YAY! I was outbid on the Martin Backpacker Mandolin!

[bertha katzenengel]

I am so relieved!

When was the last time you were relieved at being outbid? What was the item? What was your highest bid?

[Blue-Jay]

1. I'm glad you were outbid. Those things SUCK!

[bertha katzenengel]

3. but - but - but --

I want to learn to play the mandolin, and I don't want to spend a million dollars but I don't want a Wal-Mart-type instrument either.... What should I get? (When I can afford it...)

[ET Awful]

4. I can't tell you exactly what to buy, but I can tell you to check out

Elderly Instruments, they do mail order and have VERY knowledgeable and trustworthy staff. I think it's www.elderly.com

I've bought from them before with great results.

[Blue-Jay]

5. There are some cheapos available at any music store.

If you're just wanting to plunk around and learn how to play, you can get a full-sized regular mandolin for $100-$200 or so. Granted, it won't be of the highest quality, but it will at least sound and play like a mandolin.

[WeRQ4U]

2. I bid on a wine skin allegedly fashioned from John the Baptist's scrotum

My max bid was in the high 3000 range. Some casino bought it. Thank goodness.

[Cocoa]

6. that wasn't a casino, that was me

and you don't know how much you're missing out.