Guido

As we know, Mittenwald (and other related schools) let the linings into the blocks with a point. I'm curious about the point. Can one go as far as excluding Mittenwald (and related) if the tips are let in, but left square? The two cases illustrated. First one a rather neat point; second one some taper but essentially square at the end.

Look new and Chinese. Nice, but. The photocopied label may have tried to upgrade it to an old trade instrument. Could at least have used a Guarneri label.

The flame around the end pin also looks sus. And very different from everywhere else. Best to clarify the neck attachment…

You‘d want to have a look through the endpin hole and see if the original neck is nailed on, or if there is a surprise. I‘m not certain the lower rib is one piece or just joined very well. I note the notch in the backplate!

As long as you can close the case... It seems to be more common to encounter a lower projection on old high arch instruments, but I don't know if that makes it right. One guess would be the higher arch is less resistant against sideway forces and bulges outward, probably in the area under the fingerboard as the projection drops.

Here is another French trade Stainer "model" of similar ilk. Dated on an importer label 1933. Some better materials. I guess most major workshops would have had a model like this in the catalogue for a few decades.

Good thing, too, that there is nothing democratic about it.

My vote is French. Stainer "model", as labelled. I had a couple of these before.

No, you are wrong. It is standing in a generous bed of rather strong hide glue.

Presumably rigid French polish over presumably soft varnish will often lead to crackling.

Exactly that. Answer complete.

Top removal can go super easy to totally annoying depending on how it was last glued on. This one was particularly firmly glued. Maybe 1 in 20 bad, or worse. One trick that works well (which I didn’t bother doing here), is to run drops of alcohol down the blade into the joint as you work. It makes the glue crack more easily. Obviously, care is required to not damage the varnish.

P.S.: A good place to sell a bow like this would be some online auction where savvy online shoppers will pay a premium to feel smart. But maybe a shift in balance closer to the handle will help. I have done this with a heavy French bow. Now it’s a couple of grams heavier but feels more agile (lighter).

Taking wood off the stick seams outrageous. You can try and use a silver wire instead of the tinsel to change the balance and make it feel lighter. Else, sell it and get a bow you like.

Of course a straight bow with a good camber is worth achieving and the better outcome compared to a stick that isn't straight or has insufficient or inappropriate camber. The point of concern rather seems to be a physical degradation of the wood on a cellular level caused by repeated heating (and bending). Any effect would be small (each time) and the improved camber would outweigh any perceived effect. So it's easy to dismiss based on experience... However, It would be great to hear some counter arguments at a material science level for these wood cells/ fibres/ lignins.

Prague is where I'd start my search. It also had a couple of pegbox modifications that were more popular in Prague than elsewhere.

I'd also disagree with his sentiment. Not a cheap and nasty violin. Well worth setting up. I can't exclude the varnish being partially stripped (especially with more darker vanish on the head). However, my guess would be it was part of the original antiquing effort.

I'd say it's in excellent condition and looks just about like it did the day it was made. Caussin school inspired antiquing, German trade violin of average merit.

Heard it a number of times now. Maybe it's a local myth :-)

I was hoping for people to tell me the opposite and ideally have some good arguments to dispel this urban myth.

The long leather short wire combo seems to have been popular for a period, maybe the 70s or 80s. For my taste it looks a little odd, but it would be a matter for player preference. The effect on balance is probably negligible. The bigger question is if the wire continues all the way under the leather. The head mortice seems rather small, with plenty of margin all around; and the face plate rather thick. Maybe a replaced face plate not opened up as far as it could have been.

Reportedly, Juzek in New York did this; and if so, probably others just the same. I mostly made the comment as what little can be seen in the photo doesn’t look very French.

Or not. Could be made in Germany and stamped to deceive after it was imported.

Oi. There is.