Musical instruments, arranged by how they make sound (Hornbostel-Sachs).
Musical instruments are made to be played, and many collectors play what they own. A collector’s
record joins the two worlds: the history and originality of the instrument, and its condition as a
working tool.
Getting Started
ordicio sorts instruments by the Hornbostel-Sachs system that museums use, with the electrophones
added by Galpin:
Idiophones: instruments that sound by themselves, such as
xylophones, bells and cymbals.
Chordophones: string instruments - guitars, the violin family,
pianos, harps, lutes and zithers.
Aerophones: wind instruments - brass, woodwinds, organs and
accordions.
Electrophones: synthesisers, electronic organs and other
instruments that make sound electronically.
Many collectors focus on one family, such as electric guitars or violins, on a maker, or on a period.
What to Record
Maker and attribution: the maker or workshop, as labelled or stamped, and how certain the
attribution is. For violins, a certificate from a recognised expert matters.
Model and serial number: serials date most factory instruments.
Year and place of making.
Materials: woods, metals and finishes.
Specific details: for guitars the body style and pickups; for the violin family the back
length; for pianos the action.
Modifications: refinishes, replaced parts, added or changed electronics, repairs.
Condition
Describe the playing condition (action, neck relief, frets, intonation, electronics), cracks and
repairs, finish wear and the case. Original parts and finish usually add value, especially for
vintage electric guitars.
Care and Storage
Keep instruments at steady humidity and temperature: wood cracks when it dries out quickly. Store
them in their cases, loosen strings for long storage where appropriate, and have them set up by a
qualified technician.
Mistakes to Avoid
Refinishing a vintage instrument.
Taking a label inside a violin as proof of its maker - labels are often copies.
Recording the model but not the serial number and modifications.
Kinds of Musical Instruments
IdiophonesInstruments that sound by their own body, e.g. xylophone, cymbals, bells, music boxes, rattles.
MembranophonesInstruments with a stretched membrane, i.e. drums.
The 28 fields worth recording for musical instruments, grouped as in the
ordicio app.
Identification
Instrument Text
Instrument name, e.g. violin, Stratocaster electric guitar, alto saxophone, snare drum.
Maker / brand Text
Maker or brand, with the attribution if from a label, e.g. labelled Antonio Stradivari (copy), Fender.
Attribution Choice
How certain the attribution of the maker is.
By the maker (certified)
Attributed to
Workshop / school of
Labelled (not confirmed)
Trade / factory instrument
Unknown
Model Text
Model or product name given by the manufacturer.
Serial number Text
Serial number on the instrument, used to date it.
Date / period Text
When the object was made, as precise as known, e.g. 1876, c. 1890, 1920s, 2nd century AD.
Place of origin Place
Town, region or workshop location where the object was made.
Hornbostel-Sachs number Text
Classification number after Hornbostel-Sachs, e.g. 321.322 for necked box lutes (guitars, violins).
Construction
Woods / materials Text
Woods and materials of body, top, back, neck and fittings, e.g. spruce top, flamed maple back.
Length (cm) Number
Greatest length.
Weight (g) Number
Weight of the object (without stand, frame or holder unless noted).
Condition
Playing condition Choice
Whether the instrument can be played.
Ready to play
Playable with issues
Needs setup / repair
Not playable
Display only
Condition Choice
Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.
Mint / as new
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Condition notes Text
Faults, wear and damage in detail.
Modifications Text
Repairs and changes, e.g. refret, refinish, replaced pickups, crack repairs, neck reset.
Case Text
Case or bag, original or later.
Certificate / expertise Text
Certificates of authenticity or expert opinions, with issuer, date and number.
Acquisition
How and when the object came into the collection.
Acquisition date Date
Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own
How the object came into the collection.
Purchase
Auction
Gift
Inheritance
Exchange / trade
Self-collected / found
Commission
Acquired from Text
Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount
Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text
Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).
Value
Estimated and insured value.
Estimated value Amount
Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date
Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice
What the estimated value is based on.
Own estimate
Recent sales / auction results
Dealer offer
Catalogue value
Professional appraisal
Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount
Sum the object is insured for.
Collection record
Your own inventory data.
Inventory number Text
Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text
Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.
Standards and References
The data sheets follow the standards collectors, dealers and museums use:
Goldmine grading standard for records (M, NM, VG+, VG, G+, G, F, P), for media and sleeve separately
Discogs database (release ids, matrix / runout data, format terms)
Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments (1914) and the MIMO revision (2011); Galpin's electrophones
Instrument trade conventions (maker labels and attributions, serial numbers, back length for violins)
Updated October 24, 2026
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