, it just seems distorted to take instruments out of the hands of the players to sit in glass cases hermetically sealed. Any time I find that I have an instrument that does not get played, I either sell it or give it away. An unused instrument is just a waste, maybe not financially, but in my soul it is. Just my take.
Tony

[John Rosett]

Let's hold it down on placing ads for these Gils, folks. There might be some folks out here with weak hearts, not to mention empty bank accounts!
cheer up, fred. maybe with so many on the market, the price will come down.

[thistle3585]

I wonder if the very fact that there are six for sale will drive the prices down. Obviously its a buyers advantage to have so many to choose from in such a small community.

[sgarrity]

I think once these waiting lists start to open up, we'll definitely see some restructuring of the market. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if we started seeing used ones in the $16-18k range.

[fredfrank]

I played the Gil at Greg Boyd's this past weekend. It was wonderful! Even if I sold both the Collings and the Gibson I have, it would not be enough.

So I bought a Birdseye Collings MT2V to add to the stable.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[red7flag]

Fred can you compare the MF5V and the MT2V, outside of the curly maple, please?
Tony

[fredfrank]

Well, at this time the MT2V has new strings on it, and the MF5V Deluxe has deader-than-a-doornail strings on it, so I'll reserve any comparisons until I get them on an equal footing.

I have had my eye out for a Tim O'brien model for a long time, but they are a rare bird! This little 'A' will be a lot of fun for jamming and such.

The most noticable difference at this time is that the 'F' model seems throatier, while the 'A' has a snappier, almost bell-like sound.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack my own thread!