Loar Alert

[Cactus Jack]

Loar F5, dated Feb. 18, 1924, $115,000.00, for sale by Steve Swan. A number of good photos and interesting history, at "Steve Swan Guitars" (on your computer). No financial interest, except I'm interested in finding a way to get that much money to buy it!

[Darryl Wolfe]

The owner of that Loar contacted me about selling it for him. We almost had a deal cooked to sell it on mandolincafe. However, he decided not to deal so long distance on it and consigned it locally.

[samuel]

Would be nice to have that much $$$ to throw on a mandolin huh? wow got me dreaming! Mandolin or a house... tough choice!

[Darryl Wolfe]

Image courtesy of Steve Swan Guitars

http://www.f5journal.com/pic_day/75703/p1010017_std.jpg

[duuuude]

Wow, I'd pick it up but I just spent $115K on a killer dinette set.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[GVD]

I'd buy it but I have to fill my gas tank instead. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

GVD

[jasona]

That a crack on the lower treble f-hole? Might explain the "low" price.

Still, nice looking mando

[mandoJeremy]

I think that is the crack that is very popular on Loars. Look at the distressed Master Model on Gibson's website and you will see the very same crack. By the way, why do a lot of Loars have that crack? Charlie or Darryl?

Yup alot has that same thar crack

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Not thinkin' about a BRW anymore . . .

[mandroid]

Or maybe a Hummer and a 50 caliber automatic traffic clearance device.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Dean Henderson]

<span style='font-family:ComicSansMS'><span style='color:Navy'><span style='font-size:10pt;line-height:100%'>I think Elderly recently offered another Feb 18, 1924 Loar. #Think the price on that one was $130K.</span></span></span>

[Darryl Wolfe]

The crack on this one is not exactly the "typical" Loar crack. The area of the crack is very sensitive and sometime can happen simply by holding the mando in one hand with your thumb on that area

However, the "typical" crack starts slightly to the right at the corner of the point. It is caused by binding shrinkage and temperature changes over the years. The typical crack usually will not finish is journey all the way to the f-hole. Its usually less than 1/2" long

[Ken Waltham]

Right on, Darryl. That is in no way a typical Loar, or any other Gibson crack.
As Darryl states, they come up from the bottom point, also very common on F4's and F2's.
The other "typical" one, and perhaps Darryl can verify this, is under the scroll, sometimes right under it, and sometimes closer to the fingerboard.
I feel these type are usually the result of too dry an environment, ie winter in a very dry house.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Correct Ken....here is the typical scroll crack ..as evidenced on 72204

[Ken Waltham]

Boy, that's a nice mandolin!
The first Loar I ever saw had that same crack, same spot.
Repaired by Monteleone, for Mando Bros. Dec 21/1924 model.
Owned by a Canadian friend of mine, Don Breeze. He's long ago sold it, he offered it to me when he moved to the USA for 8K canadian.......
oh the pain....

[Unseen122]

8K Canadian for a Loar that is a steal. I am sure you are beating yourself up over not goin' for it.