Deciding To Buy A Vintage Violin

By Dennis Perry


A large number of people play musical instruments in their homes or as a member of a band. The majority of players when learning will use an inexpensive model and invest more in their instruments as their skills improve. Some players may decide to buy a vintage violin and there is some research to be done beforehand to avoid making costly mistakes.

Most professional players and music tutors will tell students that the more they spend on an instrument and the higher the quality, the better they will play and sound. All hand crafted violins will have an individual tone like no other as well as looking and feeling different to the player. Before making a final decision and buying a valuable instrument you should always spend a little time playing it to ensure it suits you.

Older instruments usually command a higher price tag than a modern one and this is the case with violins. Their value is based on a few factors each of which is very important when choosing which particular model to buy. There are well established music stores in Huntington Beach, CA who stock antique instruments and will be happy to advise you when searching for one.

When you have worked out how much you want to spend you can start looking for your instrument. The price of these antique violins can differ greatly and they can fetch millions of dollars if they are particularly desirable or very rare. The maker, type of wood, the age of the instrument and the country where it was made can all influence its final sale price.

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.

Antique instruments are also offered for sale by a lot of internet retailers and auction sites. Some care should be taken when buying from these places especially if you cannot see your potential purchase before buying it. Any vintage instrument should be checked for authenticity by an expert as over the years many have been faked and many people have made costly mistakes.

Whenever you buy antiques or items with a high value you should always ask the seller a few questions such as where and when they acquired the item. If the instrument has any serial numbers these can be used to check its history in some cases. Most violins will be sold complete with their case and if it is the original one then this will increase its value.

The last thing to consider when planning on purchasing an antique musical instrument is its insurance cover in case it is lost or damaged. Most homeowners will have contents insurance but in most cases this will not be sufficient to cover very valuable items. Specialist insurers are in the business of covering musical instruments and rare valuable items.




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