Selling 3/4 violin in London - any advice?

[deepflatflyer]

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.

Surely there is a specialist shop that buys and sells 2nd hand violins where you can trade it or let them sell for a commission? There is one in Blackpool but rather far from you!

I'm hoping for personal recommendations from people who know somewhere, which is why I've posted. Random googling hasn't turned up many leads.

There are a couple of luthiers in SE London who might well be able to help depending on where exactly you are

Hmmm I wonder if the Blackpool place would have a recommendation in London? TBF I know the post violins 😱

Breitwood & Nietzert say they do sometimes buy/sell so I'll contact them but I recall they're a bit snooty. Suspect the same might go for the other places that deal with mega-bucks instruments.

I've looked at some of the luthier websites and they don't mention sales but I guess I could ask advice.

I asked Stringers when I got in touch about hiring a full-size from them and they didn't reply - only interested in selling to me.

I've told my son we have to sell at least one of the old ones before we can shell out for a full size so in the meantime we've been renting a 4/4 Stentor Student from Chimes. Does the job but he finds it limiting...!

Perhaps it is worth a trip to classy Blackpool then 😂 ask what 4/4 they have in stock and see if anything interests you that would make it worth going up in person?

Thwaites in Watford might be able to help.

When DD went to a full size one the shop took her 3\4 as part payment- would that be an option?

It would probably be worth a call to Northcote Music Shop (Northcote Road SW11) as I know they source and sell violins and it's an area with loads of children.

Oooh wondering how I've mussed the one in Northcote Rd as I'm up that way for work sometimes. That might be interesting - well-heeled area.

If somewhere could flog us a 4/4 size with 3/4 size in part payment I'd be delighted. Probably too much to hope for!!

DS would love a weekend in Blackpool I'm sure ... That'd be fun!

Perhaps the approach is finding a 4/4 you want and then asking them to do part X? Certainly worth a go!

It's finding places that do that though, Random - harder than you might think. Especially with an instrument of that price/size - it's a bit niche.

I would second Thwaites as mentioned by a PP. I've been a customer for 40 years! They always bought back instruments at a fair price. Although it's a long time since I last did that... I haven't had such a good experience elsewhere eg we bought a 1/2 size cello for DS, when we went back to the same dealer a year later and asked to part exchange it against his new 3/4 size, they only offered us a third of what we had paid for it (it was, like yours, an older, better quality instrument).

Although, as with anything, you will get a far better price if you sell privately. Try asking your DS's teacher and at local music schools/groups to see if anyone is looking for a 3/4 size violin.

Also, have a look at the Benslow Music Trust in Hitchin, if you need to hire an instrument in the meantime or as an alternative to buying. They hire good quality instruments (£3k+) to talented students for an annual fee of 5% of the value of the instrument. If you do do that, you might consider loaning them your 3/4 size. I think they ask you to commit to loaning (not hiring) for at least 3 years.

As I said in my original post I've tried via the private routes (local hub / local teachers) and no luck. We don't live in an area where people would spend more than a couple of hundred quid on a child's instrument and that won't change. I'd rather sell it through a dealer for less and not have the hassle. I realise it may take a while which is fine - but need to get started!

Watford also a bit far for me I think but I'll contact thwaites and see what they say.

I was thinking more of places like the London NCO Junior Orchestra, the string training programmes at the conservatoires, or Colourstrings where there are more likely to be young children of a high standard who need a better quality small size instrument. I know instruments used to get sold on between pupils when we were involved.

I thought briefly about Benslow but not sure my DS is worthy of such an instrument. Violin is no longer his first instrument (he's a brass player too) but he wants to keep it ticking over as he enjoys his various youth orchestras. And I guess our £600-700 3/4 size is not good enough to offer to Benslow? Although I'll give it a go!

runoutof: ah I see. yes that's the kind of clientele isn't it?

We acquired the violin (and the 1/2 size before it) from a friend of DS's violin teacher whose son is a couple of years older. She was lucky to have found me so easily. Twice. And she was going on to get one from Benslow.

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.

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

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.

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!

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!)