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Thread: 1982 Used Mando Prices

  1. #1
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    In the attic looking for something else I came across this "Used Instrument List, no. 5" from Elderly, dated Jul 21, 1982. There are about 30 mando family instruments listed; here's a few:

    Martin A 1941 $265
    Gibson F-4, c.1920 $1,400
    Gibson A-1 c.1914 $400
    Gibson A-1 c.1917 $475
    Gibson A-3 c.1915 $550

    another half dozen Gibsons in the $300-500 range and another F-4 for $1300.

    I'm not drawing any conclusions from this but it's interesting to compare today with 23 years ago.

    John Goodin

  2. #2
    Registered User Yellowmandolin's Avatar
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    Wow! That is really interesting... Could you post a few more?
    Play, play, play!

    Jacob Hawkins

  3. #3
    Registered User Bob DeVellis's Avatar
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    A few from '93:

    1924 Gibson A $1000
    1913 Gibson F2 1650
    1917 Gibson F4 2500
    1900 Howe-Orme 500
    1976 Nugget 3300
    1990 Stiver 1850
    Bob DeVellis

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    I used to save those old periodicals just for reference. I think I still have an old stack. Stay tuned....
    Wye Knot

  5. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    All right – Mugwumps classified:

    November 1973:
    1926 Gibson H-2 Mandola, $275
    Gibson F-2, $600

    September 1974:
    Martin A, $150
    Gibson A-2, $225
    Gibson trapdoor banjo-mandolin, $175
    1949 F-5, $1500

    Sept-Oct, 1976:
    Stahl Brazilian rosewood mandocello, $175
    1906 F-2, $1000
    Epiphone Artist mandolin, $650
    Early 1920's F-4: $800
    Martin 2-30, $$650
    K-2 mandocello, $400
    Wayne Henderson F-5, $1000

    spring 1977:
    1915 A-4, $450
    1937 Strad-O-Lin $55
    Loar #75697, $8500

    spring1979:
    Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5: $7500
    Flatback rosewood mandolin made by Martin for Oliver Ditson Co, $200
    Matched set: Gibson A-4 1920 mandolin and H-2 Mandola, $1500 for the pair.

    Summer 1979:
    Calace bowlback, 1892, $600
    Gibson H-1 mandola, $500
    Dobro mandolin, $250
    1919 A-4, $500
    1930s Gibson mandola, $475
    Lyon & Healy style C, $350
    Same mandolin and mandola set above in later issue: $650 each
    1918 F-4: $1250

    Enough??? Just remember, the dollar went much longer in those days...

    Jim
    Jim

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    Playing lately:
    Brentrup A4C -- 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin -- 1904 Embergher Type 3 -- 1937 Gibson L-Century -- 1939 Gibson L-00 -- ca. 1890s Celebrated Benary Banjo -- 1985 Monteleone Grand Artist Mandola

  6. #6
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    1979 national median home price: #55,400
    2004 national median home price: #180,000
    Increase: 323%

    1979 Loar: 7,500
    2005 Loar: 125,000
    Increase: 1,667%

    And it's all because of Mandolin Cafe.



    Fiddles
    Arches F4 / Newson F5
    Crump B1 / Old Wave GOM

  7. #7
    bigmons23 Tim Saxton's Avatar
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    And from November 2018

    1923 Gibson F5 Fern 135,000
    1924 Gibson F4 w/Virzi 25,000
    2003 MK F5 Deluxe 1,750
    2005 Eastman 615 F5 2,500
    1924 Gibson F5 Lloyd Loar 500,000

    Sad but possibly true?
    "Well, Yes, It is true that it did have random Hippie Sanding done to it"

    "It's about the journey and not the destination."

  8. #8
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    I took $2000 to the 1988 Dallas Guitar show. #I came back with:
    1923 snake A
    a 1920 whiteface A-3
    refinned 63 Jazz bass
    1961 D-21



    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

  9. #9
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    1976 - 23 Loar - $6000 (I paid a record high)
    1976 - 23 Loar A-5 - was offered to me for $7500
    1979 - 23 Loar - I sold $7000
    1979 - 24 Loar - $7500 I paid
    1982 - 23 Loar - $8000 (the one I have now)
    1984 - 23 Loar - $8500 (I paid, for client)
    1986 or 87 2-24 Loars - I sold, $26,000 for both

    These are prices at Gruhns and/or from knowlegable dealers
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

  10. #10
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    who's gonna do the inflation adjusted numbers on these loars?

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    Minumum Wage in 1997 $5.15 per hour

    Minimum wage in 2007 $5.15 per hour

    Oh thats right that doesnt increase
    Ellis A5 Deluxe #231
    2012 Gibson F5G
    Martin D18GE
    Martin HD28V (custom prototype)

  12. #12
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    If you are making minimum wage, you aren't going to be buying anyone's mandolin. You might want to try a comparison of average wage and it would be bit better picture.
    Have a Great Day!
    Joe Vest

  13. #13
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    I think those figures are somewhat skewed. Just since 1967 the price of goods and incomes has risen that much. In 1923 the average wage was no where near 5K per year. If you look at the cost of groceries from that time there will be a substanially different price factor also. The same for housing. You could buy a house in the 70's for 10-15 K in many communities that would bring 8+ times that today in good shape. Minimum wage was only $1.00 in the mid 60's and that has changed substantially also.
    Have a Great Day!
    Joe Vest

  14. #14
    Registered User Onesound's Avatar
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    In 1979 I was real happy because my new job gave me a 10% salary increase to $14K a year! #Imagine I owned a (modest) home, was raising 3 kids, and my wife didn't work - and a Loar was out of my reach then, and it still is. #
    Cheers,

    Brian

    Angels don't play harps, they play mandolins

  15. #15
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    right, i think you have to look at people's wages vs what the inflation adjusted amounts would be. a standard factory worker in the 30's made $25-35.00 per week (this would have been an avg. factory job). so how many "wage hours" did it take to buy a musical instrument in the pre-war period. remember also, that the typical southerner was still farm based, and may only make $90-150 per YEAR!
    Gruhn wrote an article a while back laying out this theory of how many "wage hours" it took to buy something in the 20-30's vs now. in the past, most peoples wages were tied to hourly production - today it is far different.

    but it still leaves open the debate that todays instrument prices are FAR FAR over historical prices. that is the way it goes, as business costs rise and rise. what was the report over the last few weeks that GM said $3,000 of every car purchase price goes to employee pensions. when you start adding those things up....well, you get the idea.

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