Dean Clawson mandolin worth?

[Aburnette]

I have a dean clawson f-5 mandolin 1982 #41 do not know much about it my grandfather gave it to me. Wondering what it was worth

[allenhopkins]

The thread title grabbed me; I've de-clawed all my mandolins...

But seriously, Aburnette, if you search on "Clawson" you'll find threads on his mandolins, and fiddles. Here's one from 2011 that discusses how some well-known players have played Clawson mandolins, but also that some Cafe members who've played them have found them a bit rough in term of design and work-person-ship.

Here's a Google search of Cafe threads mentioning Clawson. I can't find a current listing for a Clawson mandolin for sale, but going through these threads may give you some indication.

[AndyV]

Yeah, the title got me too. I was wondering what Dean's problem was. Why would he claw a mandolin?

[multidon]

I dunno. I love bear claws on my spruce tops though!

[MontanaMatt]

Is that inlay a hand dribbling a baseball?

[Timbofood]

“Claw” dribbling a basketball?

[colorado_al]

Is that inlay a hand dribbling a baseball?

Claw + Sun = Clawson

[WELSrev]

Or a "Claw" and a "Sun" ? Beat me to it !!

[AndyV]

I dunno. I love bear claws on my spruce tops though!

Mmmm... Mom hasn't baked bear claws in ages! Or maybe my visits haven't been well timed.

[Timbofood]

Mmm...Bear Claws! Want bear claws now!!

[allenhopkins]

This thread's more hijack than helpful; can anyone give the OP info on current market value of a Dean Clawson mandolin?

I can't find a current "for sale" listing of one.

[jesserules]

This thread's more hijack than helpful; can anyone give the OP info on current market value of a Dean Clawson mandolin?

I can't find a current "for sale" listing of one.

Me neither (just looking around, out of curiosity).

There was at least one advertised in the classifieds here (back in 2005), I don't know if there's any way of searching old sales? Find that & then maybe calculate for inflation I guess.

In the interest of helping the OP, is there anyone with the authority to fix the title of this thread?

[MikeEdgerton]

Fixed before I saw this

[Chris Daniels]

I checked out a Clawson for sale last year that had more play wear then yours appears to have. I recall it was posted somewhere around $1000-1200 and likely sold for slightly less. Check out pics here: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...andolins/page2

Was actually a nice instrument and I should have bought it. Not that I needed it.

Edit: waitaminute...this is the same mando?!? Oh no! I need to hold on to my wallet!

C.

[Danny Clark]

I sold a few back when times were good $1500-1800'range

[jesserules]

re: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...andolins/page2

nice looking instrument.

[f5loar]

Not to be rude here, but Dean's handmade F5 copies were like many of the 70's builders: somewhat rough, crude, hard to play, poor finish and not to Loar specs. But that being said, there were a few of Dean's that were exceptional. I knew Dean pretty well. He even played in a band with me in the mid 70's. So the price does seem to go between that $1500 to $2000 range today, but if you got one of those "exceptional" ones, it could double.