How much should I ask? Weber Black Ice Octave + mandolin

[jetsedgwick]

I am thinking about selling both (2) of my Weber Black Ice mandolins, one is a regualr mandolin and the other is an Octave mandolin (20" scale), but I really don't know what is a fair number to ask for. I will put them in the Classifieds here within a day or so but when I look online I see prices all over the place and very very few Black Ice models, so any advice is appreciated.

How much should I ask for the pair?

[LadysSolo]

No idea what to ask, but the back wood is beautiful. Are you selling them together or separately?

[Bill Kammerzell]

I looked around and found these "asking" prices. Though the Mandolin Store was out of stock on both, when in stock they were asking $5999.00 for the Mandolin and $7499.00 for the Octave. There was a place called Mando-Web asking $4998.00. All these prices were for "new". Also a Reverb asking price for $5999.00 for new but shop worn which I take to mean NOS. Also saw a Canadian store asking $3400.00 for a used, mint 2014 Black Ice F model mandolin in USD. They are beautiful especially that back.

[jetsedgwick]

No idea what to ask, but the back wood is beautiful. Are you selling them together or separately?

I was thinking together, pretty unique.

[Br1ck]

Good for you for selling them together, but to do that I'd think you need to give someone a decent deal, whatever that is, because the combined value would buy someone a very special mandolin, not that those aren't, but I hope you get my meaning. Aren't those the top o the line?

I've got the same conundrum on a much more modest scale, two 0 size Pono guitars, a six and a twelve string. They are just so cool together.

[G7MOF]

I normally ask 2 thirds of the new price, yours would be easy to work out but I think to get one buyer to purchase both together you'd have to lower the prices a bit more.

[multidon]

You would get more in your pocket selling them separately. In an ideal world I’d estimate 3500 for the mandolin and 5500 for the octave assuming excellent condition. If that seems low remember it’s a buyer’s market now. You may see higher prices on eBay or Reverb, but askin’ ain’t gettin’.

[jetsedgwick]

You would get more in your pocket selling them separately. In an ideal world I’d estimate 3500 for the mandolin and 5500 for the octave assuming excellent condition. If that seems low remember it’s a buyer’s market now. You may see higher prices on eBay or Reverb, but askin’ ain’t gettin’.

This is what I can't decide, together or separate.

[foldedpath]

My $.02 on the together or apart question.

If TOH/Weber and Bruce Weber were both out of business (and they're not, Bruce now has his own brand), then there might be an added collector value to the pair. As it is, the finish is special, but it's easy to buy similar enough instruments in the current market. It's not really a collector grade instrument (IMO, YMMV, etc). I'm just not sure the finish itself is adding all that much value to the idea of selling as a pair, nice as it is. So if it were me, I'd sell them separately.

My personal starting point as a seller is somewhere around 2/3 new value. When it's something relatively unique, I'll start a bit higher if I have time to wait, then move lower if I'm not getting any action.

FWIW, I play a 22" Weber Yellowstone F-style OM (see avatar image at the left of this post), and it's a wonderful instrument. A nice dark tone, very "punchy" in the midrange. I was fortunate to find one used, at half the price of a new one on Ebay. Usually they should sell for more, but it's still a question of finding the right buyer at the right time. The 20" scale on your OM will be attractive to many buyers, so you may not have much trouble moving it.

[Red_Label]

Oh my... c'mon lottery numbers! Beautiful pair! GLWTS

[Steve Ostrander]

I would sell separately for the aforementioned reasons. You will have much larger markets for each if you do. Selling as a pair limits the number of buyers.

[Astro]

Separate. Ask for 2/3rds. Be happy with anything over half original.

Or ask 1 million each. That way you don't have to worry about selling them and, hey, you tried.

[jetsedgwick]

Separate. Ask for 2/3rds. Be happy with anything over half original.

Or ask 1 million each. That way you don't have to worry about selling them and, hey, you tried.

ha.

I think I'll take the advice from here at the cafe and list separate.

[tmsweeney]

<Removed by Moderator. Please limit commerce to the Classifieds>

[jetsedgwick]

<Removed by Moderator. Please limit commerce to the Classifieds>

[multidon]

Let’s take care folks. Commerce is supposed to be restricted to the classifieds. You are right on the edge of getting this thread shut down.

[MikeEdgerton]

And that is correct. Questions asked and answered. Please review the Posting Guidelines.