Anyone know the history of Loar price changes?

[ivantotakeuhigher]

I am interested because there is a small parallel in the resonator guitar community with Scheerhorns and I am curious about what I might learn from the Loars

[Spruce]

You can get 'em for about 299.99...
Here ya go...

[nkforster]

I did read a fascinating article in regard to the violin world where these sort of prices are more common. The long and short of the article was the notion that price rises and falls were directly related to access to credit. Funy that! Wish I could remember where I read it.

It also mentioned the activity of investment funds who often buy already collectable instruments as assets and then go on to loan them out to famous musicians for both publicity purposes and to further raise the status of the instrument to increase it's value.

Funny old world isn't it?

Nigel
www.nkforsterguitars.com

[dhergert]

I am interested because there is a small parallel in the resonator guitar community with Scheerhorns and I am curious about what I might learn from the Loars

I'm confused. Are you referring to a signed 1922 to 1924 Lloyd Loar F5? Or are you referring to the modern "The Loar" mandolins marketed by The Music Link?

[ivantotakeuhigher]

I'm confused. Are you referring to a signed 1922 to 1924 Lloyd Loar F5? Or are you referring to the modern "The Loar" mandolins marketed by The Music Link?

Sorry I thought it was obvious. I am curious about when the '20's signed F5's started escalating in value and what stages those jumps in price took. I have read many stories on here about folks who own or have owned them which says to me that they were relatively affordable until not that long ago.

[Jeff Mando]

Depends on how old you are and what you consider relatively affordable. My "history" is: When they were $5K, I couldn't afford one, when I could afford $5K, they had jumped to $30K, when I finally got my mind wrapped around actually spending $30K, they had jumped to current levels. Now, if you have been following the discussions lately on the forum, prices have slowly been going down again, with dealer asking prices of $125-150K, down from $175K-ish.

[dhergert]

They were never cheap unless you found grandma's signed F5 up in her attic, at least relative to economic balances. They were less expensive after the folk and then bluegrass bubble popped in the late 80s. Prices started climbing with disposable incomes in the early 2000s. They've stayed officially high since the banking recession, but what they actually sell for now isn't often published.

I have a friend who kicks himself for not buying one in the '70s for $900 because he thought that was too much money. But $900 was a lot of money in those days. You had to be there.

[JeffD]

Grandpa told me he could have bought that house with $10.00 back in 1933. I asked him why he didn't and he said he didn't have $10.00.

[T.D.Nydn]

I know they were around $10,000 in 1980,because that's when I came close to actually buying one....

[JeffD]

I know they were around $10,000 in 1980,because that's when I came close to actually buying one....

I am not sure. I seem to remember they were something like $30,000 around then. You might be right.

[T.D.Nydn]

No Jeff,,that's to much,, $10,000 was even a little high,but it was in great shape (you could hear me whimpering now (

[Spruce]

Grandpa told me he could have bought that house with $10.00 back in 1933. I asked him why he didn't and he said he didn't have $10.00.

A Loar ('24, with a Virzi) was recently purchased for 20 bucks at a California flea market...
...and no, I'm not kidding.

[DataNick]

Start reading Darryl's posts beginning from here in this thread
So what is the real value of a Loar in today's world

[Cornelius Morris]

Well, sometime around 1980 when I was taking lessons from Frank Wakefield in Oakland, CA, he said that someone had offered him $10,000 for his Loar--and he was amazed at that high price. But he kept it.

[ivantotakeuhigher]

Start reading Darryl's posts beginning from here in this thread
So what is the real value of a Loar in today's world

Great informative thread. Thank you!!!

[Amanda Gregg]

I have begun to scrape the web for asking prices of Loars and other mandolins using Python. Hoping to be able to post some results of this hobby project some day.

I'd like to see the article on violin prices, Nigel, if your memory about the source is ever jogged.

[Jim Garber]

I know they were around $10,000 in 1980,because that's when I came close to actually buying one....

I seem to remember more like $10-12K in the mid-1980s. I also considered buying one but my entire life savings was about 1/3 of what I would need.

[T.D.Nydn]

It was from mandolin brothers,,I remember it well,,

[ivantotakeuhigher]

It was from mandolin brothers,,I remember it well,,

I remember thinking during that time that their (Mandolin Bros) prices, in general were unusually high during that period

[8ch(pl)]

I remember that in 1998 or so, Mandolin Brothers had one for $47,000.

[FLATROCK HILL]

A Loar ('24, with a Virzi) was recently purchased for 20 bucks at a California flea market...
...and no, I'm not kidding.

Is there any more to this story Spruce? Any news articles I might read etc? How long ago is "recently"? Sure sounds like a fun story.

[T.D.Nydn]

I remember thinking during that time that their (Mandolin Bros) prices, in general were unusually high during that period

Yes,,I did mention that it was high,,but the mandolin was in incredible shape,,

[Mike Stewart]

Is there any more to this story Spruce? Any news articles I might read etc? How long ago is "recently"? Sure sounds like a fun story.

The only thing the Googles turn up is a Facebook post, "a reliable friend told me...". I'll just file this one in the "pics or it didn't happen" bucket.

Though I did see a Fiat 2400 Dino, of which only 420 were made, in a junk yard once. Had the thing not sat so long that the struts popped through the rusted strut mounts, I'd have a story...

[Spruce]

Is there any more to this story Spruce? Any news articles I might read etc? How long ago is "recently"? Sure sounds like a fun story.

Within the last month or so...true story.
I'll let the person(s) involved tell the tale with all the details, if they so wish...
...or not.

I can guarantee you, it's the ultimate dream of everyone here...

[Jeff Hildreth]

I believe that the Mandolin Bros were largely responsible for the escalating prices.

Back in the late 70s I was in Tucson and was offered a Loar with original case for $400 by "Chicago"
Sometime in its life it had gotten wet and the back was coming off and the neck was loose. I turned it down.

In the early 80s I was in Yakima Wash..
I was on vacation from my job (with Mazda Motors of America as a field rep.) visiting my grandparents.

My RX7 with my kayak on top parked in front of a music store. Calif Manufacturer Plates.

I went in and looked around as I always do hunting for Martins and Mandolins. Behind the front counter on a low book shelf was an old bump mandolin case. I asked the young guy behind the counter what was in the case. He said an old Gibson Mandolin. He put the case on the counter , opened it up and it was in fact a Loar..

I asked the price.. he said he believed it was $800 and said he would confirm that with the owner.

An elderly portly bald guy in a cheap wrinkled suit came out from a back office. He asked the owner to confirm the $800. The owner of the store looked at me then asked me as he was looking out the front window,, "your car".. I replied yes......." you from California?" I replied yes.. he said "not for sale" and slammed the case shut and latched it . I explained I was a Wash state native and visiting my parents. He turned his back and carried the instrument back to his office.

Maybe the third time is a charm.