Is this a fiddle ?

[dipsydoodle]

Stradivari viola expected to fetch £27m

A 300-year-old viola is expected to sell for £27m, making it potentially the most expensive musical instrument in the world.

Sotheby's has said it is selling what is regarded as the finest viola in existence – the "Macdonald" made by Antonio Stradivari in 1719.

It has invited sealed bids which are expected to be in excess of £27m ($45m), a figure which would easily surpass the auction record for an instrument – the Lady Blunt Stradivarius which sold for £9.8m. It would also be higher than any known private sale.

David Redden, Sotheby's vice chairman, said of the viola: "Every field is defined by one outstanding masterpiece which casts its shadow not only on its own domain but far beyond.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/26/stradivarius-sothebys-macdonald

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. I use the term "fiddle" sometimes.

Because it's easier to say.

When I say "fiddle" or "fiddler" it may mean violin, viola, cello or string bass. Or person who plays one of those.

Classical players like a high bridge (high action) and gut wrapped in steel strings.

Country players (yuck) like a low bridge, steel strings, and seem to be incapable of wiping the rosin off their instruments (that white dust all over the body around the bridge). It will eat into the varnish if it sits there for a long time. Many of them also hold their instruments and bows wrongly and generally can have bad technique. But they wouldn't listen to me.

I was in high school and college orchestra and community orchestras for many years.

So yeah, if it's a Stradivarius viola, it's a viola or a fiddle. Either way it's very expensive.

[OriginalGeek]

2. Is it safe to play something that old?

Not counting the fact that I can't play, I would be scared poopless to even hold it. My wife and I were in an antique store just last night and I saw some crappy chest-of-drawers that was maybe 30~40 years old and it looked like it would fall apart if I just hated on its' lousy finish.* I guess they don't build 'em like Stradivari anymore.




*I'm not saying that high school shop class students suck at making stuff because I have seen some amazing work done by talented shop class students but this dopey thing looked like it was built by a high school shop class student. Maybe the D student. I just laughed it its uneven feet and "vintage" tag with an outrageous price. What is the qualification for something to be "vintage" anyway? Everydamn thing in that store was marked "vintage". But mostly it all just looked dirty not very well cared for. Can some plastic piece of shit toy from the 80s really be called "vintage" and fetch a higher price because of it? I don't care how damn old a rusty trowel is - I'm not paying 20 dollars for it and its half a broken handle. Unless I see Hephaestus' maker's mark on it.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Yes - safe to play.

There's one down at the Royal Academy of Music which is kept cased but they do let students play it under controlled conditions - occasionally.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/literature-and-music/art30399

[OriginalGeek]

4. I reckon they know what they're doing

but I'd be scared to pick it up....

look how beautiful that MaDonald is!

http://www.sothebys.com/content/sothebys/en/news-video/videos/2014/03/the-macdonald-viola-by-stradivari.html


I wonder why it's called that...

[dipsydoodle]

5. Maybe the original owner had a farm.

EIEIO

[Paulie]

6. DUzy