Extremely rare 10 string guitar by Antonio Stradivari, 1688.

rze99

I was at the Ashmolean Museum today in Oxford for a (superb) "Last Supper in Pompeii" exhibition of artifacts and art from the Pompeii site, loaned by the Museum of Naples. That has some extraordinary and beautiful site finds and art. Well worth a visit if you have any interest in antiquity and are able to visit the area.

While there I visited some of the rest of the Ashmolean and the exhibition of early and rare instruments is exceptional.

They have the earliest ever dated violin, for example, and a number of unique instruments that are hybrids of what we know today as violas, violins and cellos.

Anyway, I was struck by the small collection of rare early guitars. How about this - an extremely rare 10 string guitar by Antonio Stradivari, 1688. I had no idea such a thing existed.

Here are some quick phone snaps.




the Stradivari is third from the left



 

mart

Funnily enough, we were just there on Saturday escaping the rain. The guitars were quite impressive.

prlgmnr

I found one of those in the attic the other day

ICBM

Bit of a Friday afternoon job... four-piece back obviously lashed up from narrower pieces intended for violins! Tuning pegs are a bit off-kilter too.

Tikibird44

Pegs off a Firebird, bet you get neck dive!

CasperCaster

Does it Djent? 

ICBM

CasperCaster said:

Does it Djent? 

It’s got an Ace Of Spades motif on it, so possibly!

guitars4you

Harley Benton are having thoughts of a replica - And only £129

Moominpapa

guitars4you said:

Harley Benton are having thoughts of a replica - And only £129

Yeah, but you'd have to change the  .... oh 

NelsonP

Moominpapa said:

guitars4you said:

Harley Benton are having thoughts of a replica - And only £129

Yeah, but you'd have to change the  .... oh 

Tuning pegs?

Kittyfrisk

Very nice.
Although I think I prefer the early Schecter beside the Stradivari 

RaymondLin

This is how you play authentic.

ICBM

RaymondLin said:

This is how you play authentic.

Can't be, it has a jointed headstock and no evidence it's ever broken off. Not nitro finish either.

merlin

All this reminds me (as so many things do) of the Spike Milligan short story called -"The Violin". Read it if you can, it may be the best 10 minutes you ever spend..... 

Kittyfrisk

merlin said:

All this reminds me (as so many things do) of the Spike Milligan short story called -"The Violin". Read it if you can, it may be the best 10 minutes you ever spend..... 

But was that not a Nicolo Amati 
Kudos for remembering such a great piece from a great bloke.

mbe

Wear a 10 gallon hat to play 10 Green Bottles on a 10 string guitar for 10 minutes outside number 10 Downing Street. Just sayin'

thebreeze

Trades?

Mark1960

Does it come with a case?