Somewhere there is a fuzzy line between a banjo & a collectible.
Banjos are fun to play. Collectibles collect dust.
Banjos making music are priceless.
Collectibles have a shifting value. Expensive today often have no value tomorrow.They are only worth what a collector is willing to pay.
I hope Steve has to deal with the headache of a bidding war.

That refinish doesn't look right. It looks like a modern finish. I'm surprised extra care wasn't taken with an instrument of such value.

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Originally posted by NNYJoe

Somewhere there is a fuzzy line between a banjo & a collectible.
Banjos are fun to play. Collectibles collect dust.
Banjos making music are priceless.
Collectibles have a shifting value. Expensive today often have no value tomorrow.They are only worth what a collector is willing to pay.
I hope Steve has to deal with the headache of a bidding war.

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The typical determining factor of 'instrument' or 'collectible' is the buyer. Almost invariably and by definition non-players acquire collections. Players acquire instruments.

As a separate category, investors have no interest in the intrinsic nature of an acquisition whatsoever. Their sole criteria is accrued value i.e. the realisation at some future point of financial profit.

beautiful tone but kinda short sustain--I would not part with my personal life long banjo for it-- not to diss it at all--just not my familiar territory--150'' grand'' means very little to some folks but 150 is a nice amount to me --good luck Mr.Huber you serve the community in a great manner

Someone with too much money will buy it . It may appear that I am trying to throw off on it but I want everyone to realize. The flange isn’t original, it’s from the 60s. We all know quality wasn’t at its best at Gibson during that period. The heel was broken and repaired the neck and resonator were refinished and could’ve been matched a little better for that price . The inside wall of the resonator is coming apart . With all that said ,If this was any other banjo we would all take second and third thoughts before we bought such but this is not any other banjo. For that price ? I’m buying land . That’s my 2 cents. God bless

You probably also get an invite to Banjothon if you bring it. Most of us just have to press our noses to the window to see what is going on in there.

I'm sure Steve has priced it lower than top of the market, based on the replaced flange and neck break/repair. Whether there are any buyers for this, or even the London Granada, is another question.

I can remember 20 years ago a lovely flat head TB Granada was offered at $250,000. I don't know what ever happened to it.

Obviously it is a desirable banjo. It seems amazing that it has a replaced flange and broken neck with perhaps a refinish and is worth that much. Reminds me of Antiques Roadshow recaps when things go way down in price. How awful would it be to buy a banjo for over $100k and see it's value drop. That being said, they ain't making antique Gibsons. Fun to watch, regardless.

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Originally posted by lazlototh

Reminds me of Antiques Roadshow recaps when things go way down in price. How awful would it be to buy a banjo for over $100k and see it's value drop. That being said, they ain't making antique Gibsons. Fun to watch, regardless.

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Antiques Roadshow valuations are typically for items that stay in the owner's family. The occasional high value find is often sold to a museum as a heritage purchase.

These high price banjos have long moved beyond individual buyers. Group or corporate investors spread their investment funds across a variety of sectors rather than fall prey to the "all my eggs in one basket" trap.

Popular culture items have a habit of peaking within the lifetimes of people who had a direct connection with that culture. Rarity will always impart value, but who can predict whether in 100 years from now Bluegrass will have meaning for our descendants other than as a distant curiosity. Today's auction prices for Beatles memorabilia, post-war sports memorabilia, vintage clothing and video games - all mass produced - are vulnerable to a steep decline when that generation is gone.