Sound Investments

​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.

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