Antiques Roadshow Appraisal: 1924 Gibson F-5 "Lloyd Loar" Mandolin

[Tim Plains]

If you haven't seen this already, take a guess as to what it's worth before you watch it.

 

http://video.pbs.org/video/2183115246/

[surfpup]

Yeah, I saw that show. Pretty amazing mando (and price). I just wish someone on the show could've played it a bit too.

[Jeff-7]

Yeah I wasn't even close to estimating the right price. Holy crap.

[Riffster]

I happened to catch this show couple of nights ago, when I looked up and saw that mandolin I knew just how valuable it was going to be, I read and article by George Gruhn once and it talked about this model.

 

It was stored in a house farm she said, dang, this kind of stuff does happen.

[retrosurfer1959]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was worth more than that, the condition on that mandolin is pristine, I don't know if Ive ever seen one in better condition it looks almost new.

[pippy]

I had already seen some similar examples on Gruhn's website (I was curious at the price of old Gibson acoustics) so had a pretty good idea of it's worth, but of course the first tme I saw them listed I could hardly believe it!

 

Nice surprise; finding one in the cupboard...

 

P.

[cabba2203]

Nice - happy surprise.

[DanvillRob]

I'd buy it...but then I'd be short on lunch money for the week.

[Daryl M]

That's pretty cool. I know a few folks who own a 'Loar'. I'm still blown away at what people will pay for one.

[lagerfanny]

needs EMG's

[pippy]

Its one thing to say something is worth something, its a total different story to find someone to pay the price.

I know what you mean but after I watched the clip I checked Gruhn's site again and the two that were listed a few months ago are no longer there although admittedly they were each valued about 20% below the price quoted in the clip.

 

If you go to Gruhn's site just now you'll see that there's one (albeit a very famous one) for sale at around 30% more than the one on the Roadshow.....

 

 

P.

[BigKahune]

.

 

Thanks R9 -

 

I watch the show sometimes, but had missed that one. I was up there with my estimate, but not over $100K. Wow.

 

 

 

BTW, for those that don't frequent the Acoustic subforum, this SJ-200 ($125K) gets talked about once in a while - http://elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-12195.htm . (worth a look)

 

 

.

[buliwyf]

I used to work with a guy that had the same type,year,style,Lloyd Loar Mandolin and this was about 12 years ago. He had it appraised back then and if I remember right it was appraised somewhere around $80,000.He was in an all mandolin orchestra with about 30 people in it back then.There were all sizes,types of mandolins playing and they sounded great.Everything from small almost toy looking mandos to some large Russian looking baritone (I would guess)types.They sounded great I definatly would go see them again.

 

The guy on the far left is my friend Bob with his Lloyd Loar.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/22768_298625234987_298505354987_4767699_6775404_n.jpg

[Versatile]

Ahoy There !

 

I would bet this tune was never played on said mandolin :blink:

 

V

 

[Hall]

Yea, that was nice. They are coming to my area Spring/Summer. I have an 1879 Stevens Favorite. Don't expect it is anything special. But it has been in the family since it was brand new. I sent in for the admission ticket lottery, but scoring those odds are very poor; only 400 to be allowed.

 

HG

[swleary]

SO the moral of the whole story Tim is to keep your guitars in my closet...ok maybe just the stinger lol

[surfpup]

 

I watch the show sometimes, but had missed that one. I was up there with my estimate, but not over $100K. Wow.

 

I was way off too! I told the wife it oughta be worth 45k.

[daveinspain]

We'll all be dead when our guitars are worth that kind of money...

[stein]

We'll all be dead when our guitars are worth that kind of money...

Either way, we would be out of debt?

[Lungimsam]

Just today I saw a cat with a "McSomething" acoustic with the raised fingerboard like this mando has. I thought it was some new construction technique to let the face vibrate better, But I see Loyd was doing it back in the day.

 

definitely worth two in the bush...