Anyone know anything about violins?

[simwells]

I was recently given this by a relative and know virtually nothing about violins, based on a quick bit of research I think it is very unlikely that it is actually what it says on the internal label but it does appear to have some age to it.

As you can see in the photos it in unstrung and has no bridge and a tuning peg missing as well as the bow needing a rehair. It also appears to have some kind of neck heel repair? Have attempted to take as good photos of the label as I could get. Anyone know if it would be worth restoring? It has no sentimental value or anything like that.
























Any help would be appreciated or if anyone knows better places/people to ask then let me know.

Thanks!

[simwells]

The bow

[pete.young]

Well, even if it isn't a GIovanni Grancino (which I'd agree is unlikely) it does look like a nice old fiddle. Copiers would have used the label to indicate the style they were trying to achieve , there being no Italian equivalent of John Hall in the late 1700's and 1800's.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but if the neck heel repair could have been a neck graft then this would date the instrument to pre-1840. This would have involved removing the original neck and saving the peg head, so there should be evidence of a join around the top of the neck near what on a bass we'd call the 'nut' .

The lack of a bridge is fixable - as long as there are no cracks in the top it should be possible. The thing really is to take it to either a violin maker or repairer (there seem to be a couple in Sheffield) or an auction house like Bonhams who specialise in musical instruments. Either of these will probably give you an estimate of it's value.

[simwells]

Thanks for the information, looks like I should try a repairer/maker to see if I can get some idea.

Out of interest what would make the instrument pre-1840 because of this? From looking at it I wouldn't say it was a neck graft though there's no evidence of any near head repairs, I'm basing the possible repair on the dark substance on the heel looks like a minor repair if anything. I do think with fairly minimal work it would be a perfectly playable instrument.

[pete.young]

Around 1840, a french violin maker named Villaume discovered that intonation and playability of the instrument was much improved if a longer scale length was used, together with a narrower neck and other modifications. Similar to the revelation that a 34" scale bass works better than a 30" I guess.

From 1860 virtually all instruments were made with these changes, but the earlier instruments recieved a neck graft to make them more playable.

Google is your friend here if you need exact details.

[oggiesnr]

Hi, try contacting either of these guys [url="http://www.chapel-allerton.org.uk/"]http://www.chapel-allerton.org.uk/[/url]. I know Peter best (he's my DB luthier) but he's also a violin maker, restorer and dealer. Good guy who will tell you exactly what the score is, good or bad.

Steve

[3below]

As above seek help/advice. Small, tricky to tune, and I could never manage intonation let alone good sound (dead cats). I admire those who can, immensely,

[LemonCello]

It is very common to find fiddles with labels purporting to place the instrument from one of the old Italian schools. It's probably German (Markneukirchen) and with a good set up might turn out to be quite playable. I bought same such fiddle with one of these labels in from the free ads a long time ago, very similar varnish to yours for £80 quid. Had it valued (and subsequently sold it) for £200. The Bow that was with it was stamped Nack Vuillame and I got a bit excited until someone told me that 'Nack' means 'after' or more commonly 'copy'.

A decent German fiddle from the 40's/50's will go for £500 - £750 these days, although prices haven't held up well in the last few years. Echoing the good advice above, take her to a reputable Luthier who will be able to advise you.

LC

[muttley]

Take it to a local music shop that does repairs; the cost of restoration will likely be peanuts (relatively speaking, of course ). Provided nothing is loose in either the neck or sound-box, all it needs is a bridge, a/some new peg(s) and a set of strings. However, you may wish to change the tail to one with built-in fine tuners (depends how well the pegs work). Is the sound post still in place (a wooden dowel that couples the top and back together under the bridge)? Fitting a new one won't cost more than a few quid.

If you want to play, you'll need a shoulder rest (Wolf are the best, but £25-£30 each) and also try some different chin rests if you need more support. Regarding the bow, ask the repairer's advice. It may not be worth it.

If you want a case, I can recommend the lightweight Tom and Will ones. I've got one and so do a few other players in our orchestra. About £70.

As a reference point, my current violin cost me about £60 from an auction, in similar condition. The repair work was only about £60 or £70. Its probably worth several times that figure now .

[Pow_22]

My old neighbours were a large violin shop/repairers/valuers. Try searching for Ayres Violins in Didsbury, Manchester. Apparently they are very well known in the violin world