How I made (saved, actually) $500 on MyLot (with help from YouTube) this month!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220372)
Walnut Creek, California
March 25, 2017 1:06pm CST
As you know, if you read my posts, I often take my kid clients to Guitar Center. One kid likes drums. Another likes to play Grateful Dead songs with me on guitar.
While at Guitar Center a few months ago, I discovered a Loar 520 mandolin that I really like. I play it every time we go to Guitar Center.
By early March, I had myself convinced I was going to buy the thing as a "gigging" mandolin. It's made from real wood, sounds great to the player, and costs only about $500.
I already have a 1914 Gibson A-4 mandolin (shown), but the Loar LM 520 is louder, plus I wouldn't have to worry about damaging a $2500 vintage instrument (the Gibson).
Of course, once I started researching the Loar LM 520 on-line, ads for the instrument started popping up all over MyLot.
This led me to research the instrument even further. Real wood (as I mentioned). Rave reviews. But my MyLot-induced research finally led me to a YouTube video of the instrument, played by someone really good--way better than me. I'd never heard it played by someone else.
It sounds great from behind (to the player), but I didn't like the tone so much from the listener's perspective. I realized I don't really need this instrument (a friend has a cheap mando that I can use for gigs if I don't want to bring my Gibson), and I can still practice at home on my 1914 Gibson A-4.
So common sense won out, with the help of MyLot ads and YouTube. I saved $500, and will just keep enjoying the Loar LM 520 when we go to Guitar Center.
Thanks, MyLot! Thanks, YouTube! Another $500 towards my Porsche.
48 people like this
43 responses
@celticeagle (168420)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Mar 17
Sometimes it best to enjoy an item from afar.And, like you said, you are that much closer to getting that Porsche.
4 people like this
@celticeagle (168420)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Mar 17
@TheHorse .....Yes, and consistency.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Mar 17
@celticeagle Will I still be able to drive a manual transmission when I'm 650? I'm worried that my physical abilities will fade.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82066)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Mar 17
That's great. My ex-husband loves guitar center. Glad mylot and youtube saved you 500
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (82066)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Mar 17
@TheHorse Probably not he lives in Tennessee.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Mar 17
@Tina30219 I hear people are pretty friendly down there.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50561)
• United States
25 Mar 17
That is one gorgeous musical instrument 
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Mar 17
@Tampa_girl7 I may just grab it and play a bit before I fall asleep. I worked a 15 hour day today.
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 Mar 17
Alright! You can almost get that new car smell now I'll bet. Good way to think it all through and save dollars.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Mar 17
@JamesHxstatic How does that Go Fund Me thing work? Wait. I have about ten true friends.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 Mar 17
@TheHorse Now there's an idea!
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62947)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
25 Mar 17
It's beautiful.
4 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
26 Mar 17
How far are you from the Porsche? That's the question that should be answered.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
26 Mar 17
@TheHorse drive it like you stole it!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Mar 17
@allen0187 I headin' to Reno! Gonna do 95 through Winnemucca and then head to Utah and repent.
2 people like this
thay way you may save /make thousand $$$$
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
25 Mar 17
Mylot helps in many ways! Lol. I'm glad you saved the money. =)
3 people like this
@FourWalls (69125)
• United States
26 Mar 17
Woo hoo, that much closer to being a millionaire!
That's an interesting thought, though: why would people make an instrument that doesn't sound good to anyone in front of it?
That's an interesting thought, though: why would people make an instrument that doesn't sound good to anyone in front of it?3 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Mar 17
It actually sounds quite good. Especially for a $500 mandolin. But I ultimately decided that there wasn't reason enough to buy a third mandolin. I have an old (1990s) Kentucky for teaching kids, and my classic Gibson for my own pleasure. That's enough. Especially for someone who is mostly a guitar and bass player right now.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Mar 17
Have you heard my Pancho and Lefty? Vanny posted it! DJ put it together. Another advantage of making friends on MyLot. I'd have no clue how to do this. Townes Van Zandt wrote it. Willie Nelson made a hit of it. He's not doing that well (ill). I wanted to do a really strauightforward version of the song. I play all the instruments.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
26 Mar 17
Good thing you did not dive in immediately to buy the "gigging" mandolin.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Mar 17
@sunrisefan Guitar life is good.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
25 Mar 17
Maybe you can start a Gofund me page so you can ask others to help get that Porsche.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7086)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
26 Mar 17
Fabulous to follow your better instincts. I hope you get the Porsche before you die. Or after. Whichever.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7086)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
26 Mar 17
@TheHorse, MAYBE oops. Maybe they will design a geratric Porsche
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Mar 17
@CinnamonGrl Heh. I hope by the time I'm 700, my "don't give a sh-t" attitude will be fully developed.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80847)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Mar 17
It does look like a really nice instrument. Glad you got to save the money and you can still enjoy the mandolin. Way to go.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
26 Mar 17
Very smart move, if its there to be used, enjoy it there. Enjoy your car when you get it...
2 people like this
@andriaperry (117157)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Mar 17
Love how one thing leads to another and on and on and finally you see the real truth!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220372)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Mar 17
@TheInvisibleMan I tend to be slow to buy things I don't need.
1 person likes this
