Did You Ever Regret Selling a Mandolin?

[Bill Kammerzell]

Only recently, I wished I'd never sold an Alvarez A-700, I bought in 1978 and sold in 1993. Until 6 months ago, when I started playing again, I had never thought of it, but recalled how much I had liked it. Sold it basically for extra cash to finance a move and never picked up an instrument again until August of 2015.

[Danny Clark]

I don't know where to start on this one!!!
Danny

[jimbob]

I have only sold 2. One was a Washburn Jethro Burns and one was a 1998 Weber Yellowstone. No regrets about the Washburn...wouldn't mind still having the Yellowstone. It was a very nice mandolin.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Just two... a Mix F4 with artwork by Peter Cree and a Rigel G110 Resonator.

[allenhopkins]

I'll let you know when I sell one.

Bumping my Post #17 from seven years ago.

Still holds true.

[Bob Borzelleri]

No. At this stage of my life, regret is counter productive.

[red7flag]

Unicorn A model. Not high priced but great sounding instrument.
Collings MF Sold to a friend for a Collings MF5 which was more refined and not as satisfying and no longer mine.
Weber Vintage A Great instrument, much like the Unicorn but richer sound. Sold to buy an Gibson F4 sold to buy the Hester F4.

The A I called a "Unicorn" was actually a "White Dove" from Texas. My memory was defective.

[Timbofood]

Willkamm,
I will never part with my Alvarez, not for love nor money! It has served me well since the day in '75 when I had a phone call that it had arrived! Replaced frets now and then, lots of strings, swapped out for an ebony bridge but, it's been a trusted friend for all these years. Others have come and gone but, I'm keeping that one.

[banjer23]

Early 80's Stiver kept it for 16 years,,divorce got it,,sold to a gent in Pennsylvania I believe,,gosh,,it was the best mandolin I ever owned,,,beast,,,would love to have her back,,I hope shes still in good hands,,

[pheffernan]

Early 80's Stiver kept it for 16 years,,divorce got it,,sold to a gent in Pennsylvania I believe,,gosh,,it was the best mandolin I ever owned,,,beast,,,would love to have her back,,I hope shes still in good hands,,

Yeah, but do you ever regret buying Doyle Lawson's Passernig F5?

[Luna Pick]

No regrets because in the moment each time I felt it was the right decision. I do kind of wish I still had my 2001 Bush F5, but it went to a good home. And I still have 2 A-5s I like.

[Demetrius]

Id have to say parting with this one hasn't settled with me yet. 5 years later!!!

[Atlanta Mando Mike]

What mandolin is that Demetrius? Can see the headstock.

[G7MOF]

I sold a Gibson A2 quite a while ago. It was a cannon and real easy to play with a really beautiful sound. Any way, you can't cry over spilt milk!!!

[Demetrius]

It was the prototype of the prototype #1 gibson distressed mastermodel.
It was Derringtons and had no label and no pickguard which I later then added.

[MontanaMatt]

Regret parting with my first mando, a clunky GoldTone. Had it refretted with stainless, but the kicker was a Dawg signature that I had French polished. Now I have a kid that's in love with picking and would have loved to have him cut his teeth on my old learner...I guess he's probably going to start on nice gear thanks to my music addiction! He's on a six string uke now, and when it stops banging on the floor he'll get a mando. He's only two.

[MikeZito]

I had a 1920's Martin Style 20 that was a sentimental favorite, but the real killer was a Rigel R-100 Custom - it was the first 'white/creamora' that Rigel ever made (Peter Mix gave me the heads up on it, and even wrote me a Letter of Authenticity for it). I had to sell both when finances got really tight. If anyone has that first R-100, PLEASE SELL IT BACK TO ME!

[Chuck Leyda]

Regret is maybe a strong word but I miss my Gibson F5G. Over the years I just realized that I was much more comfortable on a wide nut mando and the Gibson was a skinnier than normal speed nut. It's strange the things that make a difference. For the life of me I can't feel the difference between a flat or radius fretboard but a wider nut I can really feel.

I knew I wouldn't have enough money to replace it with a comparable F style. I got a great deal on a very nice A style but do have just a bit of scroll envy.

[Steve Ostrander]

I miss my MT. It was the first really good mandolin that I owned. I sold it because I thought, who needs four mandolins? So I sold two of them. WHAT WAS I THINKING??

[Jim Garber]

Re: Mandolins...

In my early days I was a serial mandolin owner, primarily because I just didn't have a lot of cash to spend on multiple instruments so selling one allowed me to move up to the next. The last of that series is my black '23 snakehead A2 which I till have and play often.

Other than that the only instrument I seriously regret selling was my '48 Gibson SJ. I sold it to a guy who was a true jerk about it every step of the way. I may not have felt so bad selling it if it were not for the unpleasantness of the transaction. The upside is that I have since replaced it with even a better guitar.

[Denny Gies]

Yea, I had a 1916 Gibson A 2 that I wish I still had.

[dhergert]

I learned my selling-regret lessons with my Banjo Acquisition Syndrome. Haven't sold any mandolins, I doubt if I ever will. My kids can sell my collected instruments after I'm done with them, if they wish to.

The first mandolin I ever touched, being probably at the age of 4 or 5, belonged to my grandfather, it was a teens Gibson A-something model. Beautiful. Austere. Mystical. Magical.

It might still be in the hands of someone in my family somewhere. I never owned it to be able to sell it, but it called to me.

[Billgrass]

yes.

[MikeZito]

Demetrius - forgive me if i seem to be 'rubbing it in' . . . but, damn, that thing looks sweet!

[ukrobbiej]

Yes, my Weber Bitterroot Mandola. Only had it a couple of months, had to sell it to pay for a house move, but desperately wish I hadn't needed to, it was a beautiful instrument.

Robbie