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Thread: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

  1. #1
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    These Japanese dealers who sell on eBay usually price mandolins very (cough) ambitiously. But here is a 1976 Unicorn A for $1,333. Don't these usually fetch that much or more on the rare occasion that they're sold in the US?

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Unicorn-A-S...kAAOSwWiBa7DbX
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  2. #2
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    Did you notice the $112 shipping. That should sweeten their bottom line some.
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  3. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Moss View Post
    Did you notice the $112 shipping. That should sweeten their bottom line some.
    It's coming from Japan and probably is insured. It ain't gonna sweeten much.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  4. #4
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    Well, here's a rather "whipped" one in the US for just a bit more. Your listing seems like a good price; it's a long way to/from Japan, though...
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  6. #5
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    OP listing "no longer available". Defaults to an Eastman.

  7. #6
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    That was one sweet looking mandolin? Did you get it?

  8. #7
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob A View Post
    OP listing "no longer available". Defaults to an Eastman.
    Defaults to a blue Eastman. How do y'all like blue mandolins? I can't seem to wrap myself around any blue instruments. Red's great, I just can't quite get into blue ones.
    We are the music makers,
    And we are the dreamers of dreams

  9. #8

    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    What is happening, IMHO, is the result of the Japanese buying vintage instruments in the US for the past 30+ years and shipping them to Japan, where they had a strong market -- now their market has changed and they are "dumping" these instruments back into the world market through places like eBay. All of the vintage USA instruments in Japan were bought at top premium prices over many years through vintage guitar shows and guitar stores they trusted. I worked for a vintage guitar store for about 10 years and we sold about 60 guitars a month to Japan, for example. I have a friend, a musician who is married to a Japanese woman, and he floats back and forth between gigs in the US and Japan. For years he consigned things with large vintage stores in Japan and was able to make insane percentages by buying in the US and taking guitars to Japan. Lately, he told me sales have been slow -- to put it mildly -- some items he has had on consignment in Japan for almost 10 years with no sales. (I'm talking vintage Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Martin, etc. type of stuff!) The crash of 2008 seems to have affected the worldwide vintage market, not just the US. Believe me, if the Japanese could sell this stuff in Japan they wouldn't be messing with eBay. They are just trying to get a portion of their money back at this point. (even though the prices may seem high by US standards)

  10. #9

    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    i have never heard of a unicorn mandolin. who made hem. the one on reverb has a nice voice.

  11. #10
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    Rolfe Gerhardt.. Trademarked Jan 1978..
    Later sold the company.
    Rolfe regrouped as PHOENIX

  12. #11
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    Dave Sinko bought the Unicorn brand from Rolfe. I have one of Dave's Unicorn F5 mandolins; it's a keeper.
    I've only seen two other Unicorns in the flesh, so to speak.

  13. #12
    MandoHog MandoHog's Avatar
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    Default Re: What would you pay for a Unicorn A?

    The on in Japan was a good price, but it was missing the tail piece cover as well as the truss rod cover. Please send pictures and or stories of Unicorns out there to us at Round Mountain Sounds so to get them on the archive: https://roundmountainsounds.com/unicorn-mandolins/

    There are quite a few missing numbers on here and would like to have them all documented someday. Thank! David Finch, Mandohog

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