Went to a wood sale the other night and came home with a load of beautiful timbers for whistles. Unfortunately, I also discovered that I suffer from FOA ( fiddle obsessive etc). A guy there was showing his handmade violins which were just about the prettiest instruments I have ever seen.. My wife and I both play a bit, and are sorely tempted.. Anyone ever heard of Bradivarius violins? Check out Bradivarius.com
If they’re good enough for Natalie McMaster and Vassar Clements, they’re good enough for me! ( that third player on their site plays for the McKrells, a terrific local Celtic/Rock/Bluegrass group).
Bradivarius ? 
Beats Chieftain as far as capitalizing on someone’s else fame!
What’s next ? Steinweg pianos, Hopeland whistles, Honor accordeons ?
Bradivarius does capitalize on the Strad name, but his website does acknowlege this fact.
How much does he charge for his violins?
I just emailed him from the website. I’ll let you know what I find out. I mentioned the lack of info along these lines, so maybe he’ll get the hint. ~shrug~
-Tom
Be glad that we play whistles! The Bradavarius I was looking at goes for $2800 with a very nice case and bow. Actually, for a handmade instrument of this quality, that’s not too bad, but even the very best handmade whistles cost a ton less.
On 2002-11-01 08:29, Zubivka wrote:
Bradivarius ? >Beats Chieftain as far as capitalizing on someone’s else fame!
What’s next ? Steinweg pianos, Hopeland whistles, Honor accordeons ?
http://www.afvbm.com/strad.htm
"Since well before the turn of the twentieth century, manufacturers of violins, often nestled in the valleys of southern as well as western and eastern Germany, were producing tens of thousands of violins annually, labeled “Antonius Stradiuarius, Cremonenfis Faciebat Anno 17 " and had a circular embellishment on these labels which included a cross above the initials “A” and “S”. More often than not, the last two digits of the date were penciled or inked in by hand. Sometimes it was left blank…Millions of these instruments exist today.”
Hey brewerpaul, that violin is pretty inexpensive compared to a full set of uilleann pipes 
Hey brewerpaul, that violin is pretty inexpensive compared to a full set of uilleann pipes
That’s pretty inexpensive compared to a lot of violins as well - especially strads. last time I was in the festival hall, the back stage noticeboard had a little card on it advertising a violin for £80,000. That would be somewhere in the region of $140-160,000. Needless to say, it wasn’t a strad.
Jo.
Heard from Brad Higgins, who makes the Bradivarious violins:
"Hi Tom,
My violins range in price from $2500 - $4000, depending upon aesthetic extras, such as choice of woods, inlays, etc. It normally takes approximately two to three months from the time ordered. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me again or give me a call at (518) 632-5791. Thanks.
Take care,
Brad"
-Tom