Lately I've been looking around for a 4/4 violin to upgrade from my 3/4. I found one in Uncle Henry's (that's a local swap it and sell it guide) for $200. I emailed the seller asking, maker, year, model and damages. Here is what they said...
"The violin is in excess of 100 years old because the lady who we got it from 6 years ago had played it and her mother also. The lady was 96 years old when we bought it. There is a surface crack on the right side as you hold it out in front of you. It does not go through. My daughter played it that way with no problem. There was a sticker inside for a long time but we had a new sound peg put inside and a new bridge put on a few years back and when we got it back we noticed the sticker was gone. The man said it had come loose as it was barely attached and he just took it out. Sort of a bummer in that it was all the information you and others have asked about. NO other issues with condition other than the surface crack."
I do plan on checking out the violin for myself in person, but is that a fair price for a violin with no ID? It does come with a case and bow. Here is a link to see the violin. http://www.unclehenrys.com/Classifieds/Search/ExhibitDetail.aspx?ExhibitID=-2136347781&ishistoricsearch=N&returnpage=%2fClassifieds%2fSearch%2fResults.aspx%3fSearchID%3d21092745%26isHistoricSearch%3dN%23-2136347781
I haven't had a whole lot of experience checking out violins, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
It sounds like a sound-post crack. This would most likely need a professional repair and that's not cheap. I wouldn't buy this fiddle without getting someone who knows fiddles very well to give it the thumbs up. $200 is very cheap but if it's got a sound-post crack it won't really be playable until it's sorted out.
If the violin has a crack in either the back or the belly which runs over the point where the sound post touches the back or belly (or where it should touch, if it's in the wrong position), that is expensive to sort out. It can't just be glued, the belly has to be taken off so that a patch can be put on the inside.
Where's Lazyhound when you need him? He' s much better at explaining than I am!
Any repairer worth their salt isn't going to remove a label from inside and throw it away, they'd glue it back in with the right glue, because it's important to the provenance of the violin (even if it's a fake label).
I wouldn't trust any repair this guy has done, he's clearly a numpty and thus I'd stear clear of this violin.
Hi Sara,
There are plenty of good luthiers & fiddle dealers in Maine (I live in the Dirigo State myself). Buying a fiddle out of Uncle Henry's is a bit of a pig in a poke. I'd establish yourself with a good shop (Nate Slobodkin in Bangor, for one, if you live in the northern part of the state, but there are plenty of others) and let them kit you out with a decent, yet inexpensive fiddle. Most reputable shops & dealers will allow you your full purchase value if/when you decide to trade up.
I also wouldn't discount the current crop of Chinese fiddles out of hand. Sure, there are lots of clunkers (especially on e-Bay, etc) but many of them provide excellent value and have become quite well-made. Given the work that is probably necessary to make the Uncle Henry offering playable, you'd probably be far ahead adding that potential expense to the $200 and look for a decent student fiddle in the $300-500 range. If you'd care for further discussion you can contact me off the list.
It's "Stentor" violins, btw, . Factory made in China, for a UK importer. Usually as a "kt" with case and bow. Not readily available in the US that I can see. All eBay offers & dealers are in the UK.
If it does have a crack that runs near or under the bridge feet, stay well clear. looking at the picture it is a trade instrument and probably worth the asking price without the crack. A good repair will cost at least twice the asking price and will not restore the value of the instrument.
If you're looking to get an old violin I wouldnt go for a Stentor obviously. But if you are just looking for a cheap suitable violin it is fine. With a new set of strings it isnt too bad.
The violin you mentioned looks nice, but looks aren't the important factor. Without hearing it I wouldnt buy it, but if you can take someone who would be able to tell you about the crack then it would be good.
That doesn't look like a 100yr old violin. The colour pattern in the varnish looks like a much more recently made factory-built violin. That said, it's pretty much impossible to tell from the pic, just a hunch. Cracks pretty much always go all the way through in violins, but can be cheap to repair if they don't have to be cleated.
Buy an old JTL Medio Fino 4/4 . You could get one for 150 or even less Keep on the lookout for a good one without cracks and a good neck angle. With a good setup and well trimmed and fitted bridge it will sound like anything you wpuld pay up to about a thousand for Make sure it Has original label, Check what the label looks like by using Google pictures
Very lovely violins, from FGV, but that's a bit out of my price range. Right now I can only afford a student model violin. I live about a half hour away from Somerset Violins, and Harry there is very nice.
I am going to check out the violin tommorow morning (what can it hurt?), but I am going to keep all the advice you guys have all told me in mind, and I am prepared turn it down if there is anything I don't like. Wish me luck!
The only reason I can think of to get a really cheap 'n' nasty fiddle is to have it as a spare to fit your next set of new strings to so that they are already properly stretched when you come to fit them to your working fiddle. Even then I'd make sure the grooves in the bridge and fingerboard nut of said cheap 'n' nasty are smooth so as not to damage the strings.
I'm back now, and I didn't buy that fiddle. The bow needed rehairing, the case was falling apart, the pegs are worn (especially E), only one fine tuner, and a plastic chin rest. I saw the crack and it's not a sound post crack, but it ran most of the length of the violin. The crack did run through a F hole and didn't seem to have all the way through, but it could have been a tight one that I couldn't really see.
I feel pretty good that I didn't buy that violin. Thank you guys for your advice!
It's good you passed up that fiddle. A crack near the sound post is bad news indeed; that's the weakest part of the top.
The soundpost (you can see it if you slant the instrument and peek inside) provides structural support as well as a transfer of vibrations throughout the instrument. A crack in that area could open up at any time. The top needs to come off and a thorough repair done from the inside.
I don't think it pays to do this unless a) it's a valuable instrument, or b)it has sentimental value to you. Then, by all means, let a competent luthier have a go at it.
Getting a new violin
Getting a new violin
Lately I've been looking around for a 4/4 violin to upgrade from my 3/4. I found one in Uncle Henry's (that's a local swap it and sell it guide) for $200. I emailed the seller asking, maker, year, model and damages. Here is what they said...
"The violin is in excess of 100 years old because the lady who we got it from 6 years ago had played it and her mother also. The lady was 96 years old when we bought it. There is a surface crack on the right side as you hold it out in front of you. It does not go through. My daughter played it that way with no problem. There was a sticker inside for a long time but we had a new sound peg put inside and a new bridge put on a few years back and when we got it back we noticed the sticker was gone. The man said it had come loose as it was barely attached and he just took it out. Sort of a bummer in that it was all the information you and others have asked about. NO other issues with condition other than the surface crack."
I do plan on checking out the violin for myself in person, but is that a fair price for a violin with no ID? It does come with a case and bow. Here is a link to see the violin.
http://www.unclehenrys.com/Classifieds/Search/ExhibitDetail.aspx?ExhibitID=-2136347781&ishistoricsearch=N&returnpage=%2fClassifieds%2fSearch%2fResults.aspx%3fSearchID%3d21092745%26isHistoricSearch%3dN%23-2136347781
I haven't had a whole lot of experience checking out violins, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Sara
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Getting a new violin
It sounds like a sound-post crack. This would most likely need a professional repair and that's not cheap. I wouldn't buy this fiddle without getting someone who knows fiddles very well to give it the thumbs up. $200 is very cheap but if it's got a sound-post crack it won't really be playable until it's sorted out.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by dsndfkjasf
Re: Getting a new violin
Please forgive me for my complete ignorance, but could describe a little more what a sound post crack is?
Sara
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Getting a new violin
Also, I don't really know anyone that can go with me to check out this fiddle. So I'm really not sure how to get a decent instrument. :(
Sara
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Getting a new violin
It's almost impossible to tell from that picture!
If the violin has a crack in either the back or the belly which runs over the point where the sound post touches the back or belly (or where it should touch, if it's in the wrong position), that is expensive to sort out. It can't just be glued, the belly has to be taken off so that a patch can be put on the inside.
Where's Lazyhound when you need him? He' s much better at explaining than I am!
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by c.g.
Re: Getting a new violin
Your link isn't working.
Any repairer worth their salt isn't going to remove a label from inside and throw it away, they'd glue it back in with the right glue, because it's important to the provenance of the violin (even if it's a fake label).
I wouldn't trust any repair this guy has done, he's clearly a numpty and thus I'd stear clear of this violin.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Martin Milner
Re: Getting a new violin
The label probably said "made in China"
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Getting a new violin
Check the website for a Stensen Conservatoire Violin, excellent value and great sound.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Shylock
Re: Getting a new violin
Hi Sara,
There are plenty of good luthiers & fiddle dealers in Maine (I live in the Dirigo State myself). Buying a fiddle out of Uncle Henry's is a bit of a pig in a poke. I'd establish yourself with a good shop (Nate Slobodkin in Bangor, for one, if you live in the northern part of the state, but there are plenty of others) and let them kit you out with a decent, yet inexpensive fiddle. Most reputable shops & dealers will allow you your full purchase value if/when you decide to trade up.
I also wouldn't discount the current crop of Chinese fiddles out of hand. Sure, there are lots of clunkers (especially on e-Bay, etc) but many of them provide excellent value and have become quite well-made. Given the work that is probably necessary to make the Uncle Henry offering playable, you'd probably be far ahead adding that potential expense to the $200 and look for a decent student fiddle in the $300-500 range. If you'd care for further discussion you can contact me off the list.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by gwfowler
Re: Getting a new violin
It's "Stentor" violins, btw, . Factory made in China, for a UK importer. Usually as a "kt" with case and bow. Not readily available in the US that I can see. All eBay offers & dealers are in the UK.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by gwfowler
Re: Getting a new violin
If it does have a crack that runs near or under the bridge feet, stay well clear. looking at the picture it is a trade instrument and probably worth the asking price without the crack. A good repair will cost at least twice the asking price and will not restore the value of the instrument.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by tlittlewazzock
Re: Getting a new violin
If you're looking to get an old violin I wouldnt go for a Stentor obviously. But if you are just looking for a cheap suitable violin it is fine. With a new set of strings it isnt too bad.
The violin you mentioned looks nice, but looks aren't the important factor. Without hearing it I wouldnt buy it, but if you can take someone who would be able to tell you about the crack then it would be good.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by creathana
Re: Getting a new violin
That doesn't look like a 100yr old violin. The colour pattern in the varnish looks like a much more recently made factory-built violin. That said, it's pretty much impossible to tell from the pic, just a hunch. Cracks pretty much always go all the way through in violins, but can be cheap to repair if they don't have to be cleated.
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by reenactor
Re: Getting a new violin
It is not an old violin , its not a good violin ,worth 30 dollars maybe, avoid like the plague
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Red Robin
Re: Getting a new violin
Buy an old JTL Medio Fino 4/4 . You could get one for 150 or even less Keep on the lookout for a good one without cracks and a good neck angle. With a good setup and well trimmed and fitted bridge it will sound like anything you wpuld pay up to about a thousand for Make sure it Has original label, Check what the label looks like by using Google pictures
# Posted on July 25th 2007 by Red Robin
Re: Getting a new violin
Frost Gully Violins just outside of Freeport!!! Superb little shop with an extremely competent and knowledgeable luthier.
Do a google search for Frost Gully...you'll be pleased.
# Posted on July 26th 2007 by ceolgaelach
Re: Getting a new violin
Very lovely violins, from FGV, but that's a bit out of my price range. Right now I can only afford a student model violin. I live about a half hour away from Somerset Violins, and Harry there is very nice.
I am going to check out the violin tommorow morning (what can it hurt?), but I am going to keep all the advice you guys have all told me in mind, and I am prepared turn it down if there is anything I don't like. Wish me luck!
Sara
# Posted on July 26th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Getting a new violin
The only reason I can think of to get a really cheap 'n' nasty fiddle is to have it as a spare to fit your next set of new strings to so that they are already properly stretched when you come to fit them to your working fiddle. Even then I'd make sure the grooves in the bridge and fingerboard nut of said cheap 'n' nasty are smooth so as not to damage the strings.
# Posted on July 26th 2007 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Getting a new violin
I'm back now, and I didn't buy that fiddle. The bow needed rehairing, the case was falling apart, the pegs are worn (especially E), only one fine tuner, and a plastic chin rest. I saw the crack and it's not a sound post crack, but it ran most of the length of the violin. The crack did run through a F hole and didn't seem to have all the way through, but it could have been a tight one that I couldn't really see.
I feel pretty good that I didn't buy that violin. Thank you guys for your advice!
Sara
# Posted on July 26th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Getting a new violin
BTW- The only good thing about that violin is that it had new strings.
Sara
# Posted on July 26th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Getting a new violin
It's good you passed up that fiddle. A crack near the sound post is bad news indeed; that's the weakest part of the top.
The soundpost (you can see it if you slant the instrument and peek inside) provides structural support as well as a transfer of vibrations throughout the instrument. A crack in that area could open up at any time. The top needs to come off and a thorough repair done from the inside.
I don't think it pays to do this unless a) it's a valuable instrument, or b)it has sentimental value to you. Then, by all means, let a competent luthier have a go at it.
# Posted on July 26th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner