Loar F5 at Larry Wexer's

**Glassweb** · Sep-11-2010, 4:40pm

forgot to mention that i was in NYC last month and had a look/play with a Loar F5 (yes, a REAL Loar) that Larry Wexer currently has on consignment. it's the 51st Loar I've ever played and it was superb... great, balanced Loar sound... tons of complexity, great neck, no repairs or refins so far as i could tell... just a really nice, really straight GREAT sounding Loar. belongs to the legendary NYC studio musician Eric Weisberg... (ever hear the dueling banjo in the film Deliverance... that's him) and you can be sure he knows how to pick the good'uns.
a very decent price for such a nice-looking, great-playing example.

**MikeEdgerton** · Sep-11-2010, 5:07pm

For those that might want to view Larry's site here it is. I bought a few instruments from him when he was at Mandolin Bros. in the lat 80's.

**AlanN** · Sep-11-2010, 6:09pm

A very nice specimen, a very nice date

and a very nice price...boy howdy, have they dropped...

**BradKlein** · Sep-11-2010, 9:22pm

Did you get a chance to play the Grisman, post Loar mandocello, while you were there?

**Glassweb** · Sep-11-2010, 11:14pm

Originally Posted by BradKlein

Did you get a chance to play the Grisman, post Loar mandocello, while you were there?

Nope!

**Mandoist** · Sep-14-2010, 10:49am

Wow! $165k -- that's an unload me now price. A 1923 Loar in need of repairs, with unoriginal parts went for $180k earlier this year.

Anybody in the market would be crazy to pass this one up.

**sgarrity** · Sep-14-2010, 11:03am

Gruhn's has a July 9th side bound for $165k and an unsigned '25 for $135k. How many does Tony Williamson have for sale at the moment? It's a buyer's market if you have the cash.

**schloss** · Sep-14-2010, 11:11am

Housing has dropped in Florida, where a $400,000 home would sell for 2 years ago, now sells for $125,000. I know a Loar is not a house, but wouldnt it be unrealistic to fool yourself that EVEN Loar prices have not decreased drastically as well in this terrible economy? Loar owners will keep hyping them at $250,000 , but I think those days are long gone and will be for a long time to come. Sorry boys, they are not exempt from whats going on in this big cruel world. Sorry for the HJ.

**Glassweb** · Sep-14-2010, 3:03pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

Gruhn's has a July 9th side bound for $165k and an unsigned '25 for $135k. How many does Tony Williamson have for sale at the moment? It's a buyer's market if you have the cash.

c'mon in Shaun... the water's fine!

**Glassweb** · Sep-14-2010, 3:04pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

Gruhn's has a July 9th side bound for $165k and an unsigned '25 for $135k. How many does Tony Williamson have for sale at the moment? It's a buyer's market if you have the cash.

c'mon in Shaun... the water's fine!

**sgarrity** · Sep-14-2010, 10:30pm

Originally Posted by Glassweb

c'mon in Shaun... the water's fine!

You know I'd love to!

**f5loar** · Sep-15-2010, 12:21am

So what you're saying is even in this rather turbulent economy I'd still have to sell my house to get a Loar. So nothings changed!
Even back in 1923 did you buy a Ford Model T Runabout for $269 or a Loar with a case for $275. Nothing has changed but one thing is for sure the quality of a Gibson Loar remains long after the price is forgotten. I can't say the same for the Ford.

**schloss** · Sep-15-2010, 9:13am

Thats the best analogy I have seen as to justify the price of a Loar. 1923 a Loar was worth $275.00, then 9 years later in the middle of the great depression neither the house nor the Loar was worth a plug nickle. We are heading in that direction sir, thanks for agreeing with me.

**SternART** · Sep-15-2010, 9:14am

I think I played that particular "unsigned" at the Mandolin Symposium one year, when a previous owner had it.........KILLER mandolin!

**f5loar** · Sep-15-2010, 12:11pm

But 9 years later a new F5 still was selling for $275 with case, it's just they didn't sell very many. Didn't make many either.
<Political content removed by Moderator>

**Mandoist** · Sep-15-2010, 1:32pm

Originally Posted by f5loar

Even back in 1923 did you buy a Ford Model T Runabout for $269 or a Loar with a case for $275.

I'll nitpick just a bit...I think the '23 Loars w/case went for $250? At least that's what is written in pencil on my original price tag from 1923.

**D. Roberts** · Sep-15-2010, 2:19pm

I think I'll just keep picking mine and not worry about what the market price is:-)

**Glassweb** · Sep-15-2010, 2:45pm

Originally Posted by D. Roberts

I think I'll just keep picking mine and not worry about what the market price is:-)

amen brother! if you got one play it, love it and dig yo' badself!

**Mandoist** · Sep-15-2010, 4:24pm

Originally Posted by schloss

Housing has dropped in Florida, where a $400,000 home would sell for 2 years ago, now sells for $125,000. I know a Loar is not a house, but wouldnt it be unrealistic to fool yourself that EVEN Loar prices have not decreased drastically as well in this terrible economy? Loar owners will keep hyping them at $250,000 , but I think those days are long gone and will be for a long time to come. Sorry boys, they are not exempt from whats going on in this big cruel world. Sorry for the HJ.

I've noticed tonight that the economy driven, down market price hasn't hit in Michigan. Elderly is currently fooling itself with a Martin D28 (VG condition) for $68,500 - and of course, one of those hyped Loars at $250k.

Yet...What a crazy world where $165k will currently get you a membership card in the Loar club.

**schloss** · Sep-15-2010, 4:43pm

funny stuff....bad economy hasnt hit Michigan...lol . GM, Ford .... Chysler are you just pulling our legs?? heheheh. Stan should go run those corporations, their current management aint hacking it. Some folks just have not woken up yet as to what a crisis this world economy is in, they will though, rough part hasnt even started yet.

**Bigtuna** · Sep-15-2010, 5:32pm

So, if Loars are losing value, how about Gils, Nuggets, etc. Is it across the board or is it just happening to Loars?

**schloss** · Sep-15-2010, 9:14pm

Everything has lost value. including MY house , retirement fund and stock portfolio. I should have invested my money in Michigan.

**f5loar** · Sep-15-2010, 11:06pm

You would think for $250 it would come with a nice case but it didn't. If you go back to the old catalogs it's listed separate. One reason they did not include cases with instruments back then is you had a choice on what style and price of case you wanted.
I think that big fold out advertisement on the new F5 says $250 and $275 with case. Your tag was just for the mandolin but I guess it was possible some dealers threw the case in free!

**Mandoist** · Sep-16-2010, 2:01am

Originally Posted by f5loar

You would think for $250 it would come with a nice case but it didn't. If you go back to the old catalogs it's listed separate. One reason they did not include cases with instruments back then is you had a choice on what style and price of case you wanted.
I think that big fold out advertisement on the new F5 says $250 and $275 with case. Your tag was just for the mandolin but I guess it was possible some dealers threw the case in free!

Yes...I remember that now...cases were $25 extra.

So now I'm wondering, Loar owners who have the original price tags -- what's written on them: $250 or $275? Or are there any price tags at all with $275?

Is this too anal retententive??

**Rroyd** · Sep-16-2010, 10:03am

$250. Dan has a photo of at least one in the archives (and maybe several), and that's what is printed on it, with both F5 and the price
done with what appears to be a stamp. Since that mandolin has what appears to be factory custom engraving on the tailpiece, one would wonder whether the price tag was done by Gibson. It doesn't seem likely that a retailer would have a stamp made to do just a couple of price tags.