Gibson mandolins

[JeffS]

What is the reason a new Gibson is so expensive? Even the F9 is pricey. Back when I used to play a lot of guitar I would drool over the ES-135 and think some day... Well now for some insane reason I'd rather play mandolin and I look at the F5 and think, dang that's a whole lot of ES-135's or I guess 137's now. I realize I am comparing apples to oranges but wow, these things are expensive.

I'm very glad I don't suffer from MAS. Actually maybe it would be good if I did then I could go back to playing guitar and buy a SG for each day of the week and show her all the money I saved. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Lee]

JeffS,
I don't think anyone will agree that preferring to play a mandolin over an ES-135 requires some insane reason. It seems a perfectly reasonable preference to me. Gibson is a well respected manufacturer, with significant name recognition. Their price reflects it. There's lots more to drool over.

[sandcastlefaith]

I now realize that it's the people that have never owned a Gibson that don't understand why they are so pricey. I was once one of them, but now I can't understand why some of these Gibsons are not in the company of Dudenbostals, Monteleones and Gilchrists.

[Bob A]

Wood is relatively cheap. Talented labor is not. Takes as long to build a quality mandolin as a quality archtop guitar. Factory tooling, overhead, advertising etc all cost.

In 1921 the top Gibson mandolin was the F4, and it cost about $250 if memory serves. That was, what, about two months wages? The idea that you can get one for as little as four grand today makes it a steal.

$250 in 1921, adjusted for inflation is $2,600 in 2004.

$4 grand today is two months wages for people making $11.50 an hour.

[JeffS]

I would think they would be in the company of the others you mentioned, especially those coming out of the custom shop and definatly the F-5 Master model.

I actually prefer the no frills finish of the F-9 to the sunburst finishes on the F-5, but the A-9 appeals more to my bank account so I have a good feeling that will be my next mandolin when the time comes, unless I spot a good used one.

[mandoJeremy]

I think you have to remember that Gibson really only makes what dealer cost on the mandos are and the dealer makes the other (I am not going to say exactly!) percentage of the purchase price. If all small builders had a dealer then you wouldn't be able to buy them for what the builder sells them for without a dealer. I will just keep my mouth shut now and not name names of builders!

[ronlane3]

hmmm, most of the individual builders that I know and the ones talked about here cost from low 2K up to 25K or more, and all of that money goes to them, not to the middle man. So I would say that Gibson mandolins aren't that expensive. Now in defense of Lynn D and the rest, you should see the labor that is involved in building one, they are WAY under paid.

[dasspunk]

Gibson is expensive because of it's name, history and demand. They can get more money for them so they do.

MandoJeremy makes a fine point. Buying a new Gibson requires going through a middleman (dealer) which jacks up the price. I have no idea what Gibson charges a dealer for one of their mandos but it is typical for a dealer to pay half of retail for there wares.

Are Gibson mandos better than some of the high quality small builders out there? I think not. If you want a great Mando for cheap, cut out the middleman.

I'm a big fan of the middleman. #While there are exceptions, the much maligned middleman has the overall effect of lowering prices.

A good local music store serving as a Gibson dealer (or a Weber dealer) adds value in terms of local support. #The network as a whole lowers prices by moving Gibson out of the mode of buidling each mandolin to custom order. #They increase the selection opportunity by letting you play multiple models/brands side-by-side. #Try to borrow a Dude, a Bentrup and a Monteleone directly from the builders to compare. #I called an in-state guy to ask if I could stop by his shop and see a sample of his work (I wanted to support local), he didn't even have a personal use one for me to see.

[Strado Len]

Bob A:

I think it was the F-5 that cost $250 (the same price as the L-5 guitar). The F-4 was somewhat less, possibly $175.

[f5loar]

And if you want a case for that $250 '23 Loar add $25 for the special silk lined faultless case or add another $16.50 if you want one of those fancy Virzi Tone Producers installed.