The Loar Emergence

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

So, is it me, or are there an inordinate number of Loars coming up for sale lately? I wonder if people who have been keeping "Grandpa's mandolin" in the family are seeing what kind of prices that others are getting and start thinking, "to heck with sentimental value, Sell that little guitar!"

[pathfinder]

I've noticed this too. #I recently saw a post speculating that Loars will reach $250K in the next several years. #I'm kinda sceptical of this, but I'm sure others will disagree.

It comes down to this. #Current Loar prices are tempting, particularly when an owner realizes that, rather than keeping all his eggs in one basket, his profits can be diversified by investing in several other collectible artifacts.

I don't want to start a flame war, but if I was a Loar owner, it's something I'd be thinking about if I had an eye on leaving a substantial nestegg for my family. #IMHO.

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

I know there are a lot of Loar owners who would disagree with me, and that's o.k., but if I had one, I think I'd sell it and buy about ten great mandos that are hot today! Somewhere in that group would be a couple that would serve me well even if I had become used to the Loar. Then I'd take the change that would be left over and retire.

[f5loar]

Pathfinder, It's a good thing you are not a Loar owner.
The market is flooded as it is.
My guess is Loar owners are out of work, unemployment ran out months ago, no healthcare insurance, too high!,gas over $2 a gallon and if they are going to keep gas in their Humvees and Speedboats they will have to part ways with the family nest egg.

[pathfinder]

Hi f5loar. I don't see you disagreeing with me. We're on the same page. It's just that we're gonna see some Loars on the market in the next year or so, and I think the price is gonna come down. I hope I'm wrong.

[mandophil(e)]

A question for the "old-timers" who have been following Loars and Ferns over the long haul: Have the prices ever gone down? I'm sure there have been periods where they remained steady, but have they actually retreated?

[f5loar]

When comparing apples to apples (an excellent conditon Loar to another excellent Loar) the prices have not gone down since 1945. Monroe was the last picker to get a really good deal on a really good used Loar. There have been periods of rapid rise in price like now and periods of slow rise coupled with periods of none being for sale for long periods of time. If 200 came out for sale today the price would not go down for the simple reason they quit making them in Dec. of 1924. You will always find bargins like the one with scratced labels that was stolen,
the one with no labels or the one that had water damage and the seams came apart on it or the few that have been refinished in whole or in part, maybe a good deal will come along when a trade is involved but original all there signed Loars will never fall in price. And you can take that statement to the bank!

If 200 came out for sale today the price would not go down for the simple reason they quit making them in Dec. of 1924.

Except our old friends supply and demand would tell us that is only true if there are 200 people with both the inclination and the resources to buy them. #Even rare collectables can have more supply than demand at a given price point. #Of course, if the 200 people didn't need to sell, supply would adjust as they were removed from the market as the price fell.

[evanreilly]

Ther have been others since WSM who have found Loars at 'good deals'. I met a plumber who was working in a house and noticed the black case on the top shelf under the pipes; there was some slight water damage to the case and a bit of discoloration to the top finish. He bought that Loar for something like $150, same price Monroe paid.
I had the opportunity to buy one at Locker's, way back, for $800.00; the F-4 they also had in the window was about $400.00.

[Lynn Dudenbostel]

For a good class in vintage instrument economics, go to www.gruhn.com. click on "newsletter", and go to the May 2004 edition. Class is in session! You'll get a good feel for what is going on (and what has transpired in previous years) not just in the US, but on a global level. If anyone knows the market, it's George. I think you'll find he says there are plateaus on the high end instruments, but they really never drop in value. An insteresting read.

Lynn

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Quote
If 200 came out for sale today the price would not go down for the simple reason they quit making them in Dec. of 1924.

And I'm sure that's what's happening now. There are 200 in Elderly's back room waiting to go to the web site one at a time! That'll keep the prices going up. 15K at a time, apparently.

[Mike Stateler]

Looks like George Gruhn has a possible one for sale right now. What's the story on this one Charlie or Big Joe as it says its been owned by Gibson for the past two years?

[Charlie Derrington]

It wasn't owned by Gibson. It was owned by me.

Charlie

[f5loar]

I personally know 100 collectors that would jump at the chance to own a few and would only need a 24 hour notice to get the funds shifted.
It seems Elderly is catching up to Mandolin Bros. in selling Loars. One must understand that all don't get listed for us to talk about. Many are sold on the first phone call.