Warbird Information Exchange

....maybe they shouldn't let violinists play rare fiddles either?

Ouch!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080214/ap_ ... red_fiddle

David Garrett, a former model who has been called the David Beckham of the classical scene, said he tripped while carrying his 18th century violin as he was leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance, smashing it to bits.

"I had it over my shoulder in its case and I fell down a concrete flight of stairs backward," Garrett said Thursday. "When I opened the case, much of my G.B. Guadagnini had been crushed."

Garrett said he bought the 1772 violin for $1 million in 2003, and he is now hoping to get it repaired in New York, where he is based.

Can you say "dataplate restoration"?

He just crashed his Mustang (Guadagnini), so now someone loans him their Spitfire (Stradivarius)? Sounds like a risky loan to me!

And what didn't he keep that instrument in a metal hangar?

I think the same. I wouldn't be carrying a million dollar violin so casually like that. And what if he was robbed? No offense, but how stupid can one be? I would ABSOLUTELY NEVER EVER lend him ANYTHING. It’s like:

- “Hi David! What’s up with that sad face mate?”
- “Oh, I broke my ONE MILLION DOLLARS, 18th century made violin. Can you believe I fell and broke it?”
- “Duhh. No!"
- “Well, yes I did! And by the way, can you lend me your Stradivarius?”
- “Ohh, sure! I’m on my way to Mars… yes, yes THE planet… and when I come back you can have it, ok!”

I think I would have had a case made for that thing that would protect it from a small thermo nuclear device.