RIN:4 FACTS of the Business

RIN:004 Fiction, romance, and lies are the mainstay of the violin business.
Facts about violins are as hard to uncover as facts about the business itself--and neither set of facts is supposed to be debated in public. According to some, such debate would be "bad manners". Most certainly it would uncover a scam of major proportions. So if you want to buy a violin, there are two basic facts you should never forget: FACTS:

...ABOUT THE BUSINESS
More than 90% of all who work in the music business--violin teachers, directors of orchestra and music administrators in schools and universities--are employed on a "commission" basis. In other words, they may enjoy considerable reputations as pedagogues, performers, etc. in reality, they live off of so-called finding fees--what most of us call bribes or kick-backs.
How does all of this work? Violins, especially those which are old or antique, are "blind" items. Most buyers are unable to even guess at their wholesale price--the price, based on an instrument's condition and authentic provenance, which a violin dealer would willingly pay for them. The contrasting retail price the buyer is supposed to happily fork over is quite another matter. It is the wholesale price PLUS multiple mark-ups. Added up, this figure not only gives the dealer his profit. It also pays the secret salary of most music business "workers". The trusted teacher, for example, is a salesman in disguise. He or she justifies the totally arbitrary price of instrument after instrument by praising its tonal beauty. But the real sound to listen for is the clink of coinage.

...ABOUT ACTUAL INSTRUMENTS
The beauty of sound of any violin has NO necessary relation to the price of the instrument. Just as visual beauty is in the eye of the beholder, beauty of sound is in the ear of the listener.
So, apart from scandal and hype, how are prices actually set? Violin auction catalogues state suggested price ranges, but this range is un-related to instrument's tonal characteristics. It is an answer to a set of objective questions:
What is a violin's condition?
Who made it? (And when? Where?)
How much of the violin is authentic?
To what extent have the essential original parts been altered in the name of "restoration"?
How much of the Stradivarius in front of me came from the hands of Stradivarius?

ASK US TO EXPLAIN
These are the facts--about the violin business, and about violins. And we'd be happy to fill in all sorts of detail. You can ask us any questions you like, without obligation.

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Our Location - Shop Hours - History of Reuter & Sons - Send us E-Mail

Violin Makers & Dealers * International Consultants * Expert Appraisers
Fritz Reuter I 1897-1944, Fritz Reuter II 1931, Gunther Reuter1934,
Michael F. Reuter 1961, Robert Reuter 1968

As professional violin makers and dealers, individuals of our firm maintain membership in the following organizations:

***Co-founder American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, New York, NY, USA / since 1980 ***
International Society of Violin and Bow Makers Geneva, Switzerland / since 1971
German Association of Violin and Bow Makers, Stuttgart, Germany / since 1963
Alumni Geigenbauschule, Mittenwald, Germany / Classes of 1951, 1978 and 1984
Appraisers Association of America, Inc., New York, NY, USA / since 1991
International Society of Appraisers, Ltd., Seattle, WA, USA / since 1984
String Industry Council (ASTA)