Why did you sell the ultimate mandolin?

**Red Englemann** · Jan-29-2007, 8:08am

I am frequently surprised to find highly sought after vintage or high end mandolins for sale in the classifieds.

Aside from needing to sell for MAS or "I just need the money" why are these instruments for sale?

It makes me wonder if there is some disappointment or that you were just underwhemed with what is considered to be the ultimate.

Thanks in advance,

red

**red7flag** · Jan-29-2007, 8:15am

From what I can see, it is often MAS that strikes. The new greatest toy and now mine looks a little less glamorous. I have said a number of times that I am satisfied with what I have and WILL NOT get any more mandos. The next week I hear about a great mando here and the race is on. For the last time, now that I have the Stanley, Pom and Lebeda I am done buying new instruments. Big Joe can I listen to your DMM again, my that sounds purty. 25g you say, mmm.....
Tony

**Mikey G** · Jan-29-2007, 11:00am

I have my ultimate mandolin, and it will never be sold. I have five mandolins, and have never sold one that I bought. They all have their unique qualities and roles. I play a Gibson F5L primarily, but last night I was picking a 78 Ibanez 524. I agree that MAS is a culprit in almost all mandolin purchases. Once it gets a hold on you it can be a demon.

**Hans** · Jan-29-2007, 11:08am

Haven't built it yet. Don't think I ever will.

**mandolooter** · Jan-29-2007, 11:32am

sometimes life can throw stuff at ya that makes a mere mando seem irrevelant.

**Ted Eschliman** · Jan-29-2007, 12:40pm

The principle of "An instrument must be played." If it isn't getting lap time in the periodic rotation of instruments, it needs to go where it can be played, no matter how good it is. I guess I'm just not a "collector." This personal philosophy of "Catch and Release" has a down side; I've let some real treasures go (including one in the Classifieds now), but the benefit is I've "rented" a score of really cool instruments over the years. What fun!

That and as mandolooter refers to, sometimes life throws things at us like an unexpected IRS bill, medical incidient, or car problems. Unlike a savings account, money parked in mandos can be picked and enjoyed while you wait for the next of life's inevitable calamities, and sold.

**mythicfish** · Jan-29-2007, 1:00pm

Why? Because most mandolin players are like children. They're attracted to shiney objects, are easilly bored, have short attention spans, and are covetous of those things owned by others. This is America dammit!
Curt

**allenhopkins** · Jan-29-2007, 1:32pm

Buy all the mandolins you can. Then run your withered, gnarled hands over them and cackle, "Mine! All mine! Hah, hah, hah..."

Seriously, Mr. Marner, different tools for different sounds. I play or have played bluegrass, old timey, blues, Irish, Scottish, klezmer, and a lot of generic "folk." In the last 40 years, I've needed a variety of different sounds, timbres and textures for various performance and recording projects. None of my mandolins is the "ultimate," but each is useful for the purpose for which I obtained it. Carpenters carry an arsenal of drills and screwdrivers, plumbers have many wrenches, runners have different shoes for different surfaces.

Plus, I love the way the instruments differ in design, construction and sound. I've done mandolin workshops where I've brought ten or more instruments, just to show how the mandolin developed, and how those changes were suited for different musical styles. I could sell every instrument I have and not have down payment on a Lloyd Loar, but each one gets its time out of the case and in front of a mic.

So I'd be a little kinder than Curt as far as motivation for MAS is concerned.

**red7flag** · Jan-29-2007, 1:40pm

Well said Allen. What I meant, but didn't have the words. Hans, maybe not the ultimate, but you come pretty darn close. Your instruments have it all: tone, taste and class.
Tony

**JeffD** · Jan-29-2007, 2:22pm

I recently sold a Stephen Sobel bouzouki. I just wasn't playing it enough to justify the amount of value tied up in it.

Kind of broke my heart to sell it, but I got over it.

**Greg H.** · Jan-29-2007, 3:30pm

Hans,

You may not have made the ultimate mandolin for YOU yet, but I've run into folks (and read some postings from people here on the cafe) who seem to feel differently. #

(of course there's no predicting the effects of future MAS)

**JGWoods** · Jan-29-2007, 7:53pm

They're all the ultimate mandolin when I get them, then I fall in love with something else and that is the ultimate, so the weak one in the herd goes- like Ted said.

Same wife- 30 years and counting.

**arbarnhart** · Jan-30-2007, 1:02pm

I don't own an expensive mandolin and probably never will, so these are based on my observations rather than experience...

It seems to me the way that a lot of folks figure out which one is the "ultimate" is by getting something they think is better and finding out it is not.

I think some of it is seller's remorse also. While they had it it wasn't quite the ultimate but after it's gone and it is too late to rethink the decision doubts creep in.

I think some people expect a bigger difference and decide maybe it isn't worth the difference in price to them. Let's face it; if you pay $175K for a mandolin, $150K of it is going to get you little, if any, difference in sound and playability (a Loar versus a DMM). I am not knocking people who make that choice just saying I can understand how someone would do it and then change their mind.

**Jim Garber** · Jan-30-2007, 2:28pm

You never sell the "ultimate" mandolin. At most you sell the "penultimate."

Jim

**Laurence** · Jan-30-2007, 5:39pm

A while back, something happened inside. Not sure why, but I sold the expensive collector type instruments and kept a couple good players. I bought some property in the mountains and built a cabin with the money--well, got the roof on anyway.