When it comes to size and sound quality, violas are distinct from violins. Leaving that aside, they are nearly identical. The MacDonald Stradivarius Viola holds the record for being the most costly musical instrument ever made.

The viola was named after one of its 19th-century owners and is one of just ten Stradivarius violas that is still in good condition today. Antania Stradivari, one of history's most known craftsman, produced the MacDonald Stradivarius Viola in 1719. Furthermore, this is considered Antania Stradivari's golden period, as some of his most famous works were made during this time.

Despite holding auctions to sell this exquisite instrument, it was not successful. The Macdonald would be the most expensive instrument ever sold if it were to be marketed.

Price: $45 million

The Duport Stradivarius Cello is another of Antania Stradivari's most precious and honorable creations. The craftsman was well-known throughout Europe, and various monarchs had asked him to make instruments for them. And one such instrument, the Duport Stradivarius Cello, was created at the request of a powerful individual at the time. The instrument was manufactured in 1711 on a special request from King Louis XIV of France for his personal physician, and following the physician's death, the instrument was put up for auction.

The Duport Stradivarius Cello was a handcrafted cello of exceptional value and craftsmanship. The few who had the chance of playing the string instrument described its tone to be the purest, firm, and most penetrating sound ever attained. The tone of the Duport Stradivarius cello, according to Vuillaume, a cellist and luthier, was distinct and possessed a startling level of homogeneity. The cellist was also given the opportunity to play the cello and thought it to be quite impressive. The Stradivarius instrument appeared to be made of a very rare material that scientists had been trying to find for nearly two centuries. The cellist most likely obtained his spruce and maple wood from the forests of the Southern Italian Alps.

Hwang-ching Tai, a researcher, proved what luthiers had known for decades: the wood had additional unusual features. Stradivarius must have used a few artificial wood treatments to acquire the high-quality material the instrument was manufactured from, according to his research.

The exquisite musical instrument passed through the hands of various artists during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries before being auctioned off for a stunning $20 million. This is still one of the most expensive múical instruments ever sold.

Price: $20 million

The Lady Blunt is a Stradivarius violin from the time of his heyday. The near-perfect, original state of this 1721 Stradivarius violin makes it a unique piece of musical history. It's also considered one of the world's two most valuable and rare Stradivarius violins.

The Lady Blunt, unlike other Stradivarius violins such as The Milstein, has never been frequently played. As a result, unlike some other historical violins, this Stradivarius has escaped the damaging effects of regular playing. Without a doubt, the 'Lady Blunt' is a well-preserved work of musical art that will be passed down to future generations in its whole. It was eventually sold at a private auction for $15.9 million.


Price: $15.9 million.

The guitar Stratocaster Fender is one of the most well-known electric guitar brands in the Rock genre. Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan all played this instrument. It was Eric Clapton's particular favorite, and he played it for 15 years straight.

During that time, its unusual body form was revolutionary, and the instrument introduced several innovative characteristics that were uncommon for electric guitars in the mid-1950s. For the first time, an electric guitar was distinguishable from an acoustic guitar. Everything about the double-cutaway, offset waist, enlarged horns, and strongly sculpted back part was designed to improve balance.

The Stratocaster guitar was originally estimated to be of value $100000 to $150000 but was sold for $959500 at a world auction.

Price: $959,500

Gennaro Gagliano comes from a long tradition of Italian luthiers and is widely regarded as one of the greatest violin builders of all time. His musical instruments have a distinct personality and are particularly robust and rich. The violins have a big pattern and are not only a great player's instrument, but also a fantastic collector's item.

Cellos by Gennaro Gagliano are highly sought-after concert instruments. Its remarkable appearance is due to the table's "bear's claw" form and rich Neapolitan orange-brown lacquer. The robust, mature tone has a rich bass with sparkle in the upper registers. This cello comes with significant authenticity certification and historical documentation.

The violin was sold at $362500 at a world auction. With this price, it is natural that this guitar is in the top of the most expensive musical instruments in the world

Price: $362,500

Carlo Giuseppe Testore got a lot of his knowledge from his tutor, who made wonderful musical instruments. Testore relocated to Milan in 1697 and established his own workshop, continuing to produce excellent violins, double basses, and cellos. Despite being influenced by Amati, Grancino, and Stradivari, he developed his own style by including unique characteristics like as the Testore scroll.

In today’s day, Carlo Giuseppe Testore is considered the most worthy luthier of his family, who has left behind an unparalleled tradition of great sounding instruments and craftsmanship. Several classical musicians continue to perform his works today. A world auction sold the violins for $218500.

Price: $218,500

Pieter Rombouts (1677-1749), a pupil of Hendrik Jacobs, his stepfather, one of the most renowned Dutch luthiers of the seventeenth century, built this viola da gamba in Amsterdam in the first half of the eighteenth century. The instruments created by Rombouts are highly regarded. Although the early works are comparable to Jacobs', Rombouts would establish his own style.

The viola da gamba first arrived in Europe in the late 15th century and quickly became one of the most popular instruments of the Renaissance, peaking in the seventeenth century. It was popular as a solo instrument until the mid-eighteenth century.

Because of its huge size, this instrument was traditionally played against the lap or between the legs, earning it the Italian moniker "viola da gamba," which translates to "viola on the leg." The violas were made in various sizes to correlate to the various tones of the human voice.

The Viola da gambawas sold on 13th October. 2009 at a world auction at $212,500.

Price: $212,500.

Giovanni Battista Ceruti was a well-known Italian violin maker who is thought to have a direct link to the 18th-century Cremonese master violin makers' grand lineage. His double basses, violins, and cellos were his most popular instruments. He left the textile industry at the age of 40 to teach himself how to make violins, which was most likely towards the end of 1796.

Many regard him as the pioneer of a violin-making industry, whose instruments are still sought after for their precision and artistry. The violins created a rich, steady, and strong sonic impression that emphasized his brilliance right away.

One of Giovanni Battista Ceruti's violins was sold for $158500 at an international auction on 3 April 2009, after a tree-ring examination established its authenticity and era in February 2009.

Price: $158,500

Antonio de Torres Jurado, popularly known as Torres, is the most valuable and important name in the history of guitar production. He was a guitar maker whose dexterity and intelligence distinguished him as one of the finest classical guitar designers.

Torre's skill was crucial in restoring faith in the guitar's versatility at a time when noisier instruments were crowding the stage. He was a nineteenth-century Spanish guitar maker who is credited with inventing the modern classical guitar. Furthermore, the majority of today's acoustic guitars are based on his original ideas.

Torres' guitars were so brilliant and superior to those of others that they revolutionized the way people thought about guitar construction. The revolution began in Spain and subsequently expanded throughout the world. The guitars' tone is well-balanced, strong, and rounded, and it projects well.

His instruments were quickly imitated. Torre's guitars were strung with silk thread basses and gut trebles, with silver over wounds. His later guitar instruments included mechanical tuners and are now widely referred to as classical guitars. The guitar was auctioned off for $157000 in October 2017. With this extremely high value, the guitar is definitely in the top of the most expensive musical instruments in the world

Price: $157,000

Robert Bouchet (1898-1986) is the most well-known and sought-after classical guitar manufacturer after Antonio de Torres. Although Robert Bouchet was known in Paris as a painting professor, he devoted the latter portion of his highly artistic life to the craft of guitar making. He made remarkable, beautiful guitars in Paris in the second half of the twentieth century, launching a fundamentally novel approach to guitar building that is now known as the "French school of guitar building." Only 154 guitars were manufactured by Robert Bouchet, yet he left a lasting influence in the classical guitar world.

This instrument, which bears the number 87, was produced in the same year as Karl Scheit's Bouchet and is a true jewel. The artistic quality of Bouchet's guitar can be seen just by looking at it. Starting with the gorgeous head and well-shaped neck, the amazing rosette with its interesting hues, and the most beautiful plantilla ever made. All of this comes together to form this magnificent work of art.

The top of the guitar has six fully stable and healed cracks. One on the left side of the fingerboard and two on the right. One on the treble side is longer, one on the bass side is shorter, and one in the center joint is shorter.

When playing the first notes on this 1962 guitar, one wonders whether Bouchet was a magician rather than a painter/guitar maker. The sustain appears to go on forever. With a beautiful, almost lyrical voice, this Bouchet has a really pleasant and soulful sound character. The trebles are velvety and emphasized, the basses are delicate and generous, and the voice separation is superb. The playability is ideal, resulting in lively and responsive strings. Every tone unfolds flawlessly and is reminiscent of a cathedral bell in its depth and richness. This guitar is capable of excelling in any scenario; it is truly a concert guitar of the greatest caliber.

Price: $122,500