I'm in the final stages of getting out of debt and have a couple more instruments to unload. The first is a very nice fiddle from the 1800's, it has a handwritten label but is not very easy to read. It was recently set up by Laurence Anderson and overall is a very nice player. I don't play fiddle enough to justify keeping it at this point.
The second instrument is a Vega Professional tenor banjo, in very good shape with the original case. I have the armrest taken off but can put it back on if need be. It was set up by Bernunzio about 6 months ago, and sounds fantastic. Pics of both are posted on my website...
The fiddle is a really good looking German from around Vienna. Usually these have a wonderful growly sound to them. The shops used to reserve the Lion's head for just those fiddles. This is a particularly nicely carved head. Body looks as though it could use a good cleaning and perhaps a french polish by a good restorer.
It should get around $3,000 US, more if you can place the maker, assuming good playing condition and no cracks. Good luck selling it.
Sadly none of the high end shops here in the city can pin down the maker. The cursive writing is just too hard to read. The only thing remotely readable is the date, it says 174X,.... the last number is missing as the corner of the label there is gone. I still feel it is from the early 1800's though. The instrument originally had a neck graft, so that's a good sign of age. I had the neck graft re-done though as the original set up was not up to modern standards.
Most lionhead violins come from Mittenwald or Klingenthal in the C19, almost always on Stainer copies. The heads are all very similar, and were almost certainly machine carved and hand finished. This one is different though - a different profile, and much crisper carving. Almost certainly hand carved. I think your dating of early C19 is probably about right, but don't put too much reliance on the neck graft - a lot of instruments were made with a graft from new, to make them look like old masters.
It certainly needs a clean (but NOT french polish, it is always better to leave the varnish totally original, even if there is virtually none left). The dirt/wear patterns don't look entirely natural, and I wonder if it has been 'aged' at some point in its life. For all that it looks like a nice instrument, and the back is a very pretty bit of tree.
Generally lion head's aren't very popular, and they tend to sell for less than the equivalnent violin with a scroll, but hopefully things might be different with this one because of the quality of the carving.
Yes, that was my feeling, if this violin had a scroll it would be worth more. The varnish has already been cleaned up, if you saw it in the original condition it was very dirty and apparently sat around for so many years. Other than the cleanup the varnish is original. The only other work done was the usual sound post, bridge, fingerboard, etc... Also the pegs were moved to more appropriate standards. It's a good player, I'm hoping someone will enjoy this and not hang it on a wall. For the amount I play fiddle, I am content with my Chinese made Lord Wilton copy.
No recordings, I don't play well enough to consider doing it. I'm more of a flute, accordion, banjo guy here. I'll see if I can get my friend to record a tune.
The Vega looks lovely. If I was in the US and not in the UK - and if I wasn't expecting to pay for a commissioned handmade tenor guitar in about 8 weeks time - I'd be up for it!
FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
I'm in the final stages of getting out of debt and have a couple more instruments to unload. The first is a very nice fiddle from the 1800's, it has a handwritten label but is not very easy to read. It was recently set up by Laurence Anderson and overall is a very nice player. I don't play fiddle enough to justify keeping it at this point.
The second instrument is a Vega Professional tenor banjo, in very good shape with the original case. I have the armrest taken off but can put it back on if need be. It was set up by Bernunzio about 6 months ago, and sounds fantastic. Pics of both are posted on my website...
http://theodoreceplina.com/html/gallery.php?gallery=14
I might be able to high whistles as partial trade, I am missing a few keys that I need to record with.
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by naadbrahma
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
The fiddle is a really good looking German from around Vienna. Usually these have a wonderful growly sound to them. The shops used to reserve the Lion's head for just those fiddles. This is a particularly nicely carved head. Body looks as though it could use a good cleaning and perhaps a french polish by a good restorer.
It should get around $3,000 US, more if you can place the maker, assuming good playing condition and no cracks. Good luck selling it.
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by Fiddleshed
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
Sadly none of the high end shops here in the city can pin down the maker. The cursive writing is just too hard to read. The only thing remotely readable is the date, it says 174X,.... the last number is missing as the corner of the label there is gone. I still feel it is from the early 1800's though. The instrument originally had a neck graft, so that's a good sign of age. I had the neck graft re-done though as the original set up was not up to modern standards.
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by naadbrahma
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
Most lionhead violins come from Mittenwald or Klingenthal in the C19, almost always on Stainer copies. The heads are all very similar, and were almost certainly machine carved and hand finished. This one is different though - a different profile, and much crisper carving. Almost certainly hand carved. I think your dating of early C19 is probably about right, but don't put too much reliance on the neck graft - a lot of instruments were made with a graft from new, to make them look like old masters.
It certainly needs a clean (but NOT french polish, it is always better to leave the varnish totally original, even if there is virtually none left). The dirt/wear patterns don't look entirely natural, and I wonder if it has been 'aged' at some point in its life. For all that it looks like a nice instrument, and the back is a very pretty bit of tree.
Generally lion head's aren't very popular, and they tend to sell for less than the equivalnent violin with a scroll, but hopefully things might be different with this one because of the quality of the carving.
Best of luck!
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by skreech
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
Yes, that was my feeling, if this violin had a scroll it would be worth more. The varnish has already been cleaned up, if you saw it in the original condition it was very dirty and apparently sat around for so many years. Other than the cleanup the varnish is original. The only other work done was the usual sound post, bridge, fingerboard, etc... Also the pegs were moved to more appropriate standards. It's a good player, I'm hoping someone will enjoy this and not hang it on a wall. For the amount I play fiddle, I am content with my Chinese made Lord Wilton copy.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by naadbrahma
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
Any recordings of the fiddle?
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by tnoumarap
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
No recordings, I don't play well enough to consider doing it. I'm more of a flute, accordion, banjo guy here. I'll see if I can get my friend to record a tune.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by naadbrahma
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
cheers
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by tnoumarap
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
Hi naadbrahma, if you were able to sell it to an English person (i.e. me!) how many pounds would you charge?
I did a quick calculation using a $/£ converter and it came up with £929. How does £1000 sound?
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by D.J.F.
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
I was talking about the violin there, forgot to mention that. It's a gorgeous looking thing.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by D.J.F.
Re: FS: 1880's German Violin, Vega Tenor Banjo.
The Vega looks lovely. If I was in the US and not in the UK - and if I wasn't expecting to pay for a commissioned handmade tenor guitar in about 8 weeks time - I'd be up for it!
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by Will Fly