Letter to the Editor of STRAD Magazine
in response of the OPINION ARTICLE
"Failure to
Declare"
RIN:631
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Just having accomplished putting Dietmar Machold in jail –and helping a lady in distress who had passed on ample information regarding failed business transactions –I was impressed regarding the opinion piece, by Ariane Todes, Failure to declare. I would like to thank the STRAD magazine for their courage to publish this piece of facts, which drives the violin business---secret kickbacks to teachers! To relate to the history of this practice in the violin business, I like to quote Hans Weisshaar, founder of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, and former president of the International Society of Violin and Bow Makers [Entent], in a letter which I’ve published on our website: http://www.fritz-reuter.com/afvbm/letters/rin068.htm (line 6.) “If you are in business and want to sell instruments, you will find it very difficult to be successful without doing it. It has become an established and accustomed practice that has become a necessity for survival for many. And regardless of the protestations of many, this practice will survive and be part of our life, the same as prostitution in all its many forms has been part of our lives since time immemorial.” Most string teachers, for a price, have become the middleman in selling string instruments and bows, even though very few, if any, are able to assess the monetary value of a given instrument or bow. When purchasing a violin, as well as other string instruments, it is a classical BLIND PURCHASE. Since the extrinsic monetary value is basically determined by authenticity and physical condition, the string teacher can only assess the intrinsic and subjective beauty of sound, which is in the ear of the listener. Taste varies! |
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Thankfully, not everyone has the same taste! When kickbacks are added to the equation, the string teacher - by his/her demonstrating their superior playing ability -can modulate the sound of any instrument. They can sway any listener the way they prefer by making a particular instrument sound good or bad on purpose, mostly based -and dependent -on the amount of kickback the dealer is offering. Therefore, low priced instruments bought in a traditional music store would have very little kickback possibilities at 10% to 20% markup of the sales price. The real money is with old and antique instruments and bows. With antique instruments and bows, the teacher –not qualified to assess the monetary value based on authenticity and physical condition -is in the position to negotiate the kickback amount. The dealer who pays the most gets the sale! This is one of the reasons why string teachers prefer their students to purchase older instruments -there is more money to be had from the sale. The amount of markups can be up to 50% of the sales price and is being paid to those string teachers who know the racket. |
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Only collectors are in the market for premium antique instruments -most of them are wealthy connoisseurs enjoying their hobby. ANTONIUS STRADIVARI made and sold NEW instruments –which follows that students and players would find greater value in an instrument made by a modern day maker. All of this reminds me of a statement made by the well known string teacher, Professor Jamie Laredo of the Curtis Institute: "A great player can make a cigar box sound great." Also, it again calls to mind an undisputed principle and physical law --- that of entropy, --- “The inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society." |
| Also, witness the testimony of Professor Colin Gough:
“Science has not provided any convincing evidence for the existence
or otherwise of any measurable property that would set the Cremonese
instruments apart from the finest violins made by skilled craftsman
today. Indeed, some leading soloists do occasionally play on modern
instruments. However, the really top soloists --- and, not
surprisingly, violin dealers who have vested interest
in maintaining the Cremonese legend of intrinsic superiority ---
remain utterly unconvinced.”
Excerpts from Professor Colin Gough's "Science and the Stradivarius," April 2000. Colin Gough is at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK The kickbacks have become systemic within the violin business as seen by Hans Weisshaar’s comments “accustomed practice that has become a necessity for survival” (see quote above). With other instruments like trumpets, clarinets, trombones, etc., one needs the latest creations of instrumental craftsmanship available today. Why not with string instruments? The answer is greed. When decisions go contrary to scientific evidence –just follow the money (i.e. kickbacks).
FRITZ REUTER,
Violin Maker,
Forensic Appraiser (and Whistle Blower) |
