Musical instrument comes with a price. It is never cheap to own a professional-grade model whatever musical instrument it may be. Like owning a car, it needs regular maintenance and setup that add up to the total cost of owning one. However, there are musical instruments that have gone over the top and can be worth a lavish house and sports car. These are either owned by a legendary musician, made by a 300 year old master craftsman, or inlaid with precious stones and gold.
If you’ve been always interested about the world’s most luxurious items, here’s a list of musical instruments that are expensive enough to blow your mind!
1. “Lady Blunt” Stradivarius Violin
Price: $15.9 million, sold in 2011
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons by Violachick68
The diamond of musical instruments is actually a 300+ year old violin made by the world’s greatest luthier of all time, Antonio Stradivari. Instruments made by Stradivari create unmatchable sound quality. And for such reason, it has been subject to many scientific researches in hope of explaining why his violin sounds so beautiful.
Only a few hundreds survive to this day and some of them are housed in museums. But one Stradivarius violin, the ‘Lady Blunt Violin’ was sold with a staggering price tag of $15.9 million in 2011. That’s worth a number of castles in the UK.
2. Guarneri del Gesù Violin
Price: $3.9 million, sold: 2007
Image Source: Wikipedia
Made by the grandson of Stradivari’s apprentice, a “del Gesu” violin has a price tag that matches that of a Stradivarius. Giuseppe Guarnieri is also a legendary luthier who created sought after string instruments.
In 2007, one “Guarneri del Gesu” violin was sold for a price of $3.9 million. And in 2011, another of his violin was marketed for a price of $18 million but was sold at an undisclosed price. As such, the title for the most expensive, between Stradivari and Guarneri, is still an ongoing debate.
3. Pipe Organ
Average Price: $600,000
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons by Jorge Royan
Church pipe organ at St Marienkirche. Berlin, Germany Image
Only churches have pipe organs, but still it is good to include this massive and expensive instrument in this list. While there are no Stradivari or Guarneri pipe organs, the price for just any pipe organ is very hefty and staggering. The price ranges between $200,000 and $800,000, enough to buy a brand new Ferrari and a Lamborghini.
4. Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster
Price: $2.7 million, sold 2005
Image Source: Pinterest
Fender Stratocaster is one of the premier guitar models every guitarist love. Jimi Hendrix played with a Stratocaster, so did Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, and Mark Knopfler. But one Stratocaster unit stands out among other models, the “Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster”, which sold in Qatar for a price of $2.7 million, back in 2005.
It is an all-white model signed by 19 popular and legendary rock artists including Mick Jagger, Bryan Adams, Sting, Paul McCartney and the previously mentioned artists. It was auctioned for a charity to help Tsunami stricken people in Asia, hence the name.
5. Charlie Parker’s Saxophone
Price: $30,000 – $35,000
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons by William P. Gottlieb
Charlie Parker is one of the most influential saxophonists and a legend in jazz music. The saxophone he owned is also legendary for its price. In 2012, it was sold in an auction ranging between $30,000 and $35,000. This is thrice the price of a saxophone for professional players.
6. Ritter Royal Flora Aurum Bass Guitar
Price: $250,000
Image Source: Pinterest
A bass guitar with a 10,000-year-old mammoth ivory? Why not. This bass guitar built by Jens Ritter makes use of material that will blow bass guitar built by Jens Ritter makes use of material that will blow your mind. The body is carved from a solid piece of maple wood while the fingerboard is inlaid with 24 karat gold. The nut, on the other hand, is carved from 10,000-year-old mammoth ivory. The bridge, tuner, and knobs are all cast in gold and the latter are studded with 3 karat diamonds. With such precious stones, gold and bone fossil, this bass guitar are perhaps justifiably priced.
7. OM-45 Deluxe Guitar by Martin
Price: $554,500, sold 2009
Image Source: Pinterest
This guitar model made by C.F Martin and Co. is only a few dozen in this world. It was produced in 1930 and one piece came to the hands of “The King of the Cowboys”, Roy Rogers. Still, surviving pieces are priced between $60,000 and $100,000 depending on the condition. But Roy Roger’s model was sold for $554,500 at an auction by the museum dedicated to his life.
8. Viola by Gasparo Bertolotti da Salo
Price: $542,000
Image Source: Pinterest
Gasparo Bertolotti da Salo (1542-1609) is a priced name in the industry of classical music. He’s one of the first violin makers in the world. To say that his works are placed among the caliber of Stradivarius and Guarneri del Gesu is an understatement. In his 40 years of craftsmanship, he only made no more than 100 instruments. Due to his fine and quality design, this almost half millennium year old instruments are still in working condition and priced at about $542,000 at an auction.
9. Ringo Starr’s Drum set
Price: $2.4 million
Image Source: Pinterest
Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit is currently a record holder for the most expensive drum kit ever sold. The Beatles’ drummer used this drum set for over 200 performances since 1962 and is popularly identified to be used in the hit songs “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
10. Crystal Piano, Heintzman
Price: $3.22 million
Image Source: Pinterest
First played by Lang Lang in the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, this unique grand piano is currently the world’s most expensive. It is created by one of the foremost piano manufacturer Heintzman and features glistening crystal body, pedals, and frame. Due to its unique design and fame as the Beijing Olympics’ piano, it sold at an auction for a sum of $3.22 million and even outpriced John Lennon’s piano and Kuhn Bösendorfer Grand Piano which is studded with polished jewels and gold.
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