Category: Appraisal Scene Investigation

Hard to Find Comparable Sale  Rebecca Apodaca © 2010 In authenticating and appraising instruments, we run into variations of a model. In the freedom in creating a new model, there are parts from the prior year that are melded into next year’s models. All parts are not discarded off the assembly line on December 31… Continue reading “It Takes an Industry”

by Rebecca Apodaca 2010 © This is a common question that music stores are asked. In reality, here in the USA, the word “fiddle” is a nickname for a violin. Bass Fiddle or Bull Fiddle is a nickname for a Double Bass. Around the world, the term “fiddle” is classified as any bowed lute. Folk… Continue reading “What is the difference between a violin and a fiddle?”

The J.B. Velluame/Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume Violin Vell-ah-meh Vee- yohm by Rebecca Apodaca © 2010 In 2005, I received a violin from an elderly woman who wanted an appraisal and restoration for a violin that she was giving a relative. She had a great story of provenance (history of ownership). There was a letter from 1964 between… Continue reading “Grandma says it’s a Stradivarius”

Ukulele, Ukulin, Ukele, Guituke, Polk-a-lay-lee, Treholipee …. What the Hey! The Ukulele is a fun take along instrument for any occasion. The ukulele came from Portugal. They were originally called Cavaquinho, Machête or the Braguinha and were carried by Portuguese sailors to the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiians started producing their own, and called them ukuleles… Continue reading Ukulele

by Rebecca Apodaca IDENTIFICATION By 1991 I had been repairing guitars for 30 years when guitar collector, Ron Catano contacted me. Ron recommended that “Guitar Slinger”, Carlos Figueroa have me check out a guitar he had owned since 1965. I had just finished my first complete restoration of a two-tone smoke green Gretsch Anniversary model… Continue reading Gent Fig Story – 1962 Gretsch Country Gentleman