You never actually own a great instrument, you only take care of it for the next generation of musicians.

Having said this, finding a suitable instrument or a bow can be a gruelling experience. A path littered potholes, bends, curves and crossroads you never would have imagined upon embarking. Stories come a dime a dozen, and so does advice on this subject.
Having said that, looking for an instrument can be a most rewarding experience.
We have got hooked into a loop of never-ending search for great intruments, and we hope to help you avoid all the issues one faces on this quest.

You can't imagine the amount of instruments we come in contact with of which only a few are "graded and selected" to achieve the standard we seek.
This process has little to do with the pricing of instruments, since every instrument runs through a series of testing stages.

1) "What is it?"-stage: Pictures and a condition report are the first things done. Cross-reference and expert consultancy are the next step. This is done with only the best in the field with a global level of reputation. All have written books on the subject, and are leaders in this field. We consult with them directly, as you may not have the ability to, and we are in constant connection with these experts to keep an ear to the ground on what is happening at the highest level in the vintage instrument business.
Scientific verification is the next step, often complementing the first stage. Determining the age of the wood and subtype of varnish.
Verification is done with every instrument, before it it is even considered.

2) "How is it?"-stage: Every instrument is subjected to rigourous testing by musicians. Sound adjustments, string configurations and the reaction in different surroundings are tried out. This is the stage where the character of the instrument is examined and recorded. Every instrument has it's own character and we really want to dig deep into that aspect since it is what the musician is interested most.

If an instrument is still in the game after all that we will feel conformable in making it public to an exclusive interest group. This process might take a bit more time in the initial phase, but saves time in the long run. What we offer is verified and tested; period. We have no interest in only offering "old violins... possibly Italian", as you can read on so many sites that proportedly are selling old violins, bows, and cellos.
This is the only way someone searching has a fair opportunity in comparing instruments. We seek to level the playing field (pardon the pun) in the decision finding process and to clarify the character of the instrument. Only then can be determined if you and the instrument match up through the same method, experts and procedures.
This match making is what we like doing best, and hope we can facilitate your next big love for you!

For further reading on how we do this, please see the following articles:

Dendrocronology
Varnish Analysis