Oldie turned Goldie

Frank recently bought a violin on e-bay for around $50. It looked fine in the pictures, but the seller was selling it cheap because it was unlabeled. As it turns out, no one else wanted it, so we won the bid easy as a wink. It was discouraging, because there were several other violins that were sooo much more valuable that we got out-bid for. But I kept telling Frank that we would get the violins that were for us - no matter how worthless they seemed in comparison to other excellent buys.

We got the $50 piece of seemingly worthless wood, and I strung three strings on the pegs it came with. I noticed right away that the sound was potentially very good. The upper register was a little muted, but I knew that it was only because of the missing e-string. I was disappointed, however, by the fact that we were unable to find a peg to fit. After a lot of searching, we were able to determine that it was a custom piece; and after trying everything short of carving one ourselves we decided we would wait till we had $100 and take it up to Jan's place in Gainesville. Frank did notice that the label was carved on the back of the violin instead of the traditional label. It reads, "Lyon and Healy" and the year and country of origin were a complete mystery to us at that point.

So today, Frank made the effort and went up to Gainesville and got two pegs - one to replace a loose one, and one for the missing one. We spent $31 on $100 worth of work; the bridge was shaved down, the chin piece was adjusted, an e-string was strung, as well as the two pegs replaced. It sounds wonderful - big deep sound in the lower register, and a pleasant upper register without a ear piercing tinny that is so deja vu of every student model out there.

All things said and done, it is a French-made model made under the label of Lyon and Healy. It was made between the mid to late 1800's, in the city of Mirecourt. Our violin is valued at $6,000 and there is no way I will ever part with it! I enjoy playing violin, but I do not dare call myself a violinist. I am cellist at heart, and it a lot nearer to my heart than the violin has ever been. But this Lyon and Healy has such a great sound it is actually enjoyable to play. It is the classic oldie turned goldie story, except it finally happened to me. I own a valuable piece of history, all for $80 bucks; on a day that Frank randomly bid for an unlabeled instrument, on a violin that was meant for me all along.

Never reject anyone that looks undesirable like an old violin. You never know what's going to be underneath the varnish.

P.S. These next few sentences are specifically geared towards my mom and dad...

Just because Frank may not have been your "ideal choice" for the me, the cold hard fact is that we have been married for over 2 years, and I love him. I see him for who he is; a wonderful man who loves me more than I thought was humanly possible. I am not coming back, and I am more than happy where I am in life. Frank is a treasure that only gets better the longer we are together. And like that old violin that seemed ordinary yet turned out to be very valuable; Frank is a wonderful man that gets only better the more you get to know him. So why don't you two stop lying to yourselves and realize that we are together, he is a fantastic husband, and know that I am hanging on to my treasure.