6 Most Expensive Instruments to Play
Musical instruments cost a pretty penny. From guitars to pianos, gifting them for yourself to learn, or for your kids during their music phases can be costly. But what about the most expensive instruments?
These are made by the finest crafters, with the most exquisite materials, and have been preserved over the years with very little wear and tear. If you’re a collector of the finest of instruments, then you might want to check out the violins and pianos that cost millions of dollars, like these most expensive instruments.
6. John Lennon’s Steinway Z Piano, $1.5 Million
First on the list of most expensive instruments to play comes from the amazing English singer, songwriter, and musician, John Lennon. He gained his fame from being the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist for the Beatles. And of course, anything owned by celebrities has a price for those that want to collect them.
John Lennon’s Steinway piano is one with a hefty price tag. Steinway & Sons is the brand of the piano, which is a German-American piano company founded in 1853 in New York City by piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg. The piano used by John Lenon was first purchased by Lennon in 1970 for only $1,082, but has was sold years later for a final bid of $1,569,000.
5. Hammer Stradivarius Violin, $3.54 Million
Stradivarius is a popular name when it comes to the most expensive instruments. He’s a well-known instrument crafter who has some of the most pristine, extravagant pieces, with only a few hundred left in the world. One of his most expensive instruments is the Hammer Stradivarius, an antique violin made during his golden period.
It received its name after Christain Hammer, a 19th-century Swedish collector who is its first recorded owner. It was recently sold at Christie’s auction in 2006 to an anonymous bidder for a substantial $3.54 million, a staggering price compared to the estimated value between $1.5 to $2.5 million.
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4. Lady Blunt Stradivarius Violin, $15.9 Million
Stradivarius is a popular name when it comes to the most expensive instruments. He’s a well-known instrument crafter who has some of the most pristine, extravagant pieces, with only a few hundred left in the world. One of his most expensive instruments is the Hammer Stradivarius, an antique violin made during his golden period.
It received its name after Christain Hammer, a 19th-century Swedish collector who is its first recorded owner. It was recently sold at Christie’s auction in 2006 to an anonymous bidder for a substantial $3.54 million, a staggering price compared to the estimated value between $1.5 to $2.5 million.
Check Out: Rare Musical Instruments and What They Do
3. Vieuxtemps Violin, $16 Million
The Vieuxtemps Giarmero Violin was created 250 years ago but is still in excellent condition. Crafted by renowned Italian instrument maker, Giuseppe Guarneri, in 1741, it’s one of the last built by him and gained its name after being owned by the Belgian 19th-century violinist Henri Vieuxtemps.
Guarneri is a rival of the amazing Antonio Stradivari, who is a frequent name on the list of most expensive instruments and is regarded with high respect for his most coveted instruments. Without any cracks and never requiring patching, the violin is in excellent shape for any collector, with the most recent purchase exceeding $16 million in 2013.
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2. Duport Stradivarius Cello, $20 Million
The 1711 Stradivari-crafted cello is one of the most expensive instruments that you can purchase, named after its one-time owner, 19th-century cellist Jean-Louis Duport. This cello in particular is extremely rare, with only 63 specific Stradivari cellos existing and surviving over the years.
The Duport was crafted during the Golden Period, between 1974 and 2007, and was played by the phenomenal cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich. Purchased by the Nippon Music Foundation, who are prolific Stradivarius Collectors, in 2008 for $20 million, despite the wear and tear rumored to be caused by Napoleon Bonaparte’s boots when Duport allowed Bonapart to handle the cello.
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1. MacDonald Stradivarius Viola, $45 Million
One of the most expensive instruments is also considered the world’s finest viola. The Stradivarius known as The MacDonald, sold through Sotheby’s in 2014 for $45 million. The viola was created by Antonio Stradivari in 1719 and has been preserved over the years. Stradivari was an Italian luthier and craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, violas, and harps.
It’s estimated that he produced 1,116 instruments, 960 of them being violins, but only 650 total instruments have survived over the years. Interestingly enough, though, this viola is extremely rare, with this being one of only ten of its unique kind ever made in his lifetime. Having an instrument made by Stradivarius is an extremely valuable item for any collection.
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