I managed the Mac environment at Christie's Auction House in NYC for a couple years. I remember a musical instruments auction that left me in tears. Imagine a huge, open room in Rockefeller Center, with a long table filled with many Stradivarius violins and other very rare and very expensive instruments.
I remember watching as world famous classical musicians (who were properly cleared and escorted; and in a few cases invited by very rich buyers who wanted the comfort of knowing the instrument they were about to invest in was the real deal) would pick up the violins and play a few notes on them. On the opening day of the auction two very famous violinists on opposite sides of the room played at the same time - staff insisted it was completely impromptu and unplanned - I have to admit I cried (don't laugh, so did many other Christie's staff!).
The practical side of me doesn't doubt for a minute whether the same two musicians could have played as wonderfully using less expensive, less rare and less famous instruments. The emotional side of me is convinced their heart wouldn not have been as much into it if they were holding any other voilin, and I really believe it made a difference in thier music.
So here we have a Balabuska on eBay, going for a whole lot of money. Do I think it's worth it? That's a question I'll leave to the buyer, it really is as valuable as the person who buys it is convinced it is worth. Not because of monetary value, but instead for the same reason Stradivarius are so special, because the player will hold in his/her hands what many consider to be the perfect instrument. Good luck to the purchaser.
PS, Me, I can play just fine with a cheap'o stick...but ya know, if I had a few spare million dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I'd buy it and I'm sure I'll love it. It might even make me play better.
Poolmouse
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