What The...?!?!

[Jeff_Stallard]

My Vega sold for only $275!! I'm shocked!! But hey, I guess I should look on the bright side; someone else is very happy right now.

[FrankenMouse]

Dang... I wish I'd bid!

[Martin Jonas]

That is pretty shocking, especially with the queries we've been having on the board for bowlback recommendations. I have been pointing somebody at your auction by PM, but I don't think they bid. Only one bid on the last day of the auction -- how very untypical! I would have thought that the opportunity of getting a bowlback from a top maker with an immaculate provenance (Eugene, then Jeff) and known to be playable "out of the box" would have been attractive to board members and lurkers.

I'm sorry I'm on the wrong continent, and not in the market for another bowlback, or I would have bid.

Martin

[FrankenMouse]

Jeff,

If that sale falls through, I'll buy it. I'm kicking myself for not bidding. I thought about it, but figured "Naah, what's the point? It'll go for at least $500 or more..."

D'oh!

[Jeff_Stallard]

Yeah, I'll keep you in mind FrankenMouse.

For the record, I wasn't posting this in an attempt to make anyone feel guilty for not bidding; I'm genuinely happy for the winner. Well...as long as they're going to play it I'm happy.

[mysticfaery]

I honestly think it's the economy right now-my Dad collects different things and we've placed some of them up for bid on ebay with a reserve,and the bids don't even get close to the reserve price! Speaking on a personal note,(no pun intended) I'm working at a community colege part time,and sometimes part part time,with no hope of getting into "permanent full time status". While I have placed applications at other places,no one is hiring where I live. I'm also a rep with a major cosmetic company and sell handcrafted items on online auctions. But-someone is very happy with their new bowlback,and you had a successful auction!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Eugene]

A travesty!...and that undecorated Brandt style 2 with some repair issues took $460!?

[Jim Garber]

I think the main issue is that there is that hidden repair cost for many of these eBay instruments. This one was one that was fully playable ready to go and Jeff was explicitly honest about the flaws.

Jim

[Eugene]

Indeed. I should have bought it back!

[John Bertotti]

Economy is a funny thing. The housing market in my town, since school started, has become a buyers market. Typically it has been a sellers market, for the last several years. I see a similar thing happening with work and retail in general. I also wonder how much of that was everbodies rush for an Italian mandolin. I think the Vegas are underated by many simply because the are US made. Am I right? John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Martin Jonas]

I think the Vegas are underated by many simply because the are US made. Am I right? John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Compared to Calace, Vinaccia or Embergher, certainly. I don't think that's the right comparison, though. Compared to the next tier of Italian makers, the US makers (specifically Vega, Martin and Washburn) seem to be holding their own, maybe even generally selling higher. Part of that is that these names have strong modern name recognition, at least in the US and to some extent UK, beyond the limited scope of bowlback enthusiasts (Martin and Washburn through their guitars, Vega through the cylinderback). Jeff's Vega did OK-ish when seen against a good non-premium Neapolitan bowlback of comparable quality. For example, I paid less than that for my Ceccherini. It did, however, do much worse than I was expecting for the Vega name. Mind you, even Elderly had to reduce the asking price for a cylinderback mandola (http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/90U-3719.htm) with some issues from $850 to $550.

We might be kidding ourselves in thinking that the certainty of getting a playable mandolin recommended by board members who know a lot about bowlbacks translates into a price premium -- as far as the wider market is concerned, this probably was bid on similar terms to a Vega that just turned up in an attic clearance.

Martin

[Jim Garber]

No accounting for the insanity of eBay: pay nothing for one is excellent playing condition but then this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3748798364), which needs work has a high bid. 'Taint right!

Jim