I am submitting for discussion a radical idea that I belive has some merit (at 3:45 AM PDT). MAS, or as my girlfriend who is a certfied medical coder states, MAD (Mandolin Acquistion Disorder as definied in the DSM4 manual) can be treated with a radical approach: play as many mandolins that you can (top shelf preferably >= $2k). In my 2 year mandolin journey, I have played several Collings F models, Eastmans (Giacomel), Gibsons, Pruschkas, Ratliff, Breedlove, The Loar, Flatirons, Webers, and a Sullivan.
What I'm starting to realize is that our free market supply and demand principles that dictate what the market will bear on a mandolin does not agree in most cases with what I would be willing to pay. Some cases in point: two friends of mine each have a Pruschka; having played both, I was not impressed and in fact would prefer a much cheaper mandolin or simply not even purchase one, let alone pay the $4-5k that they go for. I have not played a Collings that I would pay what they go for either. Another friend of mine has a Sullivan A model. It's a great mandolin, but if I had just shelled out the $5-6k that they go for, I would be dissapointed. A friend of mine has a Weber special edition F model; really nice mandolin, impressive workmanship, but I don't like the sound and wouldn't consider paying the $2k it goes for either. What I've discovered is as my taste gets more refined from playing more and more mandolins, my lust to acquire is decreasing. Why? I believe because none of these that I mentioned had a WOW impact on me as far as tone, playability, etc. Another case in point: Monday night I played a friend's 1994 Flatiron F Artist signed by Bruce Weber. The mandolin has had some custom set-up work, is very well constructed, sounds very good, but no WOW factor; therefore as I told him, if I had just shelled out $4k for this mando, I'd be asking myself why did I do it? Of all the mandolins I've played, including a friend's 1999 Gibson F5G, 3 have had a WOW effect on me: 2 different Gibson F9 mandos and my 99 Flatiron Performer A (which was bought sight unplayed from the Cafe classifieds).
So now instead of planning how many different mandos I can acquire, I reallly only have a goal of 2 more mandos to get in my lifetime, hopefully soon: a Bozeman Flatiron F Festival, and one of the new Gibson F9s.
I welcome everybody's observations and opinions; for me the end is in sight to MAD (Mandolin Acquisition Disorder); just keep playing as many mandos as I can at jams, festivals, etc and ask myself, would I be happy having spent $___k for that particular mandolin.
What say ye mandolin community?
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