Straspey
January 3, 2012 10:18 PM
The label on the violin in the photo bears the name of Maurice Bourguignon, who was a maker of fine violins from the early part of the 20th century.
One website I checked gives a replacement (insurance) value of one of his violins at between $10,000 - $20,000 ... which is not a lot of money when you are dealing in the world of fine stringed instruments, where just a bow can easily cost $20,000.
From the look of the quality of the wood shiny varnish, it's a pretty sure bet that the violin in the picture is a fake - probably worth no more than $250 - if even that.
If you go on eBay, you'll see it's possible to buy a Stradivarius violin. A real Stradivarius is worth about three million dollars - and I've actually had the privilege of handling a genuine Strad on a couple of occasions.
I know a guy here in the NY City area who repairs and deals in the real world of fine stringed instruments. He tells me that people come into his shop all excited about this terrific deal they found on eBay - only to be crushed when he has to tell them the truth - which is that their violin is a piece of junk.
eBay is great if you are looking for a starter violin for a student - or if you played it in your college orchestra and now want to try "getting back into it" as an adult amateur.
However - anybody who thinks they can really buy a quality violin (viola, cello, etc.) on eBay is a fool - and they deserve what they get.
Did you read the article?