Soil Stradivarius

The Soil Stradivarius is a quest item in Fallout 3.

Background
The Soil Stradivarius of 1714 is an antique violin made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (1644-1737). A product of Stradivari's golden period, it is considered one of his finest. One of two Stradivari violins named after Belgian industrialist Amédée Soil, this instrument is characterized by its brilliant red varnish and a two-piece maple back with the flames of the grain joined, descending from the edges toward the center.

The Soil survived the Great War thanks to being locked away in Vault 92, carried into the Vault by Hilda Egglebrecht in an atmosphere-controlled violin case designed to maintain temperature and humidity in a way that would maintain the instrument's integrity. Ostensibly designed to preserve musical talent, Vault 92 was in reality a sinister test of subliminal messaging and, like other experiment Vaults, ultimately failed. By 2277 the Vault was a derelict, but the Soil remained intact. The case preserved it, allowing the Lone Wanderer to potentially retrieve it for Agatha, an elderly musician and distant descendant of Hilda.

Characteristics
The Soil is a quest item and can be retrieved for Agatha as part of Agatha's Song. Doing so will enable Agatha's radio and a positive reputation.

Players can also elect to sell it elsewhere, to either Abraham Washington at Rivet City for 200 bottle caps (300 with a Speech check) or to Ahzrukhal in the Ninth Circle in Underworld for the same amounts.

Killing the ghoul bartender by buying out Charon's contract will remove the quest flag from the Soil, allowing it to be dropped.

Location

 * Vault 92: In the Sound Testing area, in a recording studio, southernmost chamber, on top of a table. Access can be gained through the studio computer on the opposite side of the hall.

Related quests

 * Agatha's Song

Behind the scenes

 * Like many other items, the Soil can be found in the game files for Fallout: New Vegas.