Are old violins worth anything?
It could still have substantial value, as a professional with expertise in antique violins could reattach that part with little difficulty. Yet, you should keep in mind that these violins can range anywhere in the lower thousands to the hundreds of thousands of dollars range, and in some cases, the millions.
How much do old violins cost?
Antique Violins from Master Makers and Apprentices: $6,000 – $12,500.
How do I sell my old violin?
When you’re looking to sell your fine violin (or a viola or cello), consignment to a notable violin shop may be the most lucrative option. Although auctions and eBay might seem like a good idea, seekers of fine instruments rarely do their looking online.
What is an antique violin?
An antique dealer, as well as the U.S. Customs Service, will tell you that the item must be at least 100 years old to be considered an antique. So today, an antique violin would have to have been made in 1921 or earlier. The word vintage is slightly more subjective though. The word itself literally means “of age”.
How much is a 300 year old violin worth?
Korean-born classical musician Min-Jin Kym’s 300-year-old Stradivarius violin was snatched in November 2010 when she stopped at a London restaurant to buy a sandwich. That instrument was found three years later and sold at auction for $2.3 million in December, according to the BBC.
How do I know what my violin is worth?
How do I know if my violin is worth money? The best way to truly know if your violin is worth money is to have an official appraisal by a reputable service. An appraiser will be able to evaluate the quality and history of your violin and estimate it’s worth based on current market conditions.
What violins are worth money?
The 10 most valuable violins in the world
- The Molitor Stradivari.
- The ex-Ries Stradivari.
- The Dolphin Stradivari.
- The ex-Szigeti Stradivari.
- The La Pucelle Stradivari.
- The Lord Wilton Guarneri del Gesù
- The ex-Carrodus Guarneri del Gesù
- The ex-Kochanski Guarneri del Gesù
How do you value a violin?
When you want to determine the quality and value of a stringed instrument, one reliable point of departure is to look at the materials used to craft it. The first thing to focus on is usually the grain of the wood not only on the body of the violin, but its neck and scroll as well.
How do you get a violin appraised?
For such an appraisal, we recommend that you have your instrument examined by a reliable violin dealer in your area. Although we are not allowed to recommend a particular appraiser, we suggest you contact the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, Inc. to obtain a membership list.
How much is a used violin worth?
$600 – $1000
A higher grade of timber is used, and so more highly skilled labour is required (resulting in a higher quality of workmanship). These violins are hand-finished and better parts are used, which further improves the quality of the instrument.
How do I tell how old my violin is?
The first way to tell if your instrument is old (modern), old (actually old) or fake old, is to look for a neck graft. Old violins (and violas and cellos) have neck grafts because they were crafted in an era when instruments had shorter necks.
How can you tell a good quality violin?
When you look at the seams of the violin, they should be elegantly sealed with no visible glue or rough edges. The more finely carved the scroll, the higher the quality of the violin. On a quality violin, the purfling, or the thin black lines that outline the top of the violin, will be inlaid, rather than painted.
Do violins hold their value?
Generally speaking, violins (or violas or cellos) are like almost any other purchase you make: except for certain professional instruments, they are most valuable when they are new and will not increase in value over time. This is especially true for beginner instruments.
Do older violins sound better?
The Science of Antique Violins
Violins sound better and become more responsive the more they are played. Before a violin is even made, aging is already a factor.
What should I look for in an antique violin?
How do I know if my violin is worth money?
- Flame of the Wood. The back of the violin is a good indicator of the quality of the instrument.
- Craftsmanship. The craftsmanship of the violin is the greatest indicator of the quality of an instrument.
- Label.
- Sound and Ease of Playing.
- Materials.
How can you tell if a violin is good?
The craftsmanship of the violin is the greatest indicator of the quality of an instrument. When you look at the seams of the violin, they should be elegantly sealed with no visible glue or rough edges. The more finely carved the scroll, the higher the quality of the violin.
Why do people buy old violins?
Older used violins often produce a more mellow tone than the modern violin. Some of this is due to the aging of the tone woods and some is due to the modern trend of making louder instruments. Older violins are often made of better quality wood than modern violins.
Why are old violins so good?
Antique violins are well-aged, but seasoning is not the only factor that gives vintage instruments their unique tone quality. Violins sound better and become more responsive the more they are played. Before a violin is even made, aging is already a factor.
How do I find out what my violin is worth?
Is it better to buy old violin?
the choice is yours. If you can’t stand the look of a well used instrument then you should have a new violin. It will probably improve but might be a bit difficult to tame until it settles down whereas a used violin might have a more mellow sound but is unlikely to improve even though it is easier to play now.
What is the best sounding violin in the world?
The violins of Antonio Stradivari are considered to be the world’s best violins because of the tone which they are capable of producing. Even in a large concert hall with an audience of thousands of players, musicians playing on Stradivarius violins can be heard from even the furthest seats in the venue.
Why do old violins sound better?
Are old violins actually better?
Again and again, scientists find, new instruments can sound as good as the famed oldies. Some violins made centuries ago in Italy have a reputation for unmatched quality and sound. In fact, neither musicians nor audiences could tell much difference between them and modern-made instruments in a host of studies.
Why do old violins cost so much?
Geographical origin is the most important thing (Italian violins sell for at least six times the price of a comparable French or English violin, and German violins lag far behind). The other factors would be the quality of the craftsmanship (how well regarded the maker is) and the age of the instrument.
How much is an average violin worth?
Violin’s usually cost anywhere from $50 to $500 for a children’s violin and $600 to $5,000, or more, for a more advanced instrument. With that said, there are a lot of factors that play a role in how much a violin costs. And, often, you’ll be paying for a bow and a protective case, along with the violin.