People really do not realize that prices going up is the same as their dollars being worth less.
I recently overheard a young musician saying that thanks to inflation her flute is now more valuable than it was a few years ago
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Discussion
I also hear this a lot and I always try and correct people when given the opportunity. Only the best instruments can barely keep up with inflation. There’s some that can rapidly increase well beyond inflation but those markets can also drop just as quickly depending on demand and availability. Dynamics most don’t totally understand or care to other than the current price tag.
You probably know, but good string instruments are an asset that some people use to preserve wealth, which really sucks for the musicians. Most of us get priced out of the market.
Most certainly. I see it all the time. Some of those markets hold up very well. Violins and guitars mostly. There’s an interesting shift happening in the banjo world and there may be a flood of inventory on the market in the next 10-15 years as most high dollar collectors are quite old. It’ll be interesting to see if the prices hold or if they drop significantly giving a new generation a chance to own those great instruments.