TRK Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 Let’s say money is no object. Perhaps you won the mega millions lottery or you decide to liquidate a portion of your thousands of bitcoin. You are looking to acquire either an Antonio Stradivari or Del Gesu violin. What city would be the best place to start your violin search, London or Paris or maybe another city like New York? Internet shopping is out. You want to visit as many high-end violin shops as you possibly can and also meet face-to-face with the experts in that area. I guess another way to word the question would be which city has a bigger high-end violin market and instrument supply, London or Paris or another? Just a harmless hypothetical question. There is no need to discuss specific names of dealers or such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin swan Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 The sale of high end violins doesn't really adhere to geographical borders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 22 minutes ago, TRK said: Let’s say money is no object. Perhaps you won the mega millions lottery or you decide to liquidate a portion of your thousands of bitcoin. You are looking to acquire either an Antonio Stradivari or Del Gesu violin. What city would be the best place to start your violin search, London or Paris or maybe another city like New York? Internet shopping is out. You want to visit as many high-end violin shops as you possibly can and also meet face-to-face with the experts in that area. I guess another way to word the question would be which city has a bigger high-end violin market and instrument supply, London or Paris or another? Just a harmless hypothetical question. There is no need to discuss specific names of dealers or such. You left Wells out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Darnton Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 Let it be known that you really do want to buy a Strad AND HAVE THE NECESSARY MONEY and you won't have to leave your house. In fact, you may want to move to avoid the dealer riff-raff that start showing up with fiddles in tow. I think all of us have made trips for a lot less than a Strad, if knowing that the customer is real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin swan Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 2 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said: You left Wells out I'm mortified ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Butcher Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 For instruments of this calibre, I think anyone looking to acquire one, would be looking globally. After all, there isn't going to be a huge choice available at any one time, and only certain dealers could be trusted to handle such a sale. Dealers who don't operate at this level, selling a Strad or Guarneri, would surely give buyers cold feet. But in recent times, they have been sold successfully through auctions, such as Tarisio, providing they have the right papers and provenance. At the end of the day, there are only a handful of places worldwide, where you could shop for such an instrument. I am sure they would make you feel very welcome, and you would get the Royal treatment, just like a Saudi Prince. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 3 minutes ago, Michael Darnton said: Let it be known that you really do want to buy a Strad AND HAVE THE NECESSARY MONEY and you won't have to leave your house. In fact, you may want to move to avoid the dealer riff-raff that start showing up with fiddles in tow. I think all of us have made trips for a lot less than a Strad, if knowing that the customer is real. “Dealer riff-raff that start showing up with fiddles in tow” is hilarious!!! ROTFLMAO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 31 minutes ago, TRK said: Let’s say money is no object. Perhaps you won the mega millions lottery or you decide to liquidate a portion of your thousands of bitcoin. You are looking to acquire either an Antonio Stradivari or Del Gesu violin. What city would be the best place to start your violin search, London or Paris or maybe another city like New York? Internet shopping is out. You want to visit as many high-end violin shops as you possibly can and also meet face-to-face with the experts in that area. My best wild guesses would be London and New York, in no particular order. Chicago and Los Angeles could also be worth visiting. Traveling to sample expensive violins and their dealers is rather economical, compared to the prices of these violins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 1 minute ago, David Burgess said: My best wild guesses would be London and New York, in no particular order. Chicago and Los Angeles could also be worth visiting. Thanks. I was thinking London would be the most romantic place to visit just because of the history of the place, atmosphere & the shops, etc. if you’re looking for top-end instruments like a Strad or Guarneri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 1 minute ago, TRK said: Thanks. I was thinking London would be the most romantic place to visit just because of the history of the place, atmosphere & the shops, auction houses, etc. if you’re looking for top-end instruments like a Strad or Guarneri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Butcher Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 1 minute ago, TRK said: I was thinking London would be the most romantic place to visit just because of the history of the place, atmosphere & the shops, etc. They are going to be feeling pretty pissed in Paris and Venice, to hear this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 Just now, Wood Butcher said: They are going to be feeling pretty pissed in Paris and Venice, to hear this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 1 minute ago, David Burgess said: One could make that their second & third stop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 10 minutes ago, TRK said: One could make that their second & third stop Sorry, some people will define you by your travel order itinerary, or according to what brand of toilet paper you use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 I‘m still laughing about the quote “Dealer riff/raff that start showing up with fiddles in tow”. Somehow my mind immediately pictures an obnoxious roving rogue, door-to-door violin salesman. That is hilarious just picturing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 6 minutes ago, TRK said: I‘m still laughing about the quote “Dealer riff/raff that start showing up with fiddles in tow”. Somehow my mind immediately pictures an obnoxious roving rogue, door-to-door violin salesman. That is hilarious just picturing it. Such people have existed......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan slobodkin Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 5 minutes ago, David Burgess said: Such people have existed......... And still do, although you are more likely to encounter them at festivals and schools than going house to house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 1 hour ago, jacobsaunders said: You left Wells out That would be included in my London 1st choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane88 Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 I'd be buying in Tokyo in US dollars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin swan Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 1 hour ago, duane88 said: I'd be buying in Tokyo in US dollars! The great violins in Japan were bought in US$ and for high prices - the owners are all looking for the promised return on their investment. They may wait a long time ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faren4511 Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 (edited) 4 hours ago, Michael Darnton said: Let it be known that you really do want to buy a Strad AND HAVE THE NECESSARY MONEY and you won't have to leave your house. In fact, you may want to move to avoid the dealer riff-raff that start showing up with fiddles in tow. I think all of us have made trips for a lot less than a Strad, if knowing that the customer is real. In 2006, when Jerry Kohl (Pasadena CA) was looking to buy a Strad, 8 Strads were brought to him to test against each other over one day at Disney Hall in Los Angeles: "violins came from all over the world; two from Chicago, three from London, two from Austria and one from Los Angeles. " Kohl ended up choosing the "Milstein" Strad. https://www.stradivarius.org/milstein-stradivarius-violin/ As an aside,I have always wondered why there haven't been many Strads or Del Gesus that are offered or sold by shops in Los Angeles. There are quite a few of these instruments owned by various artists and collectors floating around the city, but rarely sold or offered at Violin Shops in Los Angeles compared to Chicago, New York, London, Tokyo, etc. Edited August 6 by Faren4511 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRK Posted August 6 Author Report Share Posted August 6 1 hour ago, duane88 said: I'd be buying in Tokyo in US dollars! Yen Carry Trade. Japan hikes rates & US keeps rates high and does not drop rates. Market Collapses. Things are going to get very interesting. Thank you Jerome Powell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted August 6 Report Share Posted August 6 If you can afford a Strad, you can go try fiddles in London, then zip down to Paris for lunch or dinner. If I ever won the Euromillions lottery, I'd alert one or two of the high end dealers I've known for years, and let them know I'm looking. After that, the likely scenario would be something like what Faren4511 described above. Somewhat different process from trying out Vuillaumes i'd think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted August 6 Report Share Posted August 6 More to the original question, my impression is that there are more high end fiddles "on the market" in London than in Paris, but that may be misleading. The high end shops and auction houses (that act more and more like shops) publicise their wares in London, whereas in Paris, the process seems more discreet. If you go to a big shop in Paris and say you're looking for a Strad, it's highly unlikely they'll have one in stock, but they will probably "dig one up" from their contacts after a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeH Posted August 7 Report Share Posted August 7 7 hours ago, jezzupe said: I mean it's not like the Soros funded D.A will prosecute anyone This is not the place for your dehumanizing right-wing anti-semitic tropes and conspiracy theories, but you can't help yourself, can you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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