Musical Instruments

Aerophones: What to Record

Wind instruments - woodwinds, brass, organs, accordions and harmonicas.

The Data Sheet for Aerophones

The 30 fields worth recording for aerophones, grouped as in the ordicio app. Fields marked with a broader category come from it; the others are specific to aerophones.

Identification

Instrument Text Musical instruments: Instrument name, e.g. violin, Stratocaster electric guitar, alto saxophone, snare drum.
Maker / brand Text Musical instruments: Maker or brand, with the attribution if from a label, e.g. labelled Antonio Stradivari (copy), Fender.
Attribution Choice Musical instruments: 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 Musical instruments: Model or product name given by the manufacturer.
Serial number Text Musical instruments: Serial number on the instrument, used to date it.
Date / period Text Musical instruments: When the object was made, as precise as known, e.g. 1876, c. 1890, 1920s, 2nd century AD.
Place of origin Place Musical instruments: Town, region or workshop location where the object was made.
Hornbostel-Sachs number Text Musical instruments: Classification number after Hornbostel-Sachs, e.g. 321.322 for necked box lutes (guitars, violins).

Construction

Woods / materials Text Musical instruments: Woods and materials of body, top, back, neck and fittings, e.g. spruce top, flamed maple back.
Length (cm) Number Musical instruments: Greatest length.
Weight (g) Number Musical instruments: Weight of the object (without stand, frame or holder unless noted).
Wind instrument material Text: Material and finish, e.g. lacquered brass, silver-plated, grenadilla wood.
Key / pitch Text: Key or pitch, e.g. B flat, A = 440 Hz, low pitch.

Condition

Playing condition Choice Musical instruments: Whether the instrument can be played.
Ready to play
Playable with issues
Needs setup / repair
Not playable
Display only
Condition Choice Musical instruments: 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 Musical instruments: Faults, wear and damage in detail.
Modifications Text Musical instruments: Repairs and changes, e.g. refret, refinish, replaced pickups, crack repairs, neck reset.
Case Text Musical instruments: Case or bag, original or later.
Certificate / expertise Text Musical instruments: Certificates of authenticity or expert opinions, with issuer, date and number.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Musical instruments: Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own Musical instruments: How the object came into the collection.
Purchase
Auction
Gift
Inheritance
Exchange / trade
Self-collected / found
Commission
Acquired from Text Musical instruments: Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount Musical instruments: Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text Musical instruments: Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Musical instruments: Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date Musical instruments: Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice Musical instruments: What the estimated value is based on.
Own estimate
Recent sales / auction results
Dealer offer
Catalogue value
Professional appraisal
Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount Musical instruments: Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Musical instruments: Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text Musical instruments: Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.