Also bear in mind that it is the collectable market that has increased the value of those instruments to their current ridiculous level. An old Martin Guitar or Gibson Mandolin or Mastertone banjo sure didn't sell for anywhere near the thousands of dollars that they get now, even factoring in inflation. It drives me crazy that a lot of these instruments are now bought and sold as a commodities, often to be locked away and never played or to be G,C,Ded by some BMW driving, Hilfigger (gofigger) wearing collector. I would love to see some set up where a musician earns intsruments based on their ability to play them. Unfortunately my mediocre Mansfield 5 string and Yamaha guitar would be taken away and I would be given a shoe box and rubber bands.