FAS Tragedy

Subject: FAS Tragedy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:42 AM

A MUSICAL TRAGEDY.

A modestly priced instrument that would have perfectly suited me was recently sold at auction, with no advance notice that I saw; and I didn't get a chance to bid.

Oh well, I've still got my $95 Chinese fiddle, but the case worms ate all the hair off both my bows, and this one probably didn't come with a bow.

John

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 12:22 PM

Back when I played electric instruments I arrived 10 minutes too late to purchase an original gold topped Les Paul for $250.00

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:13 PM

...but what's FAS mean?

Acronymns make me feel so inadequate.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:27 PM

Foreign Agricultural Service?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Financial Accounting Standards?
Frozen at Sea?

I agree, Joe. I find I've been having to look up too many acronyms lately. And I don't find any easy winners for this one.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:33 PM

I don't, as you know, indulge as a rule in such locutions on this chaste forum: but could he conceivably have meant 'Fuck & Shit'?

Just a thought...

~M~

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Arkie
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:10 PM

Don't know what FAS is but if $16 million is modestly priced for John, it would appear folk musicians are paid a little more handsomely in Kansas than in Arkansas.

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:58 PM

Unlike many of us good-for-nothings, I think John has a day job there in Kansas, poor guy....

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 12:10 AM

GAS = Guitar Acquisition Syndrome

OBVIOUSLY

FAS = Fiddle Acquisition Syndrome

Context is everything, of course. Since so few here actually look at the links before they start yappin' I figured the possibly slightly ambiguous reference might suggest that they might be able to put it all together by lookin' to see what it was about. I guess I was wrong.(?)

I was also hoping that those who've heard me play mine (back when I had a bow) might be encouraged to offer some "payoff" to distract me from thinking about getting another one - or at least about getting a usable bow; but apparently she's smarter than the rest of y'all so that ain't worked either.

John

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 12:25 AM

Ha! Jeeze, should've known that one. Fiddlers seem to be more serially monogamous about the process, which makes it less obtrusive than for those subject to GAS, MAS, or BAS, though.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 12:43 AM

I dunno, John. You start throwing around acronyms like that, and people are going to think you sound like a Brit. Don't they have loyalty investigations in your Great State of Kansas?

Sometimes I suffer from HAS (Harmonica Acquisition Syndrome), a much cheaper malady...

-Joe-

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: gnomad
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 03:13 AM

If only there had been a matching pair (can't have the chimney-piece looking unbalanced y'know) OK I don't play, but I hope that the new owner either does so, or arranges for a good player to use it.

I can't speak for all the UK, but this bit would be honoured to take JiK under our collective wing. He is one of the good guys, and I knew what he was getting at.

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Kampervan
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 03:26 AM

Come on, get real, what fool pays that sort of money for something that's 300 years old?

And it was foreign!

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 03:28 AM

They tell me that the good thing about FAS, compared to GAS, is that instead of always wanting another one most fiddlers suffering their form of the ailment just persistently want one BETTER one.

Actually, Joe, the couple of fiddles I've refurbished (the local shop says "butchered" but he's in it to make a profit) each cost me less than what I have paid for a harmonica. I managed to make a couple of garage sale screech boxes each good enough for s couple of years of school use for about $20 apiece within the past few years, and recollection is that my Hohner chromatic cost me a little over $32 back when I was 12 or 13 years old (when a Marine Band was about $2.50?).

If the disease is bad enough, it'll eat everything you've got regardless of what causes it.

I haven't gotten around to looking up "Lady Blunt" but the price it went for seems a little on the low side for a Strad of that (reputed) quality - especially in a charity auction. There are a few around with equal "name value" that have peculiarities that reduce the market value, but my recollection (probably wrong - I haven't had the books out for a while) is that this one is one of the more respected survivors.

There is a fairly wide range in valuation even for Strads, since they're not all really perfect and some have had less than perfect modifications. (ALL - with one possible exception - have had the necks reset to accomodate modern bows, so there really aren't any "historically original" Strads to be had except the one in my auntie's cousin's daughter's attic, of course - and she's saving it for her daughter to use in the Jr. Hi. orchestra.)

John

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 11:18 PM

Sorry you missed the auction, John, but don't worry. I'll let you borrow it on weekends.
- Phil

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: GUEST,Noreen at work
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 04:54 AM

'hardly used' ? That's a sin!

Or maybe they thought it would increase the value to say that- like 'one careful lady owner'?

:)

Subject: RE: FAS Tragedy
From: terrier
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 05:29 AM

Sign of the times when a good instrument can't get a decent price at auction, I wonder what it would have fetched if there was not a recession in progress? Obviously a worthwile 'nest egg' for the new recipient.
FAD, MAD, GAD.. that's the brit version (instrument) aquisition dissorder, we don't do SINdromes in britland ;)