​If you have a retirement account, you know how painful a downturn in the market can be. We are losing money when the markets go down. Even bonds may not be safe these days.

When you invest in a good violin, viola, or cello, your investment will hold its value or go up. Historically stringed instruments appreciate in value from 3% or 4% to 10% or 15% yearly. Old Italian instruments have risen the most in value, especially since the 1980s. At the top end of the market are Cremonese instruments such as those made by Antonio Stradivari, the Amati family, and the Guarneri family. Most of these instruments are beyond the budget of players; many are now owned by foundations or investors who loan them to players. Often the player will pay the carrying costs of these instruments such as maintenance and insurance. The investor enjoys the asset appreciation, and often gets to enjoy hearing the instrument played in concert!

A more modest investment is a French, German, or American instrument or bow. European instruments that were made in the early 1900s, and that remain in good condition, are now worth many times over what they were worth even 20 years ago. Most of these instruments were made in workshops in various towns such as Markneukirchen, Mittenwald, and Mirecourt. These are affordable instruments that provide a stable investment. Some of these instruments, such as the ones made by the Roth family of Markneukirchen, or the Juzek family of Prague, have risen exponentially in recent years, and are sought after all around the world. Likewise the value of many American made instruments from the 19th and 20th centuries have risen many fold in recent years.

​Contemporary makers often raise their prices yearly. An instrument or bow purchased today will often appreciate 5% to 10% per year. A very smart investment is to find an up and coming maker and buy their work now while it is still quite affordable. This investment has the ripple effect of supporting the tradition and culture of violin making while enjoying and using the object as it gains in value. If a noted player ends up buying an instrument from that maker, the value can rise even faster.

One big difference from the stock market is the length of time it can take to sell an instrument. Investors who want access to their money quickly should probably not consider instruments or bows, as it can take a year or more to sell on the other end. But the demand for healthy, good sounding instruments has stayed strong through all the economic downturns in the last 100 years or more, so for those who want to diversify their portfolios, instruments and bows are an attractive alternative.

​If you would like Stamell Strings to help you find the right investment opportunity please feel free to contact us. Our inventory and world wide connections to the stringed instrument trade will be a good resource for you.

Buying an instrument or bow can be an overwhelming experience.  With so many choices available, where does one start?  I hope that this short essay may be of help to the player or parent confronting the task of buying an instrument or bow.

The first and foremost decision to be made is DECIDING ON A BUDGET.  Be realistic.

• Is this a first instrument or bow? 
• Is this the instrument or bow for a lifetime?

Instruments and bows are priced separately, and while bows are generally less expensive than the instrument, it is important to keep an open mind about investing in an instrument and a bow that will accompany the instrument well.

The Starting Point:
To find a well set up, good sounding instrument, the first time buyer should be prepared to spend between:
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• $800-$2,000 for a violin
• $1,000 - $2,500 for a viola
• $2,000-$3,800 for a cello

In general, these instruments will be new “workshop made”. This means that they were made by hand, but by many hands. This was done is Germany and France since the early 1800s, and more recently in China. The quality will vary with these instruments, so best to buy from a reputable shop where the instruments have been vetted, and where you will get a guaranteed trade back toward another instrument if desired.

The Step Up:
A step up from the first time violin and viola can be found for

• Violin and viola step-ups can be found for $2,000 to $5,000
• Cello steps up can be found for $3,800 to $7,500
  

​These instruments are also often workshop made instruments, but of a higher quality.  Workshops will earmark the best wood for their best line of instruments. Often the makers of the more expensive instruments are the most experienced.  But instruments are not priced by sound. This is an important concept to understand. Instruments are priced by the maker, the condition, and factors other than sound.  That is why I always let players know that it’s possible to find the right instrument at the price that’s comfortable for them.

In this price range you may also find older German, French, English and American instruments that have been restored to excellent playing condition. These instruments have the benefit of being older, with stable wood and often a richness to the sound that comes with age.
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Corresponding good wood bows for violins and violas  in this range would be $500-$1,200, and $800-$2,000 for cello.

​The Next Step:
The next step for violins and violas is the $5,000 to $10,000 range, and $7,500 to $18,000 for cello.

Here again you will find a mix of:

• workshop made instruments
• restored older instruments
• sometimes handmade instruments by up-and-coming makers​

Certain workshops like the Juzek workshop of Prague and the Heberlein and Roth workshops of Germany are sought after and getting more valuable as time goes on.  These instruments, though made in a workshop, are more expensive due to their fame and reputation.
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We have found good workshop made cellos from Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, and China.  Sometimes a shop may have their own label, but the instruments are still mostly made in one of the countries just listed. Some shops, like ours, occasionally have their own instrument made from a “white instrument”, which is an instrument made roughly in Germany but with no varnish. The instrument is then “graduated” or thicknessed, and finished off in house. This allows more control over the sound properties of the instrument. For cellos priced under $10,000 be sure that there is a good trade back policy, and that adjustments are included for changes neck angle and bridge height. 

 
The Professional:
Handmade instruments are instruments that are made completely by one person.

• Please note that while the label “handmade” is sometimes used for workshop made instruments, an instrument to be truly hand made must be made by one person.
• Handmade violins may be found for prices comparable to some of the better workshop made instruments. These are likely by amateur makers, or young makers who are building a career.
  
• Each maker sets their own price, but in general, handmade violins by professional makers start at around $15,000 - $20,000, violas the same or a little more, and cellos $30,000 and up.
  
• Many of these instruments will be excellent investments, as makers raise their prices as they become more well known and in demand, much like painters. 

In Conclusion

Ultimately it’s a leap of faith to buy an instrument. A good instrument should sound better and better over time, but no one can guarantee what an instrument may or may not sound like in the future. Try the instrument at home for a few days, show it to a teacher or trusted player, and get some peace of mind by buying from a good shop with trade back guarantees.
 
Matt Stamell
​Owner of Stamell Stringed Instruments