Insurance Appraisals

We do instrument and bow appraisals for insurance purposes. An appraisal includes:
  • A detailed examination and documentation of the instrument's (or bow's) specifications and notable characteristics
  • Examination of any documents you have on the instrument
  • Research of the literature on the instrument or bow in question
  • Research of current/recent sale prices for similar  instruments or bow
  • A letter detailing the results of our examination and research, with our opinion on the current value
One appraisal can cover either:
  • One instrument
  • One or two bows
  • One instrument and one bow
The charge for one appraisal is $45 (plus sales tax).

Verbal Appraisals and Identification

 If all you need is an idea of what your instrument or bow is and what it's worth, when possible, we will spend a few minutes with you and the instrument and give you our best opinion, at no charge.*
  • Saturdays and weekdays around the noon hour are our busiest times and there might be a longer wait, or we might even be unable to spend time with you then. It's a good idea to call ahead to see if it's a good time for a free verbal appraisal.
Please read "Your Heirloom Instrument" below, before bringing in a family or 'found' instrument.
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*If the time you need us to spend on a free verbal appraisal goes beyond 5–10 minutes, we may tell you that we will have to charge for additional time; in that case we will tell you what the charge will be and secure your consent before we continue.

Your Heirloom Instrument or Bow
If you have an instrument that has been in the family for a long time, or if you have found one that you think might be old and/or valuable, you are right to want to know what the instrument is worth. Once in a while, a long-stored or "found" instrument will turn out to be better than average. But you need to be aware that in most cases, these instruments are not of great value, despite any labels or apparent age.

Around the turn of the 20th century, many stringed-instrument factories in Europe labeled their mass-market instruments to identify the master instruments (Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri, etc., and year) on which the models were based. As far as we can tell, there was no (or little) intent to defraud the public; at the time it was generally understood that these were inexpensive, mass-market instruments and that the labels were simply to identify the models followed.

Now, however, the public is not generally aware of that labeling practice. Many of us watch "Antiques Roadshow" (we do!) and know that sometimes, unknown treasures are handed down in families or found at a bargain price. So when people find an ​heirloom instrument in a
closet or attic, or find a labeled instrument at an estate sale, of course their hopes go up.

​By all means, bring your heirloom instrument to us or take it to another reputable shop for a verbal appraisal. While your chances of having an important master instrument are slim, it's certainly possible that your ancestor had a good instrument that has appreciated in value. If the instrument turns out to be better than average, you may want to get another opinion and/or have us or another shop do an insurance appraisal. In the unlikely event of an important instrument "find," the appraiser should suggest having the instrument certified. (We do not certify instruments; only a few top experts worldwide can do that, but we can refer you to them.)

Be careful!
If someone appraises your instrument as being of low value, but seems anxious to buy it from you on the spot, please go to another appraiser for a second opinion. Your instrument may be of greater value than they are telling you. We aren't aware of this occurring often, but we regret to say that we have heard of it happening.
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