My Mando cost more than the car!!! - Page 3

allenhopkins · 11-02-2009, 01:12 AM

[1] My '06 Honda Element cost more than any of my instruments, by at least a factor of four.

[2] But, my mandolins taken all together are currently worth more than my car. I have mandolins I bought 30+ years ago, whose value has increased substantially in that time.

I need the car to get to places where I play the mandolins. I need the mandolins to play when the car takes me there.

A Lloyd Loar costs more than my house did in 1976, by a factor of more than two, and probably costs almost as much as I could sell the house for now. I need shelter and transportation more than I need mandolin(s), but luckily, I don't have to choose one over the other.

Dusty · 11-02-2009, 08:07 AM

It is not hard to justify what we want be it a car or a mandolin, and a good instrument can be a good investment, although who's selling? I've had beater mandolins and I've had to walk when the car quit. After much thought and reflection, I think I will try to get the best I can in both. And, as Allen alluded, it's nice to sit in a warm house.

re simmers · 11-02-2009, 08:24 AM

I'm selling my '88 Ford Pick-up to pay for a 'portion' of another mandolin.

If my wife would allow it, I'd keep the Ford and sell my Camry to buy a new Randy Wood F5.

Bob

journeybear · 11-03-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

... I've had beater mandolins and I've had to walk when the car quit ...

The thing is, you can play a mandolin while you're walking (especially if your case has a shoulder strap), but it's hard to get a good workable tone out of a car, even if it's been well-tuned.

Plus they tend to take up too much room on a stage.

JEStanek · 11-03-2009, 09:22 AM

I dunno Journeybear. A well tuned tractor can be a reliable addition to any rhythm section. Less likely to have an annoying partner than a regular drummer.

Then again, who wants to be upstage by something that smells like diesel, cow manure and soil.... or a tractor.
Jamie

journeybear · 11-03-2009, 11:15 AM

I knew this dang thing would show up again! I still say, he's solid and steady, but unimaginitve - utterly lacking in syncopation. And what a stage hog! Takes up as much room as the rest of the band. Also, try as you might, you just can't get him to play quieter.

Also, FWIW - I bet it cost more than all the other instruments in the band combined. And all that for just one tempo. Though, of course, he can get everybody to the gig. So in a sense, he's carrying the band ...

Patrick Gunning · 11-03-2009, 01:03 PM

I've followed this formula well:

$800 1918 Gibson A > No car, then 1989 F150 with peeled off paint + bad clutch (2004) (free)
$3500 Arrow G > 1989 F150 (with new paint + clutch in 2005, lol) ($1800 for repairs)
$1900 Collings MT > 1989 F150 (2008, worth less than 1k)
$3500 Voight F5 > 1997 Ford Explorer (200k miles) (free from Dad, Bluebook 2.5k)

John Ely · 11-05-2009, 02:54 PM

Until just a little while ago, every instrument I owned was worth more than my old car (Except that $100 Chinese fiddle). But the car died and I had to get a new one. But in just a few years, it will be true again. Cars depreciate quick, instruments last.

JeffD · 11-05-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEStanek

Then again, who wants to be upstage by something that smells like diesel, cow manure and soil....

Ooops. Time for a shower.

11-02-2009, 01:12 AM	#51
allenhopkins Mando accumulator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rochester NY 14610 Posts: 4,416	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! [1] My '06 Honda Element cost more than any of my instruments, by at least a factor of four. [2] But, my mandolins taken all together are currently worth more than my car. I have mandolins I bought 30+ years ago, whose value has increased substantially in that time. I need the car to get to places where I play the mandolins. I need the mandolins to play when the car takes me there. A Lloyd Loar costs more than my house did in 1976, by a factor of more than two, and probably costs almost as much as I could sell the house for now. I need shelter and transportation more than I need mandolin(s), but luckily, I don't have to choose one over the other. __________________ Allen Hopkins Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello Natl Triolian Dobro mando Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back H-O mandolinetto Stradolin Vega banjolin Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello Flatiron 3K OM

11-02-2009, 08:07 AM	#52
Dusty Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Princeton,KY Posts: 80	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! It is not hard to justify what we want be it a car or a mandolin, and a good instrument can be a good investment, although who's selling? I've had beater mandolins and I've had to walk when the car quit. After much thought and reflection, I think I will try to get the best I can in both. And, as Allen alluded, it's nice to sit in a warm house. __________________ Dusty Oliver

11-02-2009, 08:24 AM	#53
re simmers Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: maryland Posts: 347	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! I'm selling my '88 Ford Pick-up to pay for a 'portion' of another mandolin. If my wife would allow it, I'd keep the Ford and sell my Camry to buy a new Randy Wood F5. Bob __________________ re simmers

11-03-2009, 09:22 AM	#55
JEStanek Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 7,798 Blog Entries: 1	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! I dunno Journeybear. A well tuned tractor can be a reliable addition to any rhythm section. Less likely to have an annoying partner than a regular drummer. Then again, who wants to be upstage by something that smells like diesel, cow manure and soil.... or a tractor. Jamie __________________ There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946 + Give Blood, Save a Life +

11-03-2009, 11:15 AM	#56
journeybear Professional Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Key West FL Posts: 2,127	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! I knew this dang thing would show up again! I still say, he's solid and steady, but unimaginitve - utterly lacking in syncopation. And what a stage hog! Takes up as much room as the rest of the band. Also, try as you might, you just can't get him to play quieter. Also, FWIW - I bet it cost more than all the other instruments in the band combined. And all that for just one tempo. Though, of course, he can get everybody to the gig. So in a sense, he's carrying the band ... __________________ Furthering Mandolin Consciousness Blues Mando Social Group Gibson Mandolins Social Group North Florida Mandolin Players Social Group

11-03-2009, 01:03 PM	#57
Patrick Gunning Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 405	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! I've followed this formula well: $800 1918 Gibson A > No car, then 1989 F150 with peeled off paint + bad clutch (2004) (free) $3500 Arrow G > 1989 F150 (with new paint + clutch in 2005, lol) ($1800 for repairs) $1900 Collings MT > 1989 F150 (2008, worth less than 1k) $3500 Voight F5 > 1997 Ford Explorer (200k miles) (free from Dad, Bluebook 2.5k)

11-05-2009, 02:54 PM	#58
John Ely Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 110	Re: My Mando cost more than the car!!! Until just a little while ago, every instrument I owned was worth more than my old car (Except that $100 Chinese fiddle). But the car died and I had to get a new one. But in just a few years, it will be true again. Cars depreciate quick, instruments last.