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Original poster

Selling 3/4 violin in London - any advice?

45 replies

deepflatflyer · 12/05/2019 18:10

I have a lovely 3/4 size violin to sell and don't quite how to go about it. I've tried the obvious places - via local teachers, and local music hub, local FB groups but no luck.

It's a lovely instrument about 100 years old. Gorgeous tone. Heartbroken that my son has grown out of it. Hoping to sell it for c.£600-700, to include case and 2 bows. I paid £700 for the package and he's only played it for about a year (due to growth spurt).

I think part of the problem is that it's on the expensive side for a beginner and better suited to someone like my son was 18 months ago: young/small but already Grade 5 and showing some aptitude for the instrument. Either that or someone who doesn't mind forking out that kind of money for a beginner, rather than going for a cheaper option.

We live in SE London.

(Oh and I've also got a Stentor Messina 1/2 size. And a Stentor Student 1/4 size. The corner of my bedroom looks like a violin graveyard)

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
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Original poster
deepflatflyer · 25/05/2019 23:26

Very good trip to Stringers today. Have a violin on trial and they offered a good deal part-exchange.

I took the viola player with me. We're not ready to buy yet and will shop around - DS currently has a school instrument so at least we're not trying to sell something. We got some great help and advice on sizes though - currently on a 16' which is right for him - and bought a new shoulder rest having tried a few while we were there. Makes me realise we'd rather neglected that since he started lessons. Not sure his teacher has paid much attention to how he's holding the instrument. So a useful trip!

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Pinkcloud3 · 23/05/2019 23:27

Don’t get viola from stringers! It is so overpriced and does not sound very nice. My daughter is a viola player, we tried Stringers and it was obvious the quality for the price is not great. Also appearance-vise it’s just a violin with a hole drilled into it for a thicker soundpost. I ordered a Gliga in the end, cheaper, more attractive and sounds so much better too!

cingolimama · 22/05/2019 18:29

I think (as does DD's teacher) that Stringers is wildly overpriced for what you get. They are essentially factory instruments, and you probably want to be looking for a handmade instrument. But why not go and see the violins, let your DC have a go - they will let you borrow it for a week or two and you could show the teacher. Try others in the meantime. FWIW, I highly recommend Cardiff Violins - they have hand made violins made in China by skilled luthiers and they have a lovely tone and are excellent value. They can courier a violin to you (I'm in London too, and have bought two violins from them).

Anyway, good luck!

Original poster
deepflatflyer · 22/05/2019 14:57

Has anyone bought a Symphony or Soloist violin outfit from Stringers? I'm going to try them out on Saturday, as Stringers have been very helpful so far by email and are interested in seeing the 3/4 size with a view to part-exchange. The instruments they're suggesting are in our price-range. Not top-notch, I know, but for a student/happy amateur I'm hoping it might suffice.

Also thinking similar for my other son who has recently started playing the viola (not his first instrument, so not having to remortgage the house for a viola....).

I've emailed all the other dealers people mentioned and nearly all have responded to suggest I go in to show them the violin. I think Stringers is the easiest to get to (particularly on public transport) so we'll try that avenue first. But good to have options - very grateful to Mumsnet members for their helpful suggestions!

OP posts:
Original poster
deepflatflyer · 21/05/2019 15:18

Pinkcloud3: I also have a 1/2 size Stentor Messina (I think that's one grade up from the Conservatoire?). It sounds good but maybe not good enough for Grade 5+??
I have some good leads now (really hoping for a part-exchange) but I need to get some emails written / make some phone calls!

OP posts:
Pinkcloud3 · 21/05/2019 15:01

It is quite scary to pay so much money for a violin from a private seller. On the other hand if you take it to the shop they will probably offer 200-300 pounds, because they need to make a profit.

It’s also very hard to find a good quality small instrument. I could not find any good 1/2 violin suitable for a grade 5+, so had to go with a stentor conservatoire and it sounds horrible... I am dreading the time when we will have to swap for a 1/3, I hate buying instruments.

NeleusTheStatue · 20/05/2019 21:29

Yes, it's true that good fractional violins are very difficult to sell. The best way to sell it at a reserved price would really be part exchange. We got paid £500 for our Old French 3/4 when we bought a full-sized violin in return. Originally it cost £600 so I was happy with the deal.

Moominmammacat · 19/05/2019 10:17

Good small instruments are notoriously hard to sell on except in part exchange. I got rid of one to a music hub. The rest are still gathering dust.

cingolimama · 15/05/2019 20:35

OP, the Junior Conservatoires in London are very happy to put up an ad for 3/4 violin. I did this for my DD's violin - Guildhall, RCM and RAM were all happy to do this - I emailed them an ad with a photo. Eventually I sold it to a Guildhall student.

MrsFogi · 14/05/2019 20:06

@deepflatflyer if you find a good teacher in the area I'd be very interested in their details, I need to find a new teacher too because my dd's is moving out of the area soon.

Pythonesque · 14/05/2019 10:32

Actually another possibility - slim maybe - is if your teacher knows anyone who needs a 3/4 but already has a full size they could do a short-term swap for. My parents actually did that for a year when I was on a 3/4, as family friends were able to loan us the 3/4 in return for my mother's violin for a while until they got their eldest her own full size.

Pythonesque · 14/05/2019 10:30

You could try emailing the london suzuki group via their website, and asking if they have any recommendations for selling instruments, or if they have any sort of for sale list they would be willing to put them on. If you were nearer Oxford there's 3 places I'd approach to value and/or sell a good 3/4. Though I admit I went further afield when I bought my son one some years ago - partly because he could definitely tell the difference that a £600 + instrument made and I was looking for something cheaper at the time ... I don't currently know anyone in the market for a good 3/4 otherwise I'd pm you!

Original poster
deepflatflyer · 13/05/2019 19:07

I think if you know what to look for on eBay then you can be lucky but I've seen some absolute shockers. ..

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minisnowballs · 13/05/2019 18:25

Deepflatfryer, my older dd plays s 3/4 that I bought for £35 on eBay I'm afraid. But it's an old Michael Poller that sounds rather lovely, even according to her picky teacher (and has already sustained a crack whilst in the music cupboard at school so I am glad it's not a pricey one).

But I did spend £95 on a flute service the other day (and it's not even OUR flute) so I can hardly really complain.

RandomMess · 13/05/2019 13:09

Even my DD who is a novice player at 14 could tell the difference between 2nd hand ones at £150 to £250!!!

If she would actually play as part of an ensemble or take exams I would have spent more, I hope she carries on enough that I end up grading.

My eldest took up drums the most basic electronic kit "worth" having was £600 15 years ago, kept its value though when she finally switched to an acoustic years later!

Original poster
deepflatflyer · 13/05/2019 10:02

minisnowballs: I had a look at John Procter's website (having picked up his name from another Mumsnet thread about a cello!) but it didn't look like he sells. But obviously not the case, so I'll get in touch as it's not too far from us!

Prices are eye-watering, I agree (I'm a cellist ....). But, equally, if I were to mention to anyone local that I'm selling a small violin for £600 they would look at me like I was mad. I've had many conversations with other parents at the school gate who do not understand why I dress so badly, drive a 15 year old car, and yet spend so much on instruments. They would buy expensive designer handbags, and give their kids expensive gadgets, yet buy a violin for £25 from eBay and wonder why it's crap (I used to help out at the school orchestras and some of the violins made me want to cry). Sorry, that's not meant to sound judgemental but I need to tap into a market that understands the worth/cost of musical instruments and it won't happen in the immediate vicinity!

I have a friend who goes to CYM so I'll see if she knows if I can get a note on a noticeboard!

OP posts:
ThreeRandomWords · 13/05/2019 09:32

Try T.A.Craig in Sevenoaks?

craigviolins.com/services/#buying

PetraDelphiki · 13/05/2019 09:30

Old violin workshop in Hampton are really good!

minisnowballs · 13/05/2019 09:25

Hi, I'm also in SE London. John Procter - who is a luthier in Nunhead, seems to sell instruments? He certainly had small cellos to offer when I was looking for my younger daughter. DD2s music school (CYM) in Waterloo, often has eyewateringly expensive (to my uneducated eyes) small instruments for sale via the noticeboards - there were violin bows for sale for much more than you want for your violin on there recently? Certainly there are kids at high standards on very small violins there (again to my untutored eyes and ears!) Might be worth a try?

Original poster
deepflatflyer · 13/05/2019 09:00

thirdfiddle: I frequently come to the conclusion that London really isn't the best place for music shops. We regularly commute to Chesham for the brass instruments!

I really don't fancy eBay. I've heard that you don't get much back on the cost of a Stentor. It would be nice to get the 1/2 size Messina into the hands of someone who would like it, as that's a really lovely instrument and I don't think they make many 1/2 size in that range. I think we've decided to keep the 1/4 size just for novelty value as it's so cute (and actually needs some work doing to it, so probably not worth trying to sell it!)

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Original poster
deepflatflyer · 13/05/2019 08:55

runoutofnamechanges: he is a very musical kid but he's also very stubborn! He started out on the violin, made steady progress, did Grade 5 just before he left primary school almost a year ago. He started another instrument in Year 5/6 and has flown with it and it's now become his first instrument. I really want him to carry on with the violin as he plays really well (particularly in ensembles) and - deep down - he does enjoy it. He's just not massively motivated anymore. I would feel a bit bad about him having a wonderful instrument that should really be in the hands of a child who is more dedicated. But I'll definitely look into it. Good to have a number of options.

MrsFogi: I know Rob Bray at Bray Strings quite well, as he runs a holiday course my kids have attended a lot over the years. And I sometimes play in an orchestra with him and his wife. I'm sure I've asked him before and he didn't seem able to help but I'll email him again. I'll be sure to say he's been mentioned on a forum ....! I was thinking of getting in touch with him anyway for advice as I will need a new violin teacher come September ... that's another big thing on my list to sort out!!!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

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runoutofnamechanges · 12/05/2019 23:55

I don't see why your DS wouldn't be worthy of a Benslow instrument! If he's grade 5 on his second instrument at an age when he is small enough to only just be moving onto a full size instrument, he must be pretty talented.

I don't know if they would be interested in your 3/4 violin but as smaller instruments are worth a lot less than similar quality full size ones, the £3k minimum value doesn't apply. Regardless, it would be a nice gesture to offer it if you are going to borrow from them.

MrsFogi · 12/05/2019 23:23

You could give Stringers in Lisson Grove or Bray Strings a call.

thirdfiddle · 12/05/2019 23:20

Stentors seem to do a brisk trade on eBay, so that may be quickest way to deal with the smaller ones.

I'd probably start by getting the 3/4 valued to give you some idea what its current worth is given you got it in a private sale. I don't think it's particularly unusual to want a decent instrument by the time you get to a 3/4, but everyone i know who has nice 3/4s has bought them from a shop (to have a range of choice, option to take home and try for a week, show to teacher etc) or like you via teacher. I would be surprised if advertising to strangers were a successful strategy even where there are lots of people looking.

I think your best options would be part exchange; or leave with a shop to sell on your behalf for commission. Might mean going to smaller shops or outside London rather than big names (hopefully other posters can advise, I'm not in London). If you just want rid of it, you could put it into an instrument auction - that's where dealers tend to get their instruments from.

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