What is over 300 years old, made of wood and worth millions of crowns? A Stradivari violin, of course! Or an antique guitar or cello.
Here's a list of some of the most expensive musical instruments in the world, and while they all have price tags of the juicier kind, most musicians would still sign off that they're worth every penny!
11. "Robert Bouchet" classical guitar
A Robert Bouchet guitar is rare and expensive enough - the famous French guitar maker made only 150 guitars during his lifetime. This unique specimen bears not only Bouchet's signature, but also his address in Paris and the date when the guitar was built.
$ 122.500
10. Antonio de Torres, Classical Guitar
The modern classical guitar owes much to Antonio de Torres. The acoustic guitars produced today are still based on the instruments they were built in the 19th century. He must have known he was on to something big, because he started signing his creations in 1871. Ironically, however, the guitars built before 1871 are the most sought after. In 2007, this model from 1864 sold at auction for $157,000.
9. Violin by Giovanni Battista Ceruti
Giovanni Batista Ceruti decided at the age of 40 to finally invest in his passion for musical instruments and violins in particular. Problems with access to good materials led Ceruti to settle for cheaper woods, which he compensated for with his detailed craftsmanship. It paid off in about 2009, when this example sold at auction for $158,500.
8. Viola da Gamba, Pieter Rombouts
The instruments of the viola da gamba family of strings are among the rarest in the world. The beauty of the violin sounds is world famous and Pieter Rombout's instruments are still used for recordings today. In 2009, one of the coveted violins was sold at auction for $212,500.
7. Violin, Carlo Giuseppe Testore
Carlo Giuseppe Testore made everything from violins to double basses and cellos. One of his violins, made in Milan in 1701, sold at auction a few years ago for $218,500.
6. Violoncello by Gennaro Galiano
Gennaro Gagliano came from a family that has always been involved in the manufacture of stringed instruments. The most expensive of his auctioned instruments is this cello from 1765.
$ 362.500
5. Viola by Gasparo Bertolotti da Salò
Anything that old and in good condition would warrant a high price. So think of what it is worth if it is also a viola built by a famous instrument maker with only 60 made. That explains the price of $542,000.
4. OM-45 Deluxe Acoustic Guitar from C.F. Martin and Co
Virtually all musicians know the guitarist C. F. Martin & Co, which has been providing the world with incredible instruments since the 19th century. In 1930, only 15 copies of the OM-45 Deluxe model were made, one of which belonged to western star Roy Roger. The guitar was housed for a time at the Roy Rogers Dale & Evans Museum in Missouri. In 2009, museum officials decided to sell their expensive items - and were duly paid $554,500 to be exact.
3. Fender Stratocaster Acoustic Guitar by Eric Clapton
Fender Stratocaster is one of the most famous guitar models in rock history. Some of the legendary artists who have used the instrument are Buddy Holly, Stevie Ray Vaughn and last but not least Jimi Hendrix. Eric Clapton's "Blackie" variant, which is really three different Stratos, was built in the 1950s and sold at a whopping $959,500.
2. The Hammer violin by Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari is known for producing the finest violins the world has ever seen. One of his creations belonged to a Swedish collector named Christian Hammer and changed hands a few times before being auctioned off in 2006 for over $3.5 million!
1.The Lady Blunt Stradivarius Violin
Imagine how rich he would have been if he had lived today, Antonio Stradivari. This violin, named after its first owner Lady Anne Blunt, was sold in 2011 at an amazing auction of 15.9 million US dollars in favor of the victim of the Japanese tsunami disaster.
$ 15 900 000
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Expensive