Ruhland Eye Candy

[Old Growth]

I thought folks might enjoy a photo of Mr. Ruhland's current work. I know I enjoy it.

[Bill McCall]

The dark one is awesome. I thought I was in remission.

[Old Growth]

Yes, me as well

[Old Growth]

This photo was earlier in the process.

[William Smith]

The dark one is awesome. I thought I was in remission.

Sorry my Brother Bill from another Mother! There is no remission for that affliction we all seem to have

[Old Growth]

Last picture..

[Reid Morsi]

Looks like there’s an A model in this batch. I thought Matt alternated between his F’s and A’s from batch to batch. Either way looks great! Couldn’t be happier with mine.

[EvanElk]

Looks like there’s an A model in this batch. I thought Matt alternated between his F’s and A’s from batch to batch. Either way looks great! Couldn’t be happier with mine.

Hey Reid, that A5 is going to be Matt's personal mandolin. Last couple of times he included a mandolin for himself in a batch, someone convinced him to sell it. He claims it won't happen this time...

[Old Growth]

Nice visit with Matt today..

[Old Growth]

Sorry no idea why more than one picture inserted..

[Old Growth]

I haven't been on the cafe for a few days. Just wanted to share a photo of the new batch. I don't wish to take away from the beauty of Mr. Ruhlands work. I did want to state two things about my experience with it however. I have benefited from the secondary market and honestly I feel bad for the role I have played in it to a degree. The more important perspective I hold though is I have owned 4-5 Ruhlands. Each one was a well built machine, never had a moment of trouble. Lot's of exceptional builders out there it seems. I feel fortunate to have many options for my mandolin passion. Thank you to all the men and women who contribute to our favorite past-time.

[Old Growth]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbL7FvKjGRi/

[pheffernan]

I have benefited from the secondary market and honestly I feel bad for the role I have played in it to a degree.

What role have you played in it?

[Old Growth]

I set the price at a point I believed they were worth, which was higher than the original purchase price. Now I need to go take a shower..and scrub, scrub, scrub

[pheffernan]

I set the price at a point I believed they were worth, which was higher than the original purchase price. Now I need to go take a shower..and scrub, scrub, scrub

Do you think that you have started and perpetuated threads like this one to shape public perception of these instruments and thereby achieve those higher prices in the classifieds?

[KMaynard]

This is not an accusatory response. However, form your own opinion and look at some of the threads and content that have been started by this user.

[Old Growth]

This is not an accusatory response. However, form your own opinion and look at some of the threads and content that have been started by this user.

MAS is a terrible affliction.

There isn't any other truth here to justify or debate. I do however apologize to Matt for being naive about my comments on the forum, probably foolish of me. Certainly shouldn't be a reflection on him. A really good dude.

[Glassweb]

From what I have seen and heard Matt is a great player and a great builder... although I've never actually played one of his mandolins. Hope to someday...

That said, having been in this game long enough to see what happened to the high end mandolin market in general and the exponential demand (and stratospheric raise in prices 15 years ago or so) for Lloyd Loar F5s, Gilchrist F5s and Dude F5s all I can say is builder and buyer beware. It is not healthy for builders or players to have mandolin prices based on speculation or overnight reputation. I can think of several builders that have really suffered because of this and hopefully Matt will escape the "order and resell" trap. The finest builders have developed their deserved reputations over time and certainly deserve their rewards. However I sometimes feel like we are all a bunch of suckers to buy into the inflated hype and prices that have become "the norm" these days. My dos centavos...

[pheffernan]

I do however apologize to Matt for being naive about my comments on the forum, probably foolish of me.

What I’m trying to ascertain is were those comments “naive” and “foolish?” To me, those terms suggest innocence and inexperience. Or were threads like this one and others like it deliberate, calculated efforts to gin up demand in the forum so as to artificially drive up prices in the classifieds and thereby profit?

[Old Growth]

What I’m trying to ascertain is were those comments “naive” and “foolish?” To me, those terms suggest innocence and inexperience. Or were threads like this one and others like it deliberate, calculated efforts to gin up demand in the forum so as to artificially drive up prices in the classifieds and thereby profit?

This will be my last response on this topic.

Enthusiasm is not a conspiracy.

Nothing in your insinuation is correct.

Not much else I can say.

I'm ok with departing from the community but your insinuation is patently "false".

[Mandolin Cafe]

This has gotten beyond civil and I'm ending it.