How MyLot and a Gibson mandolin helped me make an extra $300.5000 the other day!

@TheHorse (238390)

Walnut Creek, California

July 28, 2019 10:57am CST

As some of you know, I bought a 1914 Gibson A-4 Mandolin a few years ago. I bought it from Stevie Coyle's boutique guitar store in Lafayette CA for $1700. While I was at Schoenberg's guitar store in Tiburon a couple of weeks ago (getting my guitar worked on--the horror), I had Eric Schoenberg "appraise" the mandolin. I told him that it had a slightly sagging top, supported by a post (called a sound post, common in basses, but not mandolins), which slightly devalues the instrument. He told me that David Grisman, a famous bluegrass mandolin player (you may not have heard of him, but I bet @FourWalls has) visits his shop regularly and often prefers older instruments with sagging tops and other issues to newer instruments. He appraised the instrument at $2000. He also said I could probably remove the sound post without the top sagging more, but I don't dare. I did NOT buy this instrument as an investment--its a "player"--but it's cool to know that it has appreciated about $300 in the time I've owned it. Add that to the $00.5000 I made on MyLot that day, and you have a decent day overall. Today, I'm hoping to sell some (KLH Model 17) loudspeakers I've had on Craigslist for quite awhile. MyLot Porsche, here I come!

19 people like this

17 responses

@LadyDuck (502943)

• Italy

28 Jul 19

I am glad your instrument gained in value, but there are things that we do not buy to re-sell.

3 people like this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (502943)

• Italy

28 Jul 19

@TheHorse There are a few things that I know I do not want to sell.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

@LadyDuck Same here. Our family cabin in Montana is one of them.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

This A-4 has SO much "mojo" when I play it! I can feel the presence of Grandmas and Grandpas from all across the US, even though I don't know its history. I think it's a keeper.

3 people like this

Show more comments

@divalounger (6182)

• United States

28 Jul 19

Lucky you! I love David Grisman--and have heard him many times--a decent day indeed!

2 people like this

show previous comments

@divalounger (6182)

• United States

28 Jul 19

@TheHorse Strawberry music festival

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

@divalounger I see him at the Grass Valley Father's Day Bluegrass Festival as well.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

I like Dawg music!

2 people like this

Show more comments

@JudyEv (382693)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jul 19

The beam in our shed sagged yesterday about 1/4" but that was it. We're going down shortly and hopefully the shed won't have fallen in a heap.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

What's the course of action? Replace? Restore? Regret?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382693)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jul 19

@TheHorse None of those. It's standing up beautifully. So it's Relief, Rest, Relax.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382693)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jul 19

@TheHorse There is no wood - just a steel beam. When we took the centre pole out it sagged the tiniest bit. I said 1/4" but it wasn't that much - just a smidgeon. I guess it was just the steel beam taking up the slack.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jul 19

Your story reminds me of the Gibson Les Paul my Dad had all of my life. I took it to Gruhn's guitar in Nashville for an appraisal. It was his baby. Here is a few more pennies to go toward your Porsche fund.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

An older American-made Les Paul is probably worth a lot of money now! Do you remember what they said it was worth? Do you still have it? I'd imagine it appreciates a bit every year.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

@CarolDM That's a sad story. It's incredible what cool older instruments will fetch.

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jul 19

@TheHorse Yes I do and he had to sell it unfortunately. Hard times. It was worth $50k but he took a lot less. I tried everything to help him not to have to part with it. His heart was broken. It was a 1958.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@Starkinds (32737)

• India

28 Jul 19

Good job.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

Trouble in paradise. The tweeter in one of the KLH 17s is buzzing.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

@Starkinds (sad face emoji)

1 person likes this

@Starkinds (32737)

• India

28 Jul 19

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@sophie09 (34230)

• Indonesia

29 Jul 19

wow so lucky

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

@sophie09 OK, I will accept that. What next?

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

Lucky? Skill!

1 person likes this

@sophie09 (34230)

• Indonesia

29 Jul 19

@TheHorse you're lucky you have skill

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@GardenGerty (169590)

• United States

29 Jul 19

It is always nice to know the value of something you own.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

It is! But is it possible to measure the sentimental value of something you own?

@vandana7 (102698)

• India

30 Jul 19

You mean to say it can't be used as firewood any more? What a shame..

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jul 19

Frank Ford can kiss my tush. He's the one who said I should use it as kindling.

@FourWalls (86939)

• United States

29 Jul 19

Dawg gone!!! What makes you think I have heard of Grisman? Which brings up a great Jethro Burns joke: wanna scare the hell out of David Grisman? Sneak up behind him and play a major chord.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

Heh heh.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (35164)

• United Kingdom

28 Jul 19

Hey go you! $0.50 here is a pretty good day in my book!

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

I'm gonna be RICH!

1 person likes this

@andriaperry (118793)

• Anniston, Alabama

28 Jul 19

I love it! I have an old banjo, I wanted to learn to play, I paid a couple hundred, I should see what its worth now. I have also increased something in value, although I wont say what at this time but I paid $52,000 and its now worth $150,000.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

I almost bought an a condo here, before Ms. Horse was killed by the surprise projectile birth of a baby elephant at the Oakland zoo. It would have cost me $95,000. I shudder to think what it is worth now.

@Janet357 (75638)

•

29 Jul 19

yay, am so excited with your porche! i hope it is not run by batteries lool

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

In 2717, it probably will be.

@debjani1 (7202)

•

29 Jul 19

Well done my friend.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

Alas, I heard a buzz in the tweeter of the left KLH 17, so I didn't sell them.

@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

29 Jul 19

I love the sound of the Mandolin - I never got into collecting musical instruments. But I have many friends that do.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

I'm glad I learned to play a bit of mandolin. I'm not really a collector, but I'm glad I got this old thing.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jul 19

@DocAndersen Some things just have sentimental value. Did he leave you any old tube radios? Those things can sound great!

@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

29 Jul 19

@TheHorse My father collected stuff, he left it to me. I had no idea what it was. Some of it I still don't but I love having it now!

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@psanasangma (7910)

• India

29 Jul 19

WOW ! violin attracts many people !

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jul 19

I wish I could play violin.

@NJChicaa (127188)

• United States

28 Jul 19

Good to hear that it has increased in value

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

It should continue to do so. I wish the same could be said for me!

1 person likes this

@Maria24 (2661)

• United States

28 Jul 19

Nice

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238390)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 19

Thanks. But I just discovered that one of the tweeters in the KLH 17s has a buzz. Back to work.

1 person likes this