Why is the price of pre-owned sindt so high?

[Zeng Fengbo]

I've noticed that it costs $700 to buy a sindt at some pre-owned store or other pre-owned vendors, is it worth that price? What is unique about Sindt Whistles?

[pancelticpiper]

They're excellent whistles.

About $700, wasn't somebody selling a Sindt they said was Sterling Silver? I don't remember.

I've picked up a couple used Sindts for reasonable prices, for example a one-head three-body set for B natural, B flat, and A. I think I paid around $200.

I picked up a used Sindt D for around the same price.

All of these whistles were great players, but I ended up selling them because I liked my vintage Generations and Feadogs a tad better.

Now, if Jon stopped making whistles it would be a different story and the prices would climb much higher.

There's a Highland pipe maker who has gone through cycles like so:

1) take orders, make and deliver pipes.

2) announce he's quitting, close his books, finish and deliver the last orders on the books.

3) start publicly complaining that his used pipes are being sold at exorbitant prices.

4) suddenly open his books and start making pipes again.

(repeat)

I'm not suggesting that Jon is doing, has done, or would ever consider doing such a thing. I'm just saying that when makers do stop taking orders the prices rise as one would expect.

[Zeng Fengbo]

Thank you very much for your honest and kind answer. I think I've learned something.

[Tyghress]

Anything (ie an instrument) sells at a very high price just because people are willing to pay it.
It is the basement of capitalism.
Rarity equals value.

I once sold an instrument I bought at $350 for $1000. I got some ragging for it, but that extra $750
was useful.

[pancelticpiper]

And as we know it's the case with musical instruments that it's not just who made them, but when they made them.

Every Sax player I know plays a 1954-1962 Selmer Mark VI.

So it goes with whistles- people who have played a load of whistles from a particular maker can probably distinguish between various iterations.

[Tyghress]

"And as we know it's the case with musical instruments that it's not just who made them, but when they made them."

Truth! I got a Syn whistle, sold it to someone who raved over it, then tried to buy another. Not the same, not the
same at all even tho they looked the same. Finally found an 'original' Syn and was satisfied that I had replaced
it.

[pancelticpiper]

Finally found an Original Syn and was satisfied...

I see what you did there.