Nope. First my playing isn't that good. Second, the nicest mandolins I have seen are less than half that price.
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Nope. First my playing isn't that good. Second, the nicest mandolins I have seen are less than half that price.
Money better spent then on a couple of bottles of Pappy Van Winkle. ;)
No but mandolin isn't my prime instrument. For an upright bass, yes.
Why set the cap at 10 K? Gils, Dudes, Heidens, Montelones, and others are all the 20 K range. Lots of happy owners.
Yes, but the dream instrument is less than that, Lloyd LaPlant. Probably also the only way I'd own an F style.
Having said that, am satisfied with what I have and while wishing for something else, am not going out to make it happen. Which is a fault on my part more than anything.
When the day comes where spending 10K is like me spending 1K today, sure I would.
That's probably just another way of saying, probably never.
Yep - I have and will likely do it again. Although not a professional (or even a great amateur) playing music is my #1 joy in this world outside of friends and family. I know many people who spend much more on their toys like motorcycles, boats, sports cars, guns...etc. At least my mandolin will be valuable years from now when I am done with it compared to the boat or RV that will not likely hold its value as well. Of course I dont believe you should jeopardize your family finances or forget about retirement, but if it is your passion - go for it.
If I had the cash, I would certainly have no problem buying a mandolin north of 10K.
I have no fear of expensive instruments.
My dream mandolins are Nugget, Ellis, and Gilchrist.
I could probably find a used Ellis under 10K, but the others are significantly more.
If I had the funds, I would buy one of each.
If I were rich, I would also get a Lloyd Loar, just to scratch that itch.
A few years ago, I'd have said 'yes' and might actually have done it. In fact, I spent several times that on a piano. But only recently I have come to the realization that for me (emphasizing for me, not for everyone) there is not a lot of correlation between price of a mandolin and the enjoyment I get from it. I find the right inexpensive mandolin is as much fun to play as my most expensive mandolin. And out at gigs, pretty much nobody other than us can tell the difference, anyway.
I’d have to say no. The current group are all better than my ability
I'm very happy with the mandolins I have. I wouldn't have bought another then, nor now, nor later.
Now, if I were to have to replace my F-9 after losing it for some reason, I'd be tempted, but I'd want a 2002 F-9 just like mine; I'd probably have the neck re-profiled, speed necked, Gold Evo'ed and have the mandolin James' TP'ed. And I'd definitely add an armrest, pickguard and ToneGard. I'm that satisfied with my current F-9.
If my playing ever improves enough to warrant it and I have the money, yes. Realistically, is it ever going to happen? No. But that's okay, I'm happy with what I have.
I have in the past.
I’m set with what we have and am not in the market to buy another mandolin. If I had to replace one ... probably, but not by much.
Here’s where what I’m getting at. The ten grand was an arbitrary figure. Let’s call that a line in the sand. Look at five or six dealers and you will see a lot of ten grand plus mandolins. Ellis, higher end Collings, Gibsons, and a dozen luthiers are in dealer’s stores right now. Go by this very small unscientific poll and they are fighting for one or two percent of all rabid enthusiasts. Tough market. Many, many more folks looking to spend five grand, and exponentionally more looking to buy for under a thousand.
Relatively a small buyer pool for the high priced spread. I suspect pros spend a much larger proportion of their pie than the rest of us.
And yes, if I had the money, I’d have no problem buying a Loar.
With the prospect of gigging for money being a ways off, I’d need to wait in today’s market...
But I’m stuck with what I got for a while, unless my financial tides turn for the better.
My $6k Ratliff out plays the higher dollar ones I’ve had a chance to play in the past couple of years.
I wouldn’t pay that much.
Perhaps if I were a rich professional musician, like Bush or Skaggs, I would. Otherwise, no.
if I thought I would playit the most, and had the money , yes
if money is no issue then it does not make a
difference what the price is
No, I think it's a troublesome aspect of our collective obsession.
What is expensive to one person can be pocket change to another! I have always held multiple jobs at same time, school teacher, wedding photographer, operated an insurance agency at home and bought rental houses . Retired from teaching and weddings, sold my agency but still have many houses. Financially secure my wife and I feel that if we WANT, not NEED something we buy it ! I hope to leave my two daughters a nice financial nest but if I want to own four very nice mandolins which I do than I deserve them ! We did not inherit money but worked for it ! Period !
If I were still young, had talent and had a legitimately successful music career, (i.e., world tour concerts, songs in the top 30, etc.), I don't think I would hesitate to spend $10,000 on a truly spectacular instrument . . . but in the real Mike Zito world of today, I would REALLY have to do some serious soul searching to drop just $2,500.