Ebay mystery violin

[pahdah_hound]

It might be offensive to some, especially this time of year.

Suffice it to say,"the eye is blind to what the mind doesn't see".

Jesse

[wannabe8]

Jesse, I see "frenchviolins" has placed a bid for this violin. Isn't he/she quite knowledgeable about violins? You may have something more than you realized!!

[Singingmaple]

I think if Frenchviolins actually thought it valuable you would not see a bid from them until 4 seconds left in the auction.

[bean_fidhleir]

Nearly $300. Astonishing. I wonder whether people are looking at the 'attribution' but not reading it aloud in their mind's ear.

[pahdah_hound]

I have received many emails asking questions. People are seeing all sorts of things in this violin. I am astounded by the variety of ideas people have come up with.

"Hi Jesse, this "VSO" is not a violin. It is not made to play music. In my opinion it is a surrealistic artwork. That explains the horrific aura you experienced..."

"Is this any relation to Itza Quiero figlio di Pretensio? I really need to know before bidding. Prego! Ciao"

"Deer Jesseee, Nevy, Nevy, Evy, Have I EVER SEED A FI-DIDDLE LIKE THIS ONE RAT CHEER. I AM SO IMPRESSED, THAT I WILL TRADE MY 75 FI-DIDDLES TO U FER..."

"Are you aware that the renowned Cremonese luthier Librera Vizino also made a bizarre violin like yours? In order to achieve symmetry, he was the first to use a bilinear vizor, evidence of which you will again find in your bizarre violin. This may be a national treasure."

"Jesse, I think you might have a religious relic here. I see a similar image on the back to the one found on the Shroud Of Turin. Bill"

"Hi I looked in my library and found no mention of the maker on the label. I find it interesting that it says in the style of Nicolo Amati. Nicolo(1) was not a big influence like Andrea. If I remember correctly the Master, Nicolo (2) was not born until 1596. A faked label in a very old instrument is not unusual though. It does not diminish the facts of the instrument. I think it maybe a very old instrument the corpus being old and the bizarre aspects may have been added when the neck was replaced and the tuners were added. I think the wood and varnish of the belly are beautiful. Someone more knowledgeable will probably correct my theory, that's good. Even it is a total fake it is getting people to think, that is also good. Thanks Mark "

"I had to close my eyes and force myself to stop rereading the posting and looking at the pictures of Quasimodo the Violin. This is hands down the most spectacular auction posting I have ever seen. It is comic literature. Of course, I wouldn't bid if someone put a gun to my head."

I did not make these up.

Jesse

[geigen]

Post deleted.

I don't like they way you are selling your stuff. And then, people blame the germans. Thank you.

[jackc]

Lighten up, Anne. Jesse is having a joke, and you aren't getting it.

I've bought one of your violins and have never been happy with it. Will you take it back? Jesse would, had I purchased it from him.

[maestramusica]

perhaps it was meant to say : made by "Old Nick"? (old colloqialism for the DEVIL)

This thread has been quite an education this week! What fun!

[geigen]

of course. just send it. Anne.

P.S why did you not email that you don't like it after you got it?

[Guy_Gallo]

Quote:

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I don't like they way you are selling your stuff. And then, people blame the germans. Thank you.

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Did see the first part -- that was deleted -- of your message. But enough is left to comment upon.

You seem to be a minority of one on this board in your opion of how Jesse "sells his stuff."

And. I don't think I've ever seen Jesse venture an opinion one way or the other regarding German sellers. So your anger may be misplaced.

[nicolo]

Ever since a few "haunted" dolls and a "haunted" painting or two were sold for big money on Ebay, lots of people have been trying to write similar listings. If you do a search on Ebay right now for "haunted doll," you'll see about 15 of them. I like to read these for a laugh now and then, and it looks like you do too. You followed a common format, obviously in fun, but isn't it amazing how many people get sucked in anyway? Imagine what the bidding would be if you wrote the description as though you were serious. A haunted violin could have tremendous Ebay potential.

I often wish I had a fiddle that would do something paranormal. If only one of them would play by itself, float in the air, emit the stench of death - anything like that would be wonderful. With the right story, I'd make a fortune.

[pahdah_hound]

The violins I have bought on eBay from German sellers have been well described, good violins at a fair price. I also know of German, American, Hungarian, Guatemalen, African, French, English, Belgian, Spanish etc., who have had- questionable or fraudulent listings. I have never seen a fraudulent listing by an Eskimo.

I try to be accurate and disclose pertinent details in my listings. Attention to detail and defects as well as positives builds credibility and results in a better price. If I show a close up of a broken corner, it is unlikely I am hiding a more major defect.

There are certainly people who do not like my listings. Fortunately, there are enough who do. The violin listing that is the subject of this thread is for fun-not for profit. There will be no victim in this auction, except perhaps the reputation of this violin's maker, and to him, I apologize.

Jesse

[geigen]

...yes, and I know that. (that I am a minority on this board). And I really wonder how that is possible (that I am a minority) given the quality of the violins and the prices they go for.

It seems to be widely accepted to post pictures of obviously faked labels... and to write all the words down (in red letters) Alright, if that's the way they go... it's fine.

Happy easter. Anne

[Richf]

Two comments worth commenting on:

"You seem to be a minority of one...." -- Falstaff

It's difficult to imagine a discussion forum without minority views. I'm sure you agree, falstaff. At the same time, I don't see Geigen's comments as particularly out of the main stream. (Maybe that's a minority view )

"I often wish I had a fiddle that would do something paranormal...." -- Nicolo

I like to think of my screeching E string as paranormal. It certainly defies all efforts to explain or tame.

[fiddlecollector]

I`m really only suspicious of Germans selling big name violins,there are fraudulant sellers who i know who they are .But there is also a influx of eastern europeans listing violins ,etc.. from Germany or using German ebay as a front to sell from. There is also Germans selling on UK ebay.(if they are in fact German and not Romanian gypsies or something.)

I know 3-4 people who`ve been ripped off for rather large amounts and one who was ripped off by a Bulagrian giving a German address for 4000GBP ,he didn`t even get the violin.

I feel sorry for Anne being roped into this . I`ve bought lots of violins from Germany around 3-4 years ago which were all `as described and what i expected.Most of these sellers are still selling violins ,bows ,etc... and they are really just student instruments but often a real bargain compared to what you`d pay retail.

As long as a bidder knows not to expect something fantastic and worth 10 times what they paid, i don`t see a problem with most of these listings.

The ones that really get to me are dealers claiming to be ignorant and out to make a killing from unexpecting bidders without any comebacks or damage to their reputations.

J.C i think its rather unfair to embarrass someone into a refund on this board ,and think this should be done privately,and i`d also like to know why you`ve had the violin for a while before springing this now on this thread.

Ebay is full of `pain in the ass` buyers as well as sellers.

[jackc]

Quote:

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of course. just send it. Anne.

P.S why did you not email that you don't like it after you got it?

---

I didn't contact you because I take responsibility for the risk inherent in ebay if I bid on and buy something. I don't blame you, and shipping is too much to return the violin. So it hangs in the shop. Your listing did not promise a refund if I wasn't satisifed, and I didn't assume that you should. All of those things add up to make me just accept it as it is, although the top of the violin is way beyond restorable. That doesn't mean that I'm happy about the deal.

But your comments about Jesse, who is completely honest, prompted my remarks.

[geigen]

...would you please reveal your name that I can check my records for the violin sold which was "beyond restorable". Now I'm curious because I was really trying to keep a certain quality standard in my auctions. Thanks. Anne

[pahdah_hound]

Quote:

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It seems to be widely accepted to post pictures of obviously faked labels... and to write all the words down (in red letters)

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I don't do that. I do photograph the label, and I do write down what it says, but if it might be fake, I question it. I always give my opinion of the real age and origin of the violin I am selling-but only when I have an idea. Describing the label is part of the overall description. If I represent something as something that it isn't, any buyer could just return it. That isn't smart business.

Anne, what is it I do that you do not approve of?

Jesse

[geigen]

Please DO NOT mix my name up with fraudulent german seller anny-schminky (!). Thanks. Anne.

P.S. I never sell violins beyond restorable, though I am selling restoration project violins from time to time (indicated as such).

[jackc]

OK, this is a public apology to Annette. I have assumed that she was a different "Annette" who is also a German seller on ebay. I should have checked the facts before attributing a less than satisfactory sale to her.

Annette, please accept my apology. And to other Maestronetters, I ask your pardon as well. I will be more diplomatic and careful in the future.

But I still think Jesse's April Fools gag is a hoot...

[geigen]

I just don't like the way you praise your violins to be of the highest quality, the most gorgeous and wonderful workmanship you can ever describe and having a devine, angelmost sound -- while talking about a minimum quality Mittenwald factory violin or the even the ugliest, terribly revarnished saxon pseudo-violin I've ever seen (for which you were able to get over 1000 dollars by the way).

Anyway, if people are happy with their purchases, so what.

Regards, Anne.

[pahdah_hound]

Hi Anne,

I don't know which violin you are referrring to specifically, but if you search my listings you will see all different descriptions and sometimes descriptions that don't talk so highly of the tone. When a violin isn't loud or powerful, I say so. If the tone sounds like a banjo, I say that too. If I were grossly misrepresenting my violins, as you suggest, I wouldn't last long offering guarantees. I even pay shipping charges, if a customer isn't happy with what they bought.

I take back less than 10% of all the violins I sell on eBay. Usually it is due to a problem that I missed or the buyer's teacher or luthier has another violin they feel is more suitable. I have had a violin returned because of a broken tailgut. Most of the violins that have been returned sold for less than $600. I have sold only one violin on eBay over $1000 that was returned. The buyer loved the tone but felt that the condition issues were too risky to deal with. I resold it to a friend (off eBay) who absolutely loves it. I gave her a lifetime money back guarantee.

I try to write a description that will bring a price the violin is worth. I am not always successful. Sometimes they sell for more than I would expect, other times I get less than I paid. My violins do sometimes sell for more than some other sellers. There are no shill bidders or manipulated bidding on my auctions. I feel I offer more, and buyers respond.

I think good competition is a benefit to the marketplace, and I would prefer to see other sellers offering the same terms and sales policies as I do. That would raise the average price of violins sold on eBay, and would be good for the buyers and sellers. I wonder how much more I could sell if there was no fraud, ripoffs, scams and other garbage in the eBay marketplace. Ripoffs hurt buyers, but also honest sellers by making buyers fear the marketplace.

Jesse

[bean_fidhleir]

Jesse, are you going to cancel this thing out before the end and sell it to the first bidder or something? 'Stunned' isn't really an adequate description of my feelings when I see that someone has bid $1000. I'm not sure you'd be safe dealing with anyone who'd do that unless they're joking.

[ROYCE]

I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a good bit higher. I think folks are interested in this fiddle for more of an art work or converstation piece. It would make for a good piece of artwork,,,along with that great story that goes along with it. Jesse can't control what people bid so it's not gonna be his fault if it brings a high price. It certainly is amusing though...

[pahdah_hound]

I have noticed, in addition to the glow this violin has in a darkened room, that it is getting warmer and warmer to the touch with each passing day.

Here is a clue to the mystery violin and its apparent hold on many bidders.

How about peculiar purfling, yellow aura, paranormal radiance? Intelligent, literate followers obviously oppose ludicrous silliness. Jesse opposes killing elephants!