Musical Instrument Museum

[A-board]

If you find yourself in Phoenix, AZ block out a day to visit MIM. You'll discover an extensive collection of musical instruments from around the world, complete with videos showing them being played by members of the cultures from which they originate. Nearly every part of the planet is represented, and mandolins are not forgotten. Video clips included such legends as Bill Monroe and Dave Apollon. There was a clip of a mandolin orchestra playing in Berkeley, CA which included a musician bearing a very strong resemblance to Mike Marshall. We spent 3 short hours there. It's definitely worth a multi-day pass if you have the time.

[CarlM]

The other one, also well worth the time, is in Vermillion, South Dakota, of all places. Their collection includes the only Stradivarius guitar, more Cremona (Amati, Stradivarius, Guarnerius) violin family instruments than anywhere else in the world, tools from the Amati shop and MerleTravis' D28 with his name inlayed down the fingerboard. That is just a few highlights. If you are ever on your way to the Black Hills it is worth a detour.

[dschonbrun]

If we're talking about great collections of musical instruments, the Metropolitan Museum of Natural History in NYC has an instrument collection worth seeing.

And if you're in Italy, the birthplace of the early masters, you have 4 ridiculous collections to see:
Musical Instruments Museum (MUSA) Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia - Rome
Museo del Violino Fondazione Stradivari - Cremona
Museum of Musical Instruments - Florence
Castello Sforzesco - Museum of Musical Instruments - Milan

[Petrus]

Brussels is supposed to have a good one, too. I think it was the inspiration behind the one in Phoenix.