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Ben on a Strad

July 25, 2007 at 2:49 PM

I've just recently shared this pic on my blog and thought I'd share it with you guys.

This was taken in 1995, when I was 9. The violin is a 1699 Stradivarius, that my teacher's partner picked up at an auction, where the auction house hadn't picked it as a Strad, so it was quite cheap. I don't remember the tone of the violin, but I do remember the day it was brought in, and I do still have that picture. I found out later from one of my Teacher's that he had given a performance on it in Perth. He said he wasn't too impressed by the sound of it.

Not everything Stradavarius made was exceptional, plus the ravages of possible mistreatment.
Has it authenticated as a Strad? The ignorance of the auction house and the tone of the instrument invite skepticism.