So... do you have a broken violin laying around?

OpalCat · #1 05-12-2008, 12:55 PM

I'm about to start an art project that requires me to have a violin cut in half. I'm trying to find the cheapest way to acquire a violin and it seems like finding someone who has one that is already in non-playable condition would be the way to go. So...anybody?

WordMan · #2 05-12-2008, 02:47 PM

Call instrument rental, repair shops? Pawn shops? Antique collectives or other rummage-y type of places?

Best of luck - I look forward to hearing about / seeing the project...

gotpasswords · #3 05-12-2008, 05:07 PM

Other than "cheap as possible" what's the budget?

A quick search on ebay for the terms violin repair (Search title and description) bring up a range of violins from beat to death and cheap on up to valuable instruments ready to restore. Even better - seach for violin project -cd to find the real basket cases that you won't feel bad about sawing in half. Here's one that's been bid up to $2.25. Or this "as-is" one for a buck.

GorillaMan · #4 05-12-2008, 05:29 PM

I did, a couple of weeks ago, dammit!

Go with WordMan's suggestion. Hit the telephone and you'll find one. Be creative if need be, think of anywhere which will have a dusty cupboard full of things which will never see use again. Or the eBay idea isn't bad - the first link, where 'the neck is at a bad angle and needs to be reset', suggests a repair several times the original value of that crappy instrument.

OpalCat · #5 05-12-2008, 06:19 PM

thanks for the idea gotpasswords. I had been searching ebay for violin damaged, violin broken etc, but I don't think I had "search descriptions" checked and most of what I was finding was over $50.

Budget wise I'm hoping to come in under $30.

Incidentally, you can find some really weird stuff on ebay: like this.

photopat · #6 05-12-2008, 06:34 PM

Opal,

There are a few non-broken violins on ebay that are pretty cheap. Knock offs that are in the twelve to twenty dollar range. Maybe you can find something that won't cost much to ship and just destroy it yourself?

rocking chair · #7 05-12-2008, 07:09 PM

i have an intact violin, the bow is broken.

i'm still looking for a new bow.

OpalCat · #8 05-12-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photopat

Opal,

There are a few non-broken violins on ebay that are pretty cheap. Knock offs that are in the twelve to twenty dollar range. Maybe you can find something that won't cost much to ship and just destroy it yourself?

Yeah, I know, I have auctionsniper set to bid on a few both broken and non-broken. Most of them really nail you on the shipping, though, so that's been the main thing. $9.99 violin, $30 shipping. Bah. I think everything I have in my bidgroup is set so that my bid + shipping is less than $35.

WarmNPrickly · #9 05-12-2008, 09:31 PM

Maybe. I'm going to wait until my wife isn't trying to sleep to make sure that it is definitely broken. I can probably give it to you for shipping plus some gas money since the post office isn't close. Also, I'll need to figure out how to ship it.

Your not going to melt cheese on it are you?

OpalCat · #10 05-12-2008, 11:03 PM

No cheese, I promise! It's going to be a painting of a violin that turns into a real violin sticking out of the canvas.

WarmNPrickly · #11 05-12-2008, 11:28 PM

I'll have to wait until tomorrow to check it out. If it as bad as I think, you can have it as far as I'm concerned. My wife may have another say, but she knows as well as I do that it's a piece of junk taking up space. I mean if were a remotely decent instrument I'd have it fixed, but even when it worked it was cheap. I suppose you don't want the case, bow and resin. I don't know if I have anything to ship it in.

si_blakely · #12 05-13-2008, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpalCat

No cheese, I promise! It's going to be a painting of a violin that turns into a real violin sticking out of the canvas.

Ah - not quite got the hang of Trompe-l'œil

I keed, I keed.

Good luck with the art project.

Si

WarmNPrickly · #13 05-13-2008, 08:00 PM

Sadly, when I checked my violin, it really looks like it only needs a little love. More importantly, when I suggested we didn't need it to my wife, she objected.

Good luck

mswas · #14 05-13-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpalCat

I'm about to start an art project that requires me to have a violin cut in half. I'm trying to find the cheapest way to acquire a violin and it seems like finding someone who has one that is already in non-playable condition would be the way to go. So...anybody?

Yes actually I think I do.

OpalCat · #15 05-13-2008, 08:37 PM

Do ya still need it? Someone emailed me off-board with one they're willing to part with but it's missing a few bits, and so if I can find one that's got all of its parts that would be better. If not I can probably figure out a way to fake it with the one that has stuff missing.

partyofpenguins · #16 06-01-2011, 09:14 PM

I have a violin broken right in half. If you still need one, how much would you pay for it?

panache45 · #17 06-02-2011, 01:09 AM

Do zombies play broken violins?

Musicat · #18 06-02-2011, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by partyofpenguins

I have a violin broken right in half. If you still need one, how much would you pay for it?

In 2008 dollars? Maybe her art project is done by now?

OpalCat · #19 06-02-2011, 09:14 AM

here it is

Beware of Doug · #20 06-02-2011, 09:52 AM

Before donating your broken fiddle to a (non-musical) art project, you might have a luthier take a look at it. I found an old German one in a recycling room that was later appraised at $2,000.