Lloyd Loars in the classifieds

[Charles E.]

So today two Loar signed mandolins appeared in the classifieds, one a 1923 the other a 1924. The 1923 looks it's age and is 150 K. The 1924 looks pretty fresh and is 50 K?

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/172936#172936

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/172914#172914

What gives?

[rcc56]

Although the ad does not go into great detail about the condition and the state of originality of the instrument, the 50K mandolin has had a lot of things done to it, including a complete refinish.

[Charles E.]

Thanks, I suspected as much.

[Bazz Jass]

Thanks, I suspected as much.

More info:

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/76780

[Charles E.]

More info:

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/76780

I am totally confused, the mandolin archive lists it as #76780 but at the end it says "serial number unknown"?

[djweiss]

I am totally confused, the mandolin archive lists it as #76780 but at the end it says "serial number unknown"?

The serial number of the Virzi is unknown....

[KCNelson]

I'm guessing the "serial number unknown" is referring to the Virzi Tone Producer, which had its own separate serial number.

What I found strange was that the F5Journal description says "Fern, '28 style"
Was this particular instrument ahead of its time?

50k is a nice price, but it would have been cooler to mention all the work, replacement parts & refinish associated with the instrument, especially considering the easy availability of that information through the F5Journal.
I'm forthcoming about an instrument's flaws & details when selling it.
I've certainly been on the receiving end of some unpleasant "surprises" when buying an instrument. That's no fun.

[Glassweb]

So today two Loar signed mandolins appeared in the classifieds, one a 1923 the other a 1924. The 1923 looks it's age and is 150 K. The 1924 looks pretty fresh and is 50 K?

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/172936#172936

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/172914#172914

What gives?

Well, the one at $50K is properly priced and the one at $150K is improperly priced.

The person at $50K wants to get his sold. The other... we can always dream.

[Glassweb]

The one at $50K was sent back to Gibson, probably in the 1930's and had work done... Virzi removal, a new neck and fingerboard (w/ block inlays) and some degree of refinishing. In more recent times the 30's block inlay fingerboard was replaced/restored with a more appropriate, (for a March 31st Loar) dot marker fingerboard. Why do I think the whole neck was replaced when Gibson had it? Because the "fern" inlay is the later, more delicate MOP version as opposed to other "Fern Loars" from the March 31st signing date whose ferns were done in abalone. Also "The Gibson" script seems like the later style. That's my hunch anyway...

Check out the March 31st Loars on Darryl's invaluable F5 Journal... you'll see what I'm referring to...

[Bazz Jass]

Seems to be a lot of Loars on shop walls currently:

Carters have six, Gruhn has three, Elderly and Picker's Supply have one each. A couple of others on Reverb.

That's 14 I found with a quick 10 minute search. All >$100K. Most have been for sale for quite a while.

[Northwest Steve]

I believe Tony Williamson has a few as well...

http://www.mandolincentral.com/instruments-for-sale

[Mandobar]

You can get a very nice one for way less than $100k…..there is a very small pool of buyers in that range. And it’s getting smaller.

[f5loar]

I remember playing this one in the mid 80's when Joyce Adams owned it. She got it from original owner. It had the refinish and block inlay on it then. I remember it being a fine sounding F5. I believe the price reflects those "issues" and is a good buy for a picker's mandolin.

[David Lewis]

I asked once here how hard it was to buy a loar, providing money wasn’t the issue. The answer I got back was there was around 15 on the market at any given time. So not brisk but not a rarity if you see what I’m saying.

There seems to be more at the moment. When they hit 100.00 lest me know.

[William Smith]

There are still quite a few Loars being bought, sold and traded that not too many people know about! Some under and some over, some way over! Tom's right, very good buy for the 50K one!

[j. condino]

Yes, most get traded privately and never come up on the open market.

'Looking forward to Loarfest happening again this coming year; where else in the world can you see 50 in the same room on the same day?!!!!

[William Smith]

Yes Sir James, I'm looking forward to it God willing. The last one was my first and it was beyond words, a bit over whelming to me just seeing all the Loars, Ferns, etc. I see some of my babes in your photo above. Sweet. I forgot how many Loar 5's were there but I believe I was told it was the most ever in one spot right?

Now if we can find a way to separate the mando room from the banjo room it would be, YES much better

[j. condino]

Why? The banjo guys stole the whole show having so much fun, laughing, and owning the room!

I learned a lot a that show. Being able to see groups of the different batches so you could really understand the consistent differences was an eye opener. Folks in the know talk about the differences, but until you see them side by side you can't really understand. Personally, I like the ones that have been heavily played and have some character. The squeeky clean ones tend to bum me out- a century of missed opportunity and fun....


Here is another photo:

[William Smith]

Yes Sir James, It was a blast comparing them. Mine was borderline very clean, 0 fret wear on original frets, but it wasn't really ever played till I found it, as it surfaced in the 90's at a pawn shop, and put up by the last owner and only showed off to a few guys to play at his place. So I consider myself the "first real owner" as I've played it in to open it up. Can one believe a 24 Loar needed played hard for quite the while to open up? Well believe it, true story folks.

"We mando geeks still need a separate room"

[kymandolin29]

after looking closer I saw that the mandolin in the foreground is my 29 fern ! I don't think ive seen this shot from loarfest......a great event