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Posted

Never mind. The two best antidotes are either a full garage, or an empty pocketbook anyway

"a full garage"  Given what you have said here about your famously large rubbish pile, and the inexhaustible selection of comparison examples in the cabinet, one suddenly understands some of your positions on these matters.  When did you give up eBay?   ;)  :lol:  :ph34r:

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Posted

What I do have trouble with is the sniping at the end.

During eBay auctions, or in this thread?  :lol:

 

Sniping is an unavoidable nuisance given the long spans of most auctions, the actual FMV of many things offered compared to the opening bid prices, and the observable fact that most bidders "tune in" in the last five minutes.  I set my max bid for what I'm willing to spend (less shipping) on a given item, and go enliven my favorite fora until the auction's over.  :)

Posted

"a full garage"  Given what you have said here about your famously large rubbish pile, and the inexhaustible selection of comparison examples in the cabinet, one suddenly understands some of your positions on these matters.  When did you give up eBay?   ;)  :lol:  :ph34r:

One of the many advantages of living in Vienna is, I suppose, the improbability of being draged around to pick through any third party Floridan garage

Posted

Hello, I haven't been here for a while but the subject is interesting.  I buy and sell quite a bit of model airplane stuff on ebay, a hobby of mine (not at a profit, by the way, but just because I can't keep my finger off the bid button when a goody comes along).  I've come across Padah_hounds ads and he seems honest and reputable.  There might be some sellers here that can do the same for you without going through ebay if you invite private contacts.

   I've had a few bargain hunting customers bring me ebay fiddles and they've almost always been unmitigated disasters, but they paid very little for them.  One particularly comes to mind-one of my customers began screaming as I removed the top of one of her bargain fiddles in front of her, and two very big rattle snake rattles fell out at her feet.

   I'm afraid that like with almost everything else, you get what you pay for, and caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

 

I want the rattlesnake rattles.  How much?

 

Mike D

Posted

Never mind. The two best antidotes are either a full garage, or an empty pocketbook anyway

 

 

I"m quite well paid thank you. I make a lot more than most people, so I'm not worried. It's either violins or alcohol. Violins are a lot healthier obsession. 

Posted

  One particularly comes to mind-one of my customers began screaming as I removed the top of one of her bargain fiddles in front of her, and two very big rattle snake rattles fell out at her feet.

   I'm afraid that like with almost everything else, you get what you pay for, and caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

 

 

I want the rattlesnake rattles.  How much?

 

Mike D

 

 

I want those too. Free or extra cost?

 

I suggest listing them on eBay.  :lol:

Posted

I suggest listing them on eBay.  :lol:

I listed a lot of 6 rattlesnake rattles a few years ago, and they sold for $5.  I also got a few messages from people concerned that I might be hurting rattlesnakes to get their rattles.

 

I am pretty sure that dealing in rattlesnake rattles provides few of the same rewards as dealing in violins.

 

Jesse

Posted

I listed a lot of 6 rattlesnake rattles a few years ago, and they sold for $5.  I also got a few messages from people concerned that I might be hurting rattlesnakes to get their rattles.

 

I am pretty sure that dealing in rattlesnake rattles provides few of the same rewards as dealing in violins.

 

Jesse

Hi Jesse,

I like the new avatar - is that the raincoat you wear when you think you're going to get pissed on on Maestronet?

Posted

Hi Jesse,

I like the new avatar - is that the raincoat you wear when you think you're going to get pissed on on Maestronet?

 

 

Actually, yes.

 

From a German TV film where I played a ship's captain. I can't do anything for real, so I make believe...

 

Jesse

Posted

Hi Jesse,

I like the new avatar - is that the raincoat you wear when you think you're going to get pissed on on Maestronet?

Martin, you're ahead of him there.  You can just unwind your kilt, hood your head with it, and take care of offense and defense at the same time.  Don't forget the blue paint.  :)  :lol:  :ph34r:

Posted

Martin, you're ahead of him there.  You can just unwind your kilt, hood your head with it, and take care of offense and defense at the same time.  Don't forget the blue paint.  :)  :lol:  :ph34r:

Billy Connolly said

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing".

Posted

One of the many advantages of living in Vienna is, I suppose, the improbability of being draged around to pick through any third party Floridan garage

Don't you mean Florian's Garage?

Posted

Don't you mean Florian's Garage?

No. A garage in Vienna is a Vienese garage

A garage in Manchester is a Mancunian garage

A garage in Liverpool is a Liverpudlian garage

A garage in Nottingham is a Nottinghamian garage

so I guess a garage in Florida will be called something

Posted

Greetings to All,

 

I am enjoying a short weekend (mini vacation) before going back to the craziness of my life (worker, driver to youth orchestra, homework checker, and hopefully fiddle purchaser soon)!

 

I continue to enjoy reading posts here and in other parts of the site. I was reading something in Pegbox (I think that is the name) and read a member say they purchased a fiddle in a Tarisio Auction. I think from your generous posts, I am clear that many would stay clear from buying a violin on an Ebay auction ...or at least tell rookies like me to do so.

 

I am curious does that same sentiment hold true for auctions like Tarisio? If not, is it because they are "authenticated" if that is an official term? Is the difference being that one is an auction house that needs to uphold their reputation verses the tons of people who could sell violins with no true insight into the fiddles background, maker or set up?  Have you purchased from Tarisio?  I still can't imagine it being good for folks like me that know very little about violins. Many of you look at photos and can tell a month's worth of data as I look at it and only see the most surface of things. 

 

Thanks again for sharing and opening up your world to people like me. 

 

Tara

Posted

No. A garage in Vienna is a Vienese garage

A garage in Manchester is a Mancunian garage

A garage in Liverpool is a Liverpudlian garage

A garage in Nottingham is a Nottinghamian garage

so I guess a garage in Florida will be called something

Floridian

Posted

Greetings to All,

 

I am enjoying a short weekend (mini vacation) before going back to the craziness of my life (worker, driver to youth orchestra, homework checker, and hopefully fiddle purchaser soon)!

 

I continue to enjoy reading posts here and in other parts of the site. I was reading something in Pegbox (I think that is the name) and read a member say they purchased a fiddle in a Tarisio Auction. I think from your generous posts, I am clear that many would stay clear from buying a violin on an Ebay auction ...or at least tell rookies like me to do so.

 

I am curious does that same sentiment hold true for auctions like Tarisio? If not, is it because they are "authenticated" if that is an official term? Is the difference being that one is an auction house that needs to uphold their reputation verses the tons of people who could sell violins with no true insight into the fiddles background, maker or set up?  Have you purchased from Tarisio?  I still can't imagine it being good for folks like me that know very little about violins. Many of you look at photos and can tell a month's worth of data as I look at it and only see the most surface of things. 

 

Thanks again for sharing and opening up your world to people like me. 

 

Tara

 

 

An interesting experience for anyone interested in violins is to examine and play many different violins in all different price ranges at a major auction preview. 

 

However, I think it would be very difficult, frustrating and possibly very disappointing and expensive for an individual to successfully buy the violin they really want at a major auction.  Often violins with modest estimates sell for many times the estimate.  Another concern is that if you identify 2 or 3 potential candidates for purchase, you have to decide whether to try to win the first up for sale or wait to bid on another ending later. A dealer, buying many lots, can spread the risk and cost average the best buys with the others. If one out of ten purchases is a mistake, that's pretty good.  If one out of one is a mistake, then its a disaster. Returning for a refund an instrument purchased at auction is unlikely, although I have never tried it myself.

 

I think it is a safer bet for a novice to try to arrange the opportunity to audition many instruments in the comfort of their own home without pressure, but with the advise of a teacher and others more knowledgeable. 

 

Jesse

Posted

One other option: Request some violins for trial from Shar or other dealers that sell on line.  The price difference, imho, between Shar and a reasonable expectation of ebay "luck"  is miniscule in comparison to the ability to try the violin out, have someone else look at it, and return it no questions asked (plus shipping).  Or, look to see if someone like VdA or other person who do great jobs at reconditioning "rubbish" live near by you.   

 

Also, if you look carefully - and sign up - Shar has some sales - either shipping free, 5 -10% off, etc.  In your price range, Shar, Ifshin Violins, Southwest Strings, etc. will possibly do better on price for similar quality as major dealers, and match effective prices from less well known dealers.  MNers have discussed eBay - excluding Paddah and other "dealers" - I think of them as online dealers so put them in that bracket - and Tarisio, Skinner, etc. are great to try violins, but you would do well to get professional advice re making a bid and trying for a violin, as also has been discussed.  And you are still subject to vagaries of the auction place.  Even experts now (because of the huge volume of eyes) rarely get a "steal" from any major auction house.   

 

It is true that most authentications on the major auction sites are believed to be valid.  There is much less outright dishonesty (some might debate this), and you can get condition reports that come with caveats, but are usually pretty accurate.  Nothing on sound quality - you have to get that in person by playing.  In your range, attribution makes *much* less difference.  Still, nice to know what factory your violin came from.  The rub - and "bargains" for the cognescenti  -usually lie in the unauthenticated/disputed/unsure pieces that are mostly "rubbish," but occassionally a little more, or some pieces that might need major work, but turn out to sound good, etc. 

Posted

Greetings to All,

 

I am enjoying a short weekend (mini vacation) before going back to the craziness of my life (worker, driver to youth orchestra, homework checker, and hopefully fiddle purchaser soon)!

 

I continue to enjoy reading posts here and in other parts of the site. I was reading something in Pegbox (I think that is the name) and read a member say they purchased a fiddle in a Tarisio Auction. I think from your generous posts, I am clear that many would stay clear from buying a violin on an Ebay auction ...or at least tell rookies like me to do so.

 

I am curious does that same sentiment hold true for auctions like Tarisio? If not, is it because they are "authenticated" if that is an official term? Is the difference being that one is an auction house that needs to uphold their reputation verses the tons of people who could sell violins with no true insight into the fiddles background, maker or set up?  Have you purchased from Tarisio?  I still can't imagine it being good for folks like me that know very little about violins. Many of you look at photos and can tell a month's worth of data as I look at it and only see the most surface of things. 

 

Thanks again for sharing and opening up your world to people like me. 

 

Tara

 

Hi Tara;

 

I must admit I haven't carefully read this entire (rather lengthy) thread, but if I have the basic facts right, you're wondering about the best course of action concerning finding a good $2,500 fiddle for your daughter.

 

Authenticity was mentioned... which is an interesting quandary in your price range.  Lots of "shop" fiddles, many with shop labels of the firm that bought them from the supplying shop, others that were made in ateliers owned by the retailing entity at the time, tons of Chinese stuff, etc,  etc.  I guess the question I might have is "authentic what?"  I'd suggest simply understanding what it is that you're buying and having it perform to your daughters expectations might be the most important priorities.

 

Frankly, my view is that if a violin of potential (made correctly, of good design, in good shape) in this range is located, what's really going to separate it from much of the dustbin stuff is the setup (correct neck angle, well cut bridge and post, fingerboard of the correct measurement and dressed properly, fittings appropriate for the instrument and installed correctly, bass bar if needed, etc.).  These things bring the performance of the instrument to it's potential... and provide a pleasant experience for the player.

 

The problem with Ebay fiddles may be that unless the work was done properly before marketing (very few sellers do this on Ebay, I've found.. though many say they do... or state they had it done... I think it's partly the low level of the bar that gets me), finding someone who can (really) properly set up the instrument purchased in this manner may be difficult. Yes, I know...  I may get some heat from the board members on this one... but most of my colleagues who have taken the "finds" on have horror stories that make Larry's rattlers look like a disney movie.  A good many won't consider working on Ebay gems.

 

I think the "markup" in a reputable retail shop that a few posters mentioned is important to motivate the shop owner or luthier to do the work that's required in the first place without losing their shirts.  The other thing I find interesting is that, if the shop/seller is reputable, and is offering the instrument for what's worth (and knows how to determine that), who really cares what the profit margin is?  You'd be getting an instrument worth the money with all of the required work already done...  and still have the shop to back up any problems you might have... and the value (trade policies).  Besides, getting an instrument at what you perceive as a "bargain" may be a thrill to start with, but if you need to throw a grand or two into it just to get it up to snuff, I would think the thrill was short lived.  Yes, I do understand you have a luthier that will look at candidates for you... but sometimes "stuff" sneaks by even capable eyes.

 

To be honest, I do not really work in the price range that you're looking.  The only time I even approach it is when I'm doing a favor for one of my clients (finding and making a less expensive fiddle sound well as a South American touring fiddle; so they preserve their good one; or fitting up a violin for a client's student who has much more talent than the family has money).  In these (rare) cases, I acquire an appropriate instrument and do what's needed to "bring it up".  The markup I charge allows me to accomplish this without too much of a loss.  I say not too much, as I would absolutely do better if I were concentrating on what I normally do.

 

Tarisio and the other brick-and-mortar auction houses are quite an experience, but for those who don't know how to determine the instruments condition and quality, I'd agree with Paddah...  Maybe not the best way to go for a one and only purchase.

 

K guys and gals.  You can throw tomatoes now.   :)

Posted

I'll happily throw tomatoes at Tarisio and Ebay (they are basically the same thing, aren't they?) :) :) :)

Heavens, no!  Ebay has much better customer service for buyers.  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Posted

Auction houses can "present" instruments better than they really are with a nice description, fancy photo's. Never buy an instrument without seeing it first, unless you are an Asian buyer with too much money that only buys instruments from famous Italian makers :)

 

Most items at auction houses have some issues, why would anyone else consign an instrument for auction if it had no flaws? I mean, you could always sell a good old violin to a player for a higher price. I've seen cases of lead in the mortise of bows, thick silver winding to make a bow heavier (and unbalanced). Draw your own conclusions, not everything is as it seems and photo's lie, your eye does not (hopefully)

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