Loyd 4 sale

Loyd Loar 4 sale at Elderly. Sweet.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Not reverse binding though http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/90U-3992.htm

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Would this be considered a "high-end" mandolin?

[phynie]

born on the same day as mr monroe's. too cool!

[Keith Wallen]

What is reverse binding? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Darryl Wolfe]

Ah yes....the one I missed in 1967. My Dad and I went into Epsteins Music Store in downtown Cleveland Oh to look at a 1950 F12 they had for sale for $250. A good friend bought this Loar at the same place later in the day for $300. Shows to go you that you should always ask to see the BEST mando they have and then decide whether or not you can afford it. 10 years later I bought my first Loar for $6000

[Darryl Wolfe]

Reverse binding...Black line on the sides

[Keith Wallen]

Reverse binding...Black line on the sides
Oh cool. Thanks!

[chris]

It's on hold already. I guess the Loar market isn't slow

[danb]

Lovely Loar. I wonder how long this one will last, both of the last two I've seen up went in an hour or so!

[Darryl Wolfe]

I guess the Loar price ain't $115k no mo' either

[wannabethile]

man, my mando sucks!!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[danb]

Oops, dreaming again..

[BenE]

I would have been even more impressed if you would have ordered a quantity of two! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mandodude]

Hey, Dan!

You forgot to "check out!"

Never mind, buddy... I clicked it for ya!

;-)

[jim simpson]

I wonder how much I could get for my Yellowstone on a trade-in? I guess it still might be a little over my budget!

[Charlie Derrington]

Actually, it's going for less than average.

Charlie

[Ken Sager]

Actually, it's going for less than average.

Charlie
Less than the average what? House?

[Ken Sager]

I forgot the smiley!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[f5loar]

That makes 3 Loars and a Fern sold in the last 60 days.
Close to a half a million dollars in 4 mandolins.
I'll say the market is hot! Elderly's last Loar was a mere $108K and sold within 24 hours and I recall it was in better shape than this one. Darryl is right, they aren't
$115K anymore.

[dave waite]

You would think that they could have sprung for some flash bulbs for that kind of money.

[dixiecreek]

man, my mando sucks!!!! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Ummm hello, have you forgotten that your mandolin has magical powers? ;)

(maybe if you think it sucks, you won't notice when I steal it from you.) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[wannabethile]

o yeah, what was i thinkin?!!! and dont you dare try to steal my mando!!! haha:D

[Darryl Wolfe]

That particular Loar is one of the finest sounding one's I have heard. #Although it appears a shade rough around the edges, most every aspect can be touched up and french polished out to excellent plus condition. #There are no cracks, just one simple side bulge repair. #Had this been done, and the case been somewhat attended to/restored, the instrument would have brought $125k or more in a matter of a week or so. #With no disrespect to Stan and them at Elderly, they simply underestimated the market on pricing this one. #There have been rumors of $150,000 offers/inquiries recently in attempts to pry certain Loars loose from the present owners. #Although situations like that are "inflated" attempts to satisfy one persons cravings, the price of a nice clean Loar is certainly in excess of $120k.

Do I hear $150,000? Going once .. Going twice.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ethanopia]

Yikes!

[mandomood]

are these going to the hands of players or collectors?(realizing they could be one in the same)

what a beauty...

[GTison]

collector vs player. at this level?? is there a differnce anymore? Sure there is.

Soon it will be like the Strad market in that groups or investors will purchase the instrument and players will get them on loan for a period of time. Then the instrument will be sold and the investors paid for their investment.

[evanreilly]

I thouhgt I heard mention of a private sale of a Loar @ Merlefest for $125K; rumor or fact???

[Darryl Wolfe]

Loars used to always be priced similar to a high end used car or fairly nice new one. Let's say $25,000 - 35,000 in todays market. Most folks with "stuff/equity" and enough desire and ambition can make that happen if they want a Loar bad enough. However, this formula changed about the time Ricky Skaggs and a few others raised the ante to $40,000 at or around 1996 or 1997. This was after a period when nice clean Loars had not been offered for sale in quite some time. Since then, the pricing has been on a straight line away from the aforementioned formula and car prices have not really risen that significantly in 6-8 years (I paid $25,000 for my 1998 V6 2dr Accord and they are still well under $30,000 in 2004). So, to sum it up, Loars essentially are now out of the hands of middle class affectionados and musicians unless they have already made wise instrument or other investments. The current owners of Loars, a select few performers/musicians, the financially secure individual and the wealthy investor/collector will now control the market. This makes a smaller, yet more eccentric group of potential buyers....Holy Cow Billy Bob

[danb]

Not that that means, by any stretch of the imagination, that the ones "out there" aren't getting played!

[jjboone101]

I did hear/see that Tony Williamson was playing a very recently acquired Loar at Merlefest...I heard he had owned this one in the past and ran into the owner at Merlefest, who was looking to sell. Probably in the $100K+ level...

[GTison]

Darryl,
do you see the value of post Loar Ferns of the late 20's etc. accelerating as well?

[Charlie Derrington]

Rumor has it that Skinner's has found another. Dead mint (under a bed for 80 years), estimated auction price...$150K.

Charlie

PS Not to answer for Darryl (but to answer for Darryl). Yes, Ferns are also increasing at about the same percentage.

[mandopete]

Sounds like an urban myth to me! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Brian Aldridge]

There are several Loar owners I can think of right off that would turn down a 150K offer for their mandolin. Rumor is that there is another Loar that will be offered at Elderly soon, and the price tag will be 150K. Maybe Stan is seeing what the market is.

[Brian Aldridge]

Seeing what is happening in regards to to price of Loars and Ferns, it has me wondering what the market is doing on parts. For example, I know of an orig Fern tailpiece cover that sold a couple of years ago for $2500. What would an original Loar tailpiece cover bring today? Same with a Loar or Fern era rectangular case? Any thoughts?

[evanreilly]

Some lucky character bought an original Loar rectangular case at the Bill Monroe auction for $250.00; that was the original price for the mandolin in 1923. Apparently, it belonged to WSM; can you say 'historical'??
P.S. - it had a pickguard in it as well, but not a '20s version.

[carleshicks]

I am on my way to elderly today . Stan said He would let me play the loar. I am so excited I can't see straight.

[AlanN]

I bought/sold a 20's red lined case recently, add a zero to the above figure...

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

I think the reason this one is so high, is that it's the "distressed" model. I know I'm distressed knowing I'll never be able to save up enough for a Loar!

[carleshicks]

I played the Loar it sounded awsome. My dad heard me play it and He described the tone perfectly. He said when you stand in front of it, that it almost felt like the sound came twisting out at you through the F holes. And this is coming from my dad who thinks that his 1925 Gibson A-4 snakehead is the only good mando in the world.

[f5loar]

I wouldn't take $200K for mine because I fail to how I can pick on 200K in cash. I know I could have any other mandolin I desire with change left over but it wouldn't be a Loar. PS: I might consider $250K but that offer only good for the next 48 hours.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Rumor has it that Elderly does have another Loar..a March 18, 24. The owner of the fern that sold was selling it to buy the Feb 8 23 Loar that Tony Williamson has/had. The first "hold" on the Elderly Loar was rescinded when he opted for a Feb 18, 24 that came available. The mqandolin is apparently still on hold by someone.

Parts..I've heard prices like $4000 for an original Loar case, $2500 for a tailpiece cover. I would not even consider $150k for my Loar if I needed the money

Daryl ..What about 1 gazzillion dollars.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif and I throw in one of Alans roo straps!

[Darryl Wolfe]

Alan sent me a 'roo strap..it's great..Thanks Alan

[Darryl Wolfe]

Seriously..if I were in a bind and had to sell Lloyd, I wouldn't even start considering anything less than $150k..although they are not quite there yet. That remains to be seen

[JD Cowles]

hey daryl-
will you take a check for the $250K #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
thanks for all the cool info/photos of all those fancy loars.
jd

[Darryl Wolfe]

Now we're talking amongst the phrase "anything is for sale at a price"......certified check please....I'll watch the mailbox

Let's see..a nice '37 Herringbone, a Gilchrist, Master Model and Dude, #a D-28 GE, new pickup and heck maybe $80-100k left over for my retirement account

[cutbait2]

well here's a heretical thought. there's a fundamental difference I believe between the Loar phenomena and the stradivari comparison. while the Loars are certainly rare and in demand by investors, collectors, and successful musicians there is one leg of the stool missing. and that is #that the tone of a Loar is something fantastic that cannot be and has not been recreated. my opinion is based on a survey of all the great mandolinists that do not play Loars and the tone they get from a wide variety of instruments. would they play a Loar if they could, maybe, probably, do they need one? no. the Loar has become a status symbol and now a legend that must be protected and fueled to insure values are maintained. that legendary status exceeds its value as a musical instrument. "shields up Mr. Wharf....."

[Darryl Wolfe]

cutbait...some truth there....but, I've known many a mandolinist with the same "opinion" that now own Loars..Doyle Lawson maintained for years that he didn't like, want or need a Loar. I sold mine once thinking "I didn't really need it" The Gilchrist and Paganoni eventually had to go

[f5loar]

Darryl has a point there. It seems the only ones who think they don't need a Loar are the ones who don't have a Loar. There are several pros that didn't have one for most of their careers and then got one. Loar owners seem to be pretty contient and happy with one. Since my offer to sell for $250K has passed for mine I feel relief it didn't sell but then that '37 bone,A Dude, a Gil and a Distressed MM,(I don't need the D28GE)a new BMW 760 and a summer home at the beach sounds pretty nice!
To heck with the retirement, scratch the '37 bone and throw in that D45 at Elderly too!

[Brian Aldridge]

Thanks Tom! Best laugh I'vd had for a while. Great point made too.

[Flowerpot]

"Darryl has a point there. It seems the only ones who think they don't need a Loar are the ones who don't have a Loar."

Of course there's the flip side too -- only the ones who think they absolutely need one are willing to pay for one. There do exist people who have 100k of total money invested in instruments who would rather own many fine instruments than one Loar. Or several nice instruments and a bass boat for that matter. Different strokes, and that's a good thing too, or else the'yd be at $250k by now, and poor Darryl would have just sold his -- D'oh!

[cutbait2]

In no way am I attempting to disparage Loar mando's or argue over their "value". Their place in history is undeniable. given the status associated with them anyone would probably own one who could. in the 50's and 60's you bought a loar because you needed one to sound like Bill. (there was no other good choice for those in the know) now, for top musicians owning a Loar has become a symbol of status, "i've made it, i own and play a Loar" in the mean time well heeled collectors and investors are driving the cost of a Loar far away from what BG musicians, even the national acts, will be able to afford. yet there's a number of seemingly contented musicians who don't play Loars who probably could if they wanted to ie Thile, O'Brien, McCoury and many more. by "could" I mean wouldn't you think someone would loan Ronnie or Chris a Loar to play if one of these guys thought they needed one for "the tone"? that is top violinists are loaned Stradavarius violins for their sound, will this ever happen with Loars? I don't know as I believe several builders already equalled that tone.

[Brian Aldridge]

Oh boy. Here we go. Somebody hurry up and post another pic. I can't stand to hear a grown man cry.

[Mark in Nevada City]

"Let's see..a nice '37 Herringbone, a Gilchrist, Master Model and Dude, #a D-28 GE..."

The vintage guitar market is moving along as well...that '37 bone might set ya back more than you think. I played a '37 d-18 recently that went for 22K (and that for no Braz RW!)

[AlanN]

Actually, cutbait2 has a point, you don't see many Loar loans happening, either for recording or touring. Could be because, as he says, there are plenty of great sounding and playing F-5s out there now. Also could be because no one wants to be the one to say "Well, see, Dawg, I was doing this nifty turnaround after the second break before the last chorus, and oops...I done whacked the headstock scroll on the mic, and guess what...it done busted off!"

[Scotti Adams]

Actually, cutbait2 has a point, you don't see many Loar loans happening, either for recording or touring. Could be because, as he says, there are plenty of great sounding and playing F-5s out there now. Also could be because no one wants to be the one to say "Well, see, Dawg, I was doing this nifty turnaround after the second break before the last chorus, and oops...I done whacked the headstock scroll on the mic, and guess what...it done busted off!"
..didnt seem to bother Mun... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif