Some Martins now on sale at 150=000 yup one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Thats value added by hype if ever there was such a thing.

Collectors owning not 2 or 3 but dozens of em. A box laid up in a collection for years at a time is just a piece of wood. My ex fiddle playin friend bought a 28 and it was a crock, albeit a loud crock, cost him 3 = 000 bucks.

Also can't help but notice the sheer number of Martins out there, I believe in market forces so sooner or later a Gibby in good shape will be worth a great deal more.

A great instrument like a Gretch - hardly ever see em, or indeed a Gallagher - how bout them banjos - After years of Blugrass madness we have the INSANE practice of hacking up Fairbanks and Vegas to somehow improve em, mine works perfectly well as it is with all the original parts. I should add that how you play a banjo is what makes them sound good.