In other words probably no real musician will be able to afford them, certain rock stars aside. This is a disturbing trend in instrument pricing, aiming sales at investment banker hobbyists. Get yer bonus walk up from Wall st, up to Rudy's in soho and plunk down $120 K for a nice D'Angelico that mostly sits in its case. . Well its been happening like that with classical instruments for decades now. Feh!
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My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
Some years ago, I worked for a company selling bows for stringed instruments and encountered various people involved in the violin trade. One dealer commented that musicians were a nuisance to him, because beautiful violins were "... exquisite works of art that just happened to make a nice noise".(!)
Dreadful attitude! Musical instruments are made to be played and turning them into collectable* items is arguably almost as bad as putting them in the crusher. Sadly, this means that anyone wanting a nice old Gibson L-00 or whatever to actually PLAY, has to pay a premium price, because of the collectors who just want to OWN it and boast about their ownership. Doubtless Lonnie Johnson and Rev. Davis would have wanted their instruments to fall into the hands of genuine musicians (whatever their ability), who wanted to play them.
[* On a slightly different note, I once read an introduction to a book which went something along the lines of "I feel I shall have succeeded as a parent, if I train my children not to use the word 'collectable" as a noun".]
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"I ain't good looking, teeth don't shine like pearls, So glad good looks don't take you through this world." Barbecue Bob
Doubtless Lonnie Johnson and Rev. Davis would have wanted their instruments to fall into the hands of genuine musicians (whatever their ability), who wanted to play them.
True (for Gary Davis, anyway). The banjo-guitar went straight from Gary Davis to Roy Bookbinder, who is the one selling it.
The banjo-guitar went straight from Gary Davis to Roy Bookbinder, who is the one selling it.
If that's true its a shame. Roy should hold onto it and then will it to some deserving youngster, (Jerron Paxton comes to mind) unless he's strapped for cash of course.
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My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
I'm always bemused by the prices charged for instruments that were once owned by a famous player. You would think you'd also be getting the player's hands, ears, reflexes, ideas and sensibility for the amounts being asked. All best, Johnm
Both are considerably cheaper than the $100K Elderly Instruments was asking for Wade Mainer's banjo a while back. And I would bet he's a lot less famous than either Lonnie or the Rev.
I'm always bemused by the prices charged for instruments that were once owned by a famous player. You would think you'd also be getting the player's hands, ears, reflexes, ideas and sensibility for the amounts being asked.
How true. The PT Barnum principle is in play here.