Frequently Asked Questions
What is the relationship between Assoscia and AcousticMusic.Org?
Answer: Assoscia (the Association of Stringed Instrument Appraisers) originally operated on its own dedicated web address. To streamline our services and make it easier for clients, we consolidated all of our official appraisal intake forms and scheduling directly into AcousticMusic.Org, our main hub in Chester, Connecticut. Assoscia remains an active part of our brand family, but all modern appraisal requests are now handled through AcousticMusic.Org.
Who performs the instrument appraisals?
Answer: All stringed instrument appraisals are handled by expert appraiser Brian Wolfe. Brian has been playing, collecting, and dealing fine instruments since the mid-1960s and brings decades of deep historical and market knowledge to every evaluation.
Where is Assoscia / AcousticMusic.Org located?
Answer: We are physically based in the historic village of Chester, Connecticut at 4 Maple Street, Chester, CT 06412. However, our appraisal intake process is fully digitized to serve clients everywhere.
What types of instruments do you appraise—and what do you exclude?
Answer:
We Appraise: Guitars, bass guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, tiples, and related fretted instruments, as well as guitar and bass amplifiers.
We Do NOT Appraise: Please note that we do not appraise lutes, ouds, pianos, or double basses.
What types of value or appraisal purposes do you cover?
Answer: We provide formal documentation tailored to your specific needs, including:
Insurance Value: Replacement value for insurance policies.
Market Value / Retail Value: Open market valuations for buying, selling, or trading.
Tax / Estate Valuation: Depreciated or formal values required for estate planning, donations, or tax purposes.