Looking to buy a violin to have down here in TV........
 

I used to play the violin a fair amount when I was younger and now wish I had one down here when I escape from up north during the winter months. If you have one that you no longer play and are thinking of moving it along to another, let me know. I'd be interested in buying it. Let me know details if you know what you'd like to do. No rush, as it's a curious idea I've had every year I come down to my villa. Just trying to start those hobbies and interests I used to do alot when I was younger. Thanks and have a great Christmas or Hanukkah holiday.

Not a violin, but I have a viola I haven’t played in many years that I’d like to sell. 15 inch size. Marked Guitenbach 1760. So 250 years old. If interested, pm me.

I've never heard of Guitenbach. I google searched, and saw a reference to Giovanni Guidanti, who died in 1760 and took over from what some believe might've been his father, Floriano Guidanti, who died in 1715. But I don't believe Guidanti made any instruments after 1750, and it wasn't the name of a company or manufacturer.

I only found one Guidanti viola sold in 1987, and it went for well over $30,000.

It's not likely that you have an authentic Guidanti and if you did, you probably would want to get it appraised for insurance purposes, at the very least.

If it was a Guadagnini (also an Italian luthier during that general time period), you'd want it insured, and protected against warping and dust mites. It could be worth over $1M.

Edited to add: I have a general educational interest because I played viola for several years and my teacher was a Maestro who owned a Stradavarius and a Guadagnini violin. I didn't own my own viola and he would let me practice on one of his - made by a German luthier in the 1800's. He collected them.

I had an appraiser look at it between moved here. Value is nowhere near what you are suggesting. Full marking is
DAVID-CHR-HOPF
GUITENBACH-1760

Happy to let you look at it. It needs new strings and a case. The bow should be re-haired.

You should have it appraised by someone who specializes in antique stringed instruments. David Christian Hopf, a master German luthier, would have been making violins during 1760. You are either misreading the marking, or it is worn, or it is fake. It wouldn't be "Guitenbach" it would be "Quittenbach" - with two T's, and a Q rather than a G. Here's a website that has a picture of a Hopf viola that was sold (you won't find the sales price - fine instrument sellers don't typically list prices).

https://www.benningviolins.com/Fine-...opf-viola.html

This was a smaller one but it has Hopf's typical lines - a wide lower bell shaped belly, with a somewhat squared top, and the whole thing has a yellowish tint to it. Rounded back.

If you just want a "serviceable" violin to play around with, you could pick up a Bunnell on Amazon for under $400. Or you could go for a Yamaha, but they start around $700 and go up from there. A DZ Stradavarius (not the actual antique master-luthier stuff, this is just the name of the company) would go for a few thousand and up.

If you want something cheap just to get back to the feel of playing, you can get an Eastel or a Mendini on Amazon for under $200. Pretty sure they're crap but if you're not looking to get into an orchestra or become the next Lindsay Stirling they'll probably do fine.