Thursday 31 March 2016

Thinking About Buying A Vintage Violin

By Dennis Perry


A lot of people enjoy playing musical instruments for pleasure and others professionally as a member of an orchestra. Beginners will usually start with a mass produced budget instrument before moving up to a better made model. Many experienced players will choose to buy a vintage violin and there is a little homework to be done before making a purchase.

Music teachers and professional players will usually say that the better quality your instruments are the better you will play. Each hand crafted violin will be different in looks, tone and feel. Prior to spending a substantial amount of cash on an antique violin you should try it out to ensure it is right for you.

Rare and valuable instruments are not cheap and will always cost more than modern mass produced models. A few different things will determine the cost of an instrument and some care is needed when making your choice. There are reputable instrument shops in Huntington Beach, CA who deal in older violins and will be happy to guide you in your search for one.

The first thing to work out is how much money you want to spend on an antique violin. With prices ranging from a few thousand dollars to millions for the very rare ones it is important to make the right choice. A number of things will affect the value such as the maker, country of origin, woods used in the construction and the year of manufacture.

Music retail stores are one of the best places to source an old or valuable instrument and there are many of them on the market. One of the advantages of making a purchase from a store is that the instruments can be played before buying to ensure it is suitable and to your liking. Knowledgeable staff will also be there to help in your choice and offer helpful advice and your purchases will be covered by some kind of warranty.

Web sites are another place where you may find vintage instruments offered for sale. Buyers should be aware that in some cases they may not be able to see or play the instrument before making an online purchase so a little caution is needed. If you cannot view the piece it is worth getting an expert to examine it for you to check its authenticity before making a financial commitment.

If you choose to buy a vintage instrument you should always speak with the person selling it and ask about its history. Ask them where they got it, check serial numbers and try to get as much paperwork to prove its provenance. Ideally a violin should be offered for sale in its original case as this will add to its value.

A very important thing to think about is the insurance cover for your valuable instrument. Your basic home insurance will probably not cover an antique or an item that exceeds a certain value so you should check with your insurance company. Companies are available that specialize in covering musical instruments and antique items and it is worth contacting a few of these firms to get some quotes and compare prices.




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