July 24, 2006 at 5:55 AM
I did it, I bought the Italian!I've had a rather long courtship with this fiddle, since the first time I picked it up and fell madly in love with it earlier this year, until now.
As with other long-term relationships that require a major commitment, I had to mull over in great detail what I was rather sure of in an instant. It had to meet my relatives: teachers past and present, colleagues, other luthiers, my students, everyone on this board. And yes, I had to play it for my mom and dad, two well-meaning non-musicians who could nonetheless hear some kind of difference, they thought, maybe.
I have received every kind of advice imaginable:
"My Amati also has a later scroll. I've never regretted buying it, I love it. And it has increased in value by hundreds of thousands of dollars."
"Don't buy a composite violin, don't do it, it's not worth it!"
"It's great that it has no cracks on the back. But just about every old Italian instrument has cracks."
"It's just got too many cracks."
"All that varnish is the best thing in the world, be glad they did it. It was a fad for a while, and it was done to many of these violins. It protected it, and it's just fine."
"It's way overvarnished."
"I think it is what it is, the back matches the front matches the sides. And the archings are right. A Gagliano, just like I own. It sounds nice."
"It has that unique, Gagliano 'honey' sound."
"It's got that old Italian sound. It sounds gorgeous."
"Don't buy a violin based on sound."
"I can find you a violin that sounds like this that's in a lot better shape. I bet you'd like our $150,000 Vuillaume...."
In the end, I could completely justify getting it, based on what people said. Also, I could completely justify not getting it, based on what people said.
"I can't give this violin back," I blurted out to Robert, one day. He was returning from work as I practiced. "I just can't give it back."
"Okay, then," said my hubby. "We'll figure out a way."
So we have decided that we are going to live in my violin case for the next six years. Hah!
I started asking everyone I knew about getting financing for a violin.
"You want to buy, what? That's considered a collectible. You certainly can't depreciate it on your taxes," was the advice from our accountant.
From a financial consultant: "I really don't think you can be approved on a bank loan for that, can you get a home equity loan?" Well, not if you don't own a home... "Can you get your parents or someone to buy it for you?"
Then Robert, as well as some fellow musicians, advised me to look into getting a loan through the Musician's Union, of which I've been a member for about 20 years. Local 47, the Los Angeles branch of the American Federation of Musicians, has a credit union, and they offer instrument loans, up to $50,000, if you put down at least 10 percent of the cost of the instrument. The rate was 7.7 percent. So I will get the loan through the Union, and never ever again complain about those yearly union dues!
"Don't buy a violin based off its sound."
Hahahahahahahaha
Neil
Congratulations!!! I was hoping you'd buy it! And what a nice, supportive husband you have!! I hope he doesn't mind the competition!!!
Now about the bow . . . ;)
Enjoy your violin!
And just for clarification, your accountant is wrong in one sense -- if you use your instrument for business purposes (making money playing music), it most certainly can be depreciated on your tax return.
Like Ray said, this can really contribute significantly to your retirement in 30 years. Keep it in good condition, and it will be very good to you.
Pieter
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