Hi Willie. Amazing what mythology can do to prices eh? Yeah, I've played several Lloyd Loars over the years. Fine instruments obviously BUT they sound like the player who owns it sounds like. I messed around with Frank Wakefield's (to some, the greatest Bluegrass mandolinist of his time) but I was nowhere near skilled enough to make it sound like Frank did. Just sounded like my F-2 when I played it. I've watched several pretty good players take a turn on Monroe's Loar...and they couldn't get "that" sound from it. Hell, they could barely press down the strings, Bill had the action so high! Gibson is now back to making Lloyd Loar models but like all really good instruments they need the sound "played" into them. Right now I play a 1912 A-2, but I'd love a Florentine. Don't think I'll ever be able to afford one.

Thanks for the stuff.

Rick