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I was browsing a site called the-saleroom.com in the hopes of finding a nice instrument listed in a live auctions. I searched for a Scottish violin hoping to find a few armature made or cheap antique Scottish violins. I found one at an auction in Glasgow which seemed like just what I wanted: 'SCOTTISH VIOLIN early 20th century' was the description so I waited for the auction and made a bid. The violin went for much less than I thought so was happy with my purchase but a little suspicious. The violin on the picture looked in good condition with yellowish varnish, a light wooden tail piece and old 50s looking box. After waiting the violin arrived. The box was as expected old, but on inspection the violin looked very lightly made with standard redy varnish, the fingerboard was painted black! and the varnish was flaking off the top of the violin with a slight rub of my nail. The purfling also rubbed off.. Finally I tried to set up the violin and it sounded very gritty like a badly set up banjo or guitar more than a violin sound, totally unplayable. Inside it said 'Edmund may Glasgow' in what looked like a label printed on a computer in ms word, with a cute music clip art.. slightly higher than where the old label should have been. I did a search and found another violin also from Edmund may of glasgow http://www.amati.com/auctions/violins/for-sale-at-auction/vintage-violin-refurbished-by-edmund-may-of-glasgow.html which sold for a higher price than what I payed. I checked the tail piece and saw (w Germany) on the fine tuners. The violin its self looks very much like a cheap Chinese factory violin maybe £40 max brand new. Defiantly not a hand made Scottish violin. I phoned the auction house and they said I had time to inspect the violin before the auction. I wasn't able to do this because I wasn't able to travel to Scotland so they said I should have asked for an inspection to be made. Is it me or would the auction house have changed their story of it being a Scottish violin if I had asked for an inspection? Its kind of like saying a car is a vintage Porsche but on inspection it was only a cheap Citron and selling it at a high price. So is this person buying old Chinese violins and putting them in old boxes claiming they are vintage violins, then selling them at auctions? The one in the amati page looks quite nice again but I am guessing another cheap fake. Has anyone had any experience of this and if so did you manage to get a refund? At least Ebay is working with paypal to stop fraud but it seems UK auctions are actively encouraging it..
