What’s the first word that strikes one’s mind when they hear the word Music? For some, it’s an unfailing way to convey emotions, and for others, it’s a valuable art form. With all the various genres of music available, there’s something for every type of listener.
And, then there are some incredible musicians who have made this planet a better place for all with their exceptional sounds. While a major portion of the credit goes to their natural skills, the instruments they play also contribute to their talent.
Over the decades, there are hundreds of instruments being made, but there are few exceptional instruments that are worth spending money on. They deserve to be preserved for memorable historical moments and there are many who consider these rare musical instruments as priceless.
This Music Day, find out the list of all those expensive and worthy instruments that cost millions of dollars.
Classical Guitar
Priced at: $122,500
Next to Antonio de Torres, Robert Bouchet is known to be the best guitar builder in the history of Classical guitar. During the second half of the 20th century, he had built an outstanding line of fine guitars and had thereby employed a revolutionary approach to guitar building. He had built only 154 instruments and left behind a precious legacy to the world of classic-guitar building.
This particular guitar bears the number 87 and was built in the same year as the Bouchet had played and owned by Karl Scheit. It is a true gem and by simply looking at it, the viewer could understand Bouchet’s artistic aspect.
From the elegant head to the well-shaped neck of the guitar, the brilliant rosette with all the fascinating colors, and the plantilla, this guitar is one-of-a-kind. All of this collectively creates a great work of art. The guitar is designed with 6 perfectly mended cracks on the top and the playability of the instrument is so perfect that the strings feel exceptionally vibrant as every tine unfolds with rich melody. In 2019 October, the guitar was sold for $122500 at a world auction.
2. Classical Guitar- Antonio de Torres
Priced at: $157,000
No name in the history of guitar making is more valuable and important than Antonio de Torres Jurado also referred to as Torres. He was a guitar maker whose sheer craftsmanship and intelligence made him one of the exceptional creators of classical guitar.
It was Torre’s skill that restored that faith in guitar’s versatility at a time when louder instruments were taking up space. He was a 19th-century Spanish guitar builder who has been credited for the invention of the modern classical guitar. Moreover, most of today’s acoustic guitars are formulated from his original designs.
The guitars that were made by Torres were so brilliant and superior to those of others that his examples changed the way people believed guitars were built. The revolution started in Spain and then it started to spread to the other parts of the world. The guitars have a clearly balanced, firm, and rounded tone that projects appropriately.
Soon his guitars were widely copied. Torre’s guitars were strung with basses of silk threads and gut trebles and were over-wound with silver. His later guitar instruments came fitted with mechanical tuners that are universally proclaimed as classical guitars today. The guitar was sold in 2017 October for $157000 at a world auction.
3. Violin—Giovanni Battista Ceruti
Priced at: $158,500
Giovanni Battista Ceruti was a famous Italian violin maker who is believed to have a straight connection to the grand tradition of the Cremonese master violin makers of the 18th century. He was most popular for his double basses, violins, and cellos. At the age of 40, he had quit the textile industry to teach himself how to build violins, which was definitely towards the end of 1796.
Many consider him as the founder of a violin-making industry whose instruments are still in demand for their high level of precision and craftsmanship. The violins produced a rich, even, and robust sound effect that instantly projected his brilliancy.
On 3 April 2009, one of Giovanni Battista Ceruti’s violins was sold for $158500 at a world auction whose authenticity and vintage were determined in a tree-ring analysis conducted in February 2009.
4. Viola da Gamba—Pieter Rombouts
Priced At: $2,12500
Built by Pieter Rombouts during the first half of the 18th century, Viola da gamba is one of the rarest musical instruments to have been ever made in the world. The instrument tends to be easily confused with a regular or standard viola and was mostly used during the Renaissance period. The instruments constructed by Pieter are well-considered even today and they reached the peak of their popularity during the 17th century.
Due to the instrument’s large dimensions, it is played between the legs or against the lap that gave birth to its name Viola da gamba, which actually means ‘Viola on the leg’. The instruments are available in multiple sizes and each of them corresponds to the various tones of the human voice.
The Viola da gambawas sold on 13th October. 2009 at a world auction at $212500.
5. Violin—Carlo Giuseppe Testore
Priced at: $218,500
Carlo Giuseppe Testore learned a major part of his craft from his teacher who produced beautiful musical instruments. Testore moved to Milan in 1697 and opened his own workshop as he continued to create violins, double basses, and cellos of exceptional qualities. Even though his craft was greatly influenced by Amati, Grancino, and Stradivari, he soon built his exclusive techniques by adding distinct features like the Testore scroll.
In today’s time, Carlo Giuseppe Testore is considered the most worthy luthier of his family who has left behind an incredible legacy of amazing sounding instruments and craftsmanship. His creations are still played by several classical musicians to date. The violins were sold at $218500 at a world auction.
6. Violoncello—Gennaro Gagliano
Priced at: $362,500
Hailing from a long lineage of Italian luthiers, Gennaro Gagliano is considered to be one of the finest violin-makers of all time. His musical instruments carry a personal character and are notably strong and full. The violins are modeled in a grand pattern and are not just a good player’s instrument but also a brilliant collector’s piece.
The violin was sold at $362500 at a world auction. It was expected to command a price between $20000 and $300000. An analysis was made on the materials and the designs that verified their authenticity. The designs were consistent.
7. Stratocaster guitar—Fender
Priced at: $9,59500
The Stratocaster guitar Fender is considered to be one of the most respected electric guitars in the Rock genre. This instrument was the choice for Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, and also Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was the personal favorite of Eric Clapton., who played it for a straight 15 years.
Its distinctive body shape became revolutionary during that period and the guitar introduced several innovative features that were rare for electric guitars during the mid-1950s. It was for the first time when an electric guitar didn’t resemble an acoustic guitar. The double-cutaway, offset waist, elongated horns, and the heavily contoured back portion, everything was specifically designed for a better balance.
The instrument was originally estimated to be of value $100000 to $150000 but was sold for $959500 at a world auction.
8. Lady Blunt Stradivarius Violin
Priced at: $15.9 million
The Lady Blunt Stradivarius Violin is one of the only two best-preserved Stradivari violins in existence. It is the second creation by Antania Stradivari and was built back in 1721. Even though the instrument has changed its possessor’s name quite a number of times, it gets its name for its owners.
Lady Anne Blunt, who was the British co-founder of the Crabbet Arabian Stud was the owner of this instrument. The precious violin maintains its original neck style and has been played very rarely. So far, the Lady Blunt Stradivarius Violin has been tagged as the most-preserved Stradivarius to be up for sale in the past centuries. It was finally sold off at $15.9 million at a private auction.
9. Duport Stradivarius Cello
Priced at: $20 million
The Duport Stradivarius Cello is another most valuable and worthy creations of the famous Antania Stradivari. The craftsman was famous all across Europe and several monarchs had requested him to craft instruments of their choice. And, the Duport Stradivarius Cello was one such instrument that was built on the request of a powerful man in that period.
The instrument was built in 1711 on a special request made by the French monarch King Louis XIV for his personal physician and after the death of the physician; the instrument was up for auction.
The magnificent musical instrument was in the possession of numerous artists during the 19th and the 20th century before it was finally put up for an auction when it was sold for a whopping price of $20 million. This remains to be one of the most expensive and valuable instruments to be ever sold.
10. MacDonald Stradivarius Viola
Priced at: $45 million
Violas are a bit different from violins when it comes to size and sound quality. Keeping that aside, both of them are quite identical. The MacDonald Stradivarius Viola is the titleholder of the most expensive musical instruments of all time.
The instrument has been named after one of its owners who belong to the 19th century is one of the only 10 Stradivarius violas which is intact even today. The MacDonald Stradivarius Viola was built in 1719 by one of the most renowned craftsmen in history named Antania Stradivari. Moreover, this era is considered to be the golden period of Antania Stradivari, as some of his most famous creations were built during this period.
Even though auctions were held to sell this magnificent instrument, it failed. If sold, then the Macdonald would be the most expensive instrument to be ever sold.