Jim, I do think the Martin name is worth some real cachet that translates into marketing methods and pricing as well. #Witness all the obscure mandolins that show up on ebay with the word 'Martin' buried in the text: #"looks like a Martin", "maybe a Martin?" or my favorite: "not a Martin", all of which show up on ebay searches or favorite searches. # #Vinaccia and Embergher often serve the same purpose with euro-mandolins. #(A Puglisi bowlback went for well over $1000 recently perhaps thanks to such associative labeling.)
I bought my simple 00 Martin a couple years ago on the ebay in a "Kilpatrickan" moment after a few glasses of wine at dinner. # The next morning I thought $150 was way over the top. #Not any more, I guess. # # I suspect that more and more players are taking the plunge across the Great Divide, maybe as second instruments or as explorations. #The familiar, bankable maker names make sense as a way to go. # I expect Washburn prices to follow suit, though probably not to such an extent, maybe fueled a bit by the clarity provided by Hubert's guidebook. #(One can still get an entry level Washburn bowl--good quality #craft and excellent woods--for ~$100, which is an insane value, particularly compared to all the ratty Italian jobber mandolins available to 2-3X price on UK ebay-plus shipping.)
A continual tip o' the hat to bre'r Eugene for convincing me to get in on the ground floor. #
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Bookmarks