Originally Posted by
Br1ck
Hypothetical for now, and I do realize assessing Gryphon and Sylvan offers far more than most have the pleasure of experiencing. I wouldn’t want to wait for a commissioned build. I’m of an age where even a year seems to me too much of my life not to be playing something right now. But even Gryphon gets very few Gibson f styles in used, maybe one or two a year. But between those two stores, I have gotten a pretty solid education so that if some obscure brand end up in my hands, I can evaluate it properly. Living with my Silverangel has also given me a solid knowledge of that spectrum of tone, and my Arches kit has taught me how useful the brighter side of things is. Seeing a few Arches mandolins languishing in the marketplace at very nice prices got me wondering how many others are out there building really quality mandolins and how you would find them. Catch and release is not in my nature. Catch is not the problem.
I had the discussion with a friend how I’ve noticed that people seem to fall into two basic categories, those who need minty instruments and those who gravitate to very used. I’m in the last camp. I see no value in buying new and worrying about it. Most of my instruments have been gigged extensively and look it. Most of my friends want mint condition. I understand that. And I hope to be smart enough to buy the tone and not the name. Plus I have my self imposed limits as to cost, though I did make the statement the other day that I’d rather drive my 200,000 mile car and buy a 15,000 dollar mandolin, than have a newer car. So my subliminal mind has different ideas than my conscious