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{FOR SALE] Strad $5,000,000 — Parallax Forums

{FOR SALE] Strad $5,000,000

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
edited 2013-07-17 11:31 in General Discussion
I know this has nothing to do with Parallax or electronics, but it's too laughably incongruous not to share. And who knows? Maybe one of you has a cool five mil to burn. Anyway, this morning, I found the following ad tacked to a utility pole that's riddled with staples from past "lost cat" and "garage sale" announcements:

attachment.php?attachmentid=102835&d=1374035863

I thought the little tear-off tags were a nice touch, in case a casual passerby might just be looking for one and needing to contact the seller. :)

-Phil
strad_ad.jpg
730 x 610 - 85K

Comments

  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2013-07-16 22:02
    That's about how much money he'll need to go to Edensaw and get some new marine plywood to build his star cruiser.

    Can you give him a ring tomorrow and see if he also has for sale a Buffet Crampon grenadilla wooden clarinet from 1825? I need one of those.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2013-07-16 22:30
    Ken Gracey wrote:
    That's about how much money he'll need to go to Edensaw and get some new marine plywood to build his star cruiser.
    That might be enough to buy one of those sliced-up tree trunks they have.

    BTW, I asked a friend who's knowledgeable about instruments about the Buffet Crampon clarinet. He said, "I have one!" When I asked him if it was from 1825, he said, "It can be from any year you want. How much is he willing to pay?" I think I'd pass on that one.

    -Phil
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2013-07-16 22:55
    Actually I'm looking for a used Buffet Crampon R13. Thousands were made through the years, both in France and Germany, with silver plated and nickel keys. You once mentioned that there's another guy in PT who programs microcontrollers and is involved in embedded designs - same person? Maybe I should trade for robots.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-07-17 02:04
    I happen to know a fellow here in Taiwan that is an expat and spends all his time making violins. I have often wondered why he would even bother if the best ones were made so long ago.

    And then I read an article - I think it was in the Economist - that explained that modern violins can and do perform equally as well as the lofty Stradavarius and others of old.

    So now I wonder why one would pay such a vast sum for an old violin. I suspect some people will always be more impressed by how much they paid than by how much they actually got.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-07-17 06:09
    Phipi, I'm in the market for a nice plastic bass recorder, so please keep your eyes peeled if PT is the Nashville of the Pac NW.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-07-17 06:15
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    I happen to know a fellow here in Taiwan that is an expat and spends all his time making violins. I have often wondered why he would even bother if the best ones were made so long ago.

    And then I read an article - I think it was in the Economist - that explained that modern violins can and do perform equally as well as the lofty Stradavarius and others of old.

    So now I wonder why one would pay such a vast sum for an old violin. I suspect some people will always be more impressed by how much they paid than by how much they actually got.

    A pro musician friend of mine plays viola in a theatre orchestra, Phantom & all that. Every other year he takes a trip to Paris to have his bows appraised. Serious money and/or serious boondoggle, but he writes the trip off his taxes nonetheless.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2013-07-17 07:02
    My students learn on the cheapest, crappiest guitar they can find, and make that sound good before getting a fancy guitar, amp and effects pedals. That way they play the instrument instead of hiding behind it. At which point they go bat $h1t and drop a grand on something shiny.

    I imagine the violins made today will eventually be as valuable when they are as old and rare.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2013-07-17 07:53
    Ken Gracey wrote:
    You once mentioned that there's another guy in PT who programs microcontrollers and is involved in embedded designs - same person? Maybe I should trade for robots.
    No. 'Different person. He told me that his Buffet is actually an inexpensive student model.

    -Phil
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2013-07-17 09:02
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    No. 'Different person. He told me that his Buffet is actually an inexpensive student model.

    -Phil

    Yeah, that's the E11, still a wonderful upgrade from the plastic composite horn I've been using for a while now.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-07-17 09:09
    Is that a Heavy Metal Strad or just a normal one?
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2013-07-17 09:12
    Heck, we got the guy's number, we could call and ask. I bet he electrified it, once you do that, they get harder to sell!
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-07-17 11:31
    Never should have sold my Martin D-18, my baby Martin saddle guitar, or my blond-neck Fender Stratocaster.
    All were exceptional and better than keeping money in any old bank.
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