Selling question

[bradeinhorn]

hey guys,

i am currently in the process of selling my snakehead which i have the ohsc for.

of course, i was planning on selling it with the case, but a portential buyer (a buddy) who doesn't really care about the collectability of it, made an offer without the case which i am kind of happy with.

question - will the case be easy to sell and what can i expect to get for it?

it is in very functional condition, though there are definately some considerable scuffs a couple down to the wood on the top (smaller than a dime) and the handle is worn down to the cardboard wrap - they offered to put a leather one on when i bought it, but decided to just keep it all original. the inside in fine shape. a bit musty, but green lining is in good shape and the pocket works.

experts-your opinion please?

[EdSherry]

I'd suspect that you could sell the case separately for significantly more than what a "new" case goes for, to someone whose older instrument has lost its case.

That said, from a "historic" perspective there's a lot to be said for keeping case and instrument together. But against that, there's the fact that your buddy doesn't seem to care.

As for pricing it, you might check eB*y or some of the vintage dealers who know about such matters. (Mandolin Brothers comes to mind in your area.)

[bradeinhorn]

yeah - hard to tell - the only ones on ebay now are totally restored or totally pristine. i think $150 is reasonable for mine if i do have to sell it separately. it will make someone else's old A that much more valuable.

[OregonMike]

They seem to sell for $150 to $200 and don't last very long in the classifieds.

Funny, I always like to have the OHSC for no other reason than it does make it easier to sell the instrument someday (even if I keep it for years). It isn't quite the same but even though I don't prefer pickguards I always keep 'em together.

Selling a '24 Snakehead - you must be on the trail of something pretty fine...

IMHO,

Mike
1916 A-0 Pumpkintop Paddlehead
1924 A-1 Blackface Snakehead

[MikeEdgerton]

The $150.00 to $200.00 would be about right. A few months ago Howie Banfield had several on eB@y and I think that was the going price. I'm surprised the buyer doesn't just spend the extra buck and a half and have the original case as well.

[bradeinhorn]

yeah,

the mandolin really suits him well and he doesn't really care too much about the collectability factor. he's going to be playing it. and yes Omike-i'm on the the trail of something good but i won't speak of it until all sales are final.:p

[Tom Sanderson]

It's bad Karma to seperate a vintage instrument from it's original case

[brunello97]

It's bad Karma to seperate a vintage instrument from it's original case

What he said.

Mick

[bradeinhorn]

It's bad Karma to seperate a vintage instrument from it's original case

What he said.

Mick

yeah yeah....

but so is taking forever to pay someone you owe.

and in all honesty, i'd rather have this guy take it and play the heck out of it (which i know he will) than have it sit in its case forever.

and he lives down the street if i ever need to visit.

[MikeEdgerton]

That's assuming it's the original case. I've seen dozens of vintage instruments matched up to "original" cases that they had never seen. Unless you bought it from the original owner that can vouch for it then you may not have the original case. I sold a Loar case a few years back that didn't have a Loar in it. I'm willing to bet it has one in it now. As a matter of fact if you own a Loar case that has Bar-X-Cowboys written on it in Black, you've got that case.

[bradeinhorn]

i hear you - something tells me when i bought this mando - the store had several a-style cases in the back room and this one may or may not have been matched to mine. believe me, i feel no guilt.

[markishandsome]

Throw the case in for free. If you'r buddy is really averse to having it around, he can sell it himself, or else keep it in the closet until he's ready to sell the mandolin. Even if he's going to play it every day he'll need a case for it at some point, maybe he can trade the old one in for a real nice gigbag.

[blacksmith]

If it's a good instrument, it deserves a case. Don't let it go out into the world naked. Just as bad, it might end up in a gig bag.

[MikeEdgerton]

Guys, I'm sure he has a case. This instrument will fit into a $29.00 Musicians friend A style case. He's trying to save a few bucks on the buy without taking this case.

[OregonMike]

and yes Omike-i'm on the the trail of something good but i won't speak of it until all sales are final.:p

Awww, come on, just a hint? i promise i won't put a hold on it or get on the builders list... well, on second thought maybe you shouldn't tell us!

(Just make sure your camera is charged to take plenty of pictures of the new acquisition.)

Mike
1916 A-0 Pumpkintop Paddlehead
1924 A-1 Blackface Snakehead
www.MusicMoose.org

[Darryl Wolfe]

something tells me when i bought this mando - the store had several a-style cases in the back room and this one may or may not have been matched to mine.

This is not too unlike my stash of mandolins. #At this point I can't tell you which one came with which case, which case I bought on e**y and which one I traded something for. #I simply put the nicest one in the nicest case and go on. #The are all period cases anyway.

My Loar has all original parts and original case. #However, it might be sporting the nicest examples that have passed though my hands over the years.

[OregonMike]

Personally, I'm just waiting for Dan B. to start the "Mandolin Case Archives".

(Just kidding Dan - the work you already do is beyond anything I can imagine and I really appreciate it!)

Mike
1916 A-0 Pumpkintop Paddlehead
1924 A-1 Blackface Snakehead
www.MusicMoose.org

[Glassweb]

Well, i don't know... i just sold 2 vintage f-style shaped cases that went with 2 very nice old Gibsons. Maybe i was stupid to do it, but i prefer to keep ALL my mandolins in Calton cases for obvious reasons. I guess I just got tired of baby-sitting old, empty cases and preferred to pass them along to folks that might dig 'em. With the exception of original rectangular f5 cases, i really can't get too excited about the old case thing. What REALLY excites me is what is often IN the case! I sure would love it if Calton came up with a shaped case for F-style mandos...

[markishandsome]

It sounds to me like you've already made up your mind to sell to this guy whether he takes the case or not. So you can either make a quick Benjamin off it or, if you're really bothered by separating the items (which it doesn't sound like you are), you can give it to him for free on the condition that he pinky-swears you to babysit the case until the mando gets passed on. Don't sweat the small stuff.

[bradeinhorn]

gosh - you guys are apparently a lot more generous than me... appreciate the advice - but the case is getting sold...i need the money right now.

and Omike - you just be patient - i don't want to jinx this one. i have the new (used) one in my possession right now, but it is dependant on another sale going through...

[MikeEdgerton]

If you happen to get crazy and decide to give it away for free you have my number

I'd sell it too.

[bradeinhorn]

it's up in the classifieds if y'all know anyone looking.

[MikeEdgerton]

Somebody else has to buy a case from you now and then other than me. I bought the last one.

[bradeinhorn]

i have sold 4 cases on the cafe. none returned yet...

[bradeinhorn]

for all you karma believers, you'll be happy to know the mando sold WITH case.