Ideas for selling a beloved violin on the East Coast

January 10, 2015 at 05:24 PM · The simplest way to sell a fine instrument is through a well-known dealer on consignment. Of course, you will have to pay a consignment percentage but considering that many more potential buyers will have a chance to see your violin than if you're going through a teacher, I think that's fair.

January 10, 2015 at 07:37 PM · Unless there is a financial pressure, keep the instrument!

If the maker is known and reputable, it will only appreciate over time. Your son may also change his mind one day, but violin will not be there anymore.

I always prefer personal sale over paying a middle man, but, as some already mentioned, if the time is of essence, a great dealer can help you sell it.

One thing is very important: set the price before you go to the dealer. Ask for independent opinions - from people who have no financial interest in transaction. Appraised value is often inflated for insurance purposes, but currency also goes up and down.

One parameter could be the price of gold at the time of purchase compared to current price. I truly believe that there is a hidden correlation between those 2. Good luck!

January 10, 2015 at 07:53 PM · Rocky,

would you please elaborate on the correlation of gold price and the price of a violin at the time of purchase please.

I've read an article a long time ago, stating that violins were correlated to the price of real estate in the U.K at some point, then violins took off once speculators realised economic depressions were not affecting violins as much, but this correlation with gold is a new one.

January 10, 2015 at 07:54 PM · Rocky,

would you please elaborate on the correlation of gold price and the price of a violin at the time of purchase please.

I've read an article a long time ago, stating that violins were correlated to the price of real estate in the U.K at some point, then violins took off once speculators realised economic depressions were not affecting violins as much, but this correlation with gold is a new one.

January 10, 2015 at 08:12 PM · I agree with Mary Ellen that consignment is a reasonable approach. Be careful about the terms though. There should be a minimum price. Remember that if the dealer's cut is 20%, then they don't have much reason to hold out for an additional $1000.

Your appraisal may be for insurance purposes rather than resale, and an insurance appraisal is generally higher. But in any case you rarely can get the "sticker price" for a violin.

January 11, 2015 at 03:30 AM · Kypros,

there is no statistical evidence, as far as I am informed. It just happened that a fellow musician asked me to appraise his old Neapolitan violin.... I told him to look for the price of gold at the year of purchase and to calculate how much money could he get for the same mass of gold (instead of violin) today.

Strikingly, the professional appraisal from the 3rd party matched that price 100%.

January 11, 2015 at 06:12 AM · My guess is your best bet is to sell it to the party that appraised it at $15,000, having some familiarity with Meissners(living in the same town he lived), you may have trouble finding anyone else who thinks it is worth that much!!

January 11, 2015 at 07:32 AM · I did mention the idea of consignment to my son. I am thinking there might be a decent market in the Boston area, what with Berklee College of Music and NEC?

Yes, you're right about the value going up and down, and maybe assessing it too high. I do know these violins have sold for higher than we paid, but that was a while ago. I guess the value of something is what people are willing to pay.

My son's not desperate for money, but neither is he rolling in it as a college student. He would like to not graduate college broke, and would prefer to have a little cushion. So, not urgent, but he really says he's thought it through. Not an easy decision.

It's a powerful instrument, and he played on ones at the 20K range and feels the quality of his instrument was better (but don't you all think that??).

He thinks he can get between 10-12K, but I am trying to tell him that probably won't happen. So maybe he can look around Boston and see what music stores there say.

Fred is getting out of the business mostly, as he has had some health issues.

And hm, on the gold correlation. I don't remember the exact month we bought the violin, but that year, gold started at 600 an oz. and rose to 850. Don't know what that means, though.

January 11, 2015 at 03:51 PM · At the time of purchase:

Violin price: $5000

Price of gold per ounce: $600 (Let us take the lower price)

5000 / 600 = 8.33 ounces

Today:

Price of gold per ounce: 1222.33

Ounces of gold: 8.33

8.33 * 1222.33 = $10,185.83

Hope this may give you some orientation.

If I were you, I would not sell my violin under $10k, after commission. If the appraisal (15k) is confirmed by the 3rd party, that is your starting price.

Keep it between us!

January 11, 2015 at 09:07 PM · "I am thinking there might be a decent market in the Boston area, what with Berklee College of Music and NEC?"

I doubt few at Berklee will be interested, unless it says "telecaster" or something on it.

A big eastern city should be a great market for selling a moderately-priced good instrument. But it will require WORK on your part, which is why dealers charge 30%. Your market will be mostly students and young professionals, so post notices at :

-youth orchestras

-high schools in wealthy suburbs with good strings programs

-synagogues

-churches with Korean characters on the sign

-conservatories and colleges

You probably won't get whatever the latest appraisal is, either from a dealer or private buyer. Just a like selling a car: private buyers (educated ones, at least), don't pay the retail price for a car. If they wanted to do that, they'd buy from a dealer.

One stumbling block for you is whether you want to let someone play it for a couple of weeks to decide, as they would at a dealer.

There is inherent risk, especially with younger player. I suppose you could ask for a check, which could remain uncashed until the final decision. But believe me, it can be a real headache getting a violin back from trial. Some players will drag it out day after day, week after week. A dealer that consigned a violin almost had to take legal action to get it back when I requested it back for myself.

Based on my experience, whatever way you go, don't expect to sell a violin within a year.

January 11, 2015 at 11:22 PM · Scott,

good tips you offered.

Rebecca,

Regarding the trial period - dealers in Toronto will not let you try a violin more than 7 days. If a player can not decide after 4-5 days, he/she will not be able to decide after 7.

Typically, a personal property rental document should be signed by both parties with all details ironed out before trial period. Cash deposit is expected and parties can agree what % would be reasonable. With an expensive instrument, the seller sometimes requires a 100% deposit at the lawyer's office (in escrow), where the papers are signed.

When there is a will, there is a way.

Cheers!

January 11, 2015 at 11:55 PM · J & A Beare handed over a very expensive viola bow to one of my students asking nothing more than to see his passport. He was allowed to try it for several days.

January 12, 2015 at 04:07 PM · Thank you so much for all the thoughts and tips on selling. I will pass these ideas along to my son since the violin is with him. He's very busy in school, obviously, but will likely be staying in Boston again this summer on another internship, so he will have some more time to devote to really getting the word out, hopefully. (Though if he works days, I'm not sure what that would look like)

I can probably do some of the legwork as far as making a list of possible schools, churches, music stores, etc. to contact.

The idea of test driving the violin is one to really think about in terms of parameters for safe keeping.

Good stuff. Thanks again.

January 15, 2015 at 03:38 PM · I think you might do better selling the instrument in California, where the Meissners are better known.

I have a Henry Meissner violin made in 1970. I purchased it from Henry about a year after that for $600. Several friends of mine purchased new violins from Henry around the mid 1980s for $3,000. I had no idea they were evaluated that high now. I know some of his instruments are really beautiful. My occasional interactions with Henry and Fred (at their home workshops in Redlands, Carpenteria, and Santa Barbara) covered a period of about 25 years.

Andy

January 15, 2015 at 05:46 PM · Just got of the phone with Henry Meissner, I think I can settle this once and for all. He said on his dad's instruments he is willing to write an insurance estimate of $15,000 replacement value. But in real life he sells them for $5,000-10,000, And when I asked him if he had ever heard of one selling for more than $10,000 he couldn't think or one. But he has sold them for $8-10,000. If you would like me to give you Henry's phone number, you can PM me.