Banjoblue Posted January 15, 2017 Report Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) Hello all I am sometimes tempted into buying violins for my own use, occasionally getting reasonable (for my standard of playing!) instruments at good prices, other times getting kindling. I have just acquired a violin with the label "L.E.J.T L'Incomparable Mirecourt 1894 VL . It seems to be in decent order, no obvious cracks or splits but it needs a new bridge and the soundpost resetting, maybe the pegs adjusting and, for my purposes, a fine tuner tailpiece. I can't do the work myself so before I commit to having someone professional sort it out for me, would you be kind enough to tell me if I would be throwing money away if I did? I know that its easy to spend £300 on repairs and end up with a £100 violin. If it helps, I can tell you that I paid £50 for it. Any other insights on the violin would be welcome. Regards BB Edited January 15, 2017 by Banjoblue
sospiri Posted January 16, 2017 Report Posted January 16, 2017 Bargain. Have you tried playing it? The work you are describing is very basic. Why not have a go at trying it yourself?
Banjoblue Posted January 16, 2017 Author Report Posted January 16, 2017 Well, I decided some time ago that I could either spend my time learning to play a violin or learning to repair them (Actually the same goes for banjos as well).
deans Posted January 16, 2017 Report Posted January 16, 2017 Looks like it's worth getting fixed up, but not a whole lot more.
Terry Colley Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 I would have paid £50 for that , (am assuming you are in the uk ) have bought a couple like that to learn repairs on, I do not think you will lose money on it. If you are in the uk where are you?
Violadamore Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 "Advice on Mirecourt violin please" Well, they're OK if no Saxons are available. The one you found looks good and was a bargain. On 1/16/2017 at 11:04 AM, Banjoblue said: Well, I decided some time ago that I could either spend my time learning to play a violin or learning to repair them (Actually the same goes for banjos as well). That's no excuse. One can do both. BTW, you can't repair a banjo. I realize that they all look and sound defective, but they're made that way on purpose.
Banjoblue Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Posted January 17, 2017 Hi Terry, I'm in Cardiff. You?
Banjoblue Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Posted January 17, 2017 2 minutes ago, Violadamore said: "Advice on Mirecourt violin please" Well, they're OK if no Saxons are available. The one you found looks good and was a bargain. That's no excuse. One can do both. BTW, you can't repair a banjo. I realize that they all look and sound defective, but they're made that way on purpose. Hahahah. Yep, I'm well provided with banjo jokes thanks
martin swan Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 LEJT L'Incomparable is a label that crops up in JTL violins of varying quality from about 1890 to 1920 - the more I study JTL the more I think the labels were just put in after the fact to suit the requirements of the shops ordering from them. You could as easily find a Barnabetti or Le Némésianus label in this violin. This particular violin is a better than average standard "Mirecourt Strad" model, generally in very good condition, though it's not quite as good as most violins with this label. I have sold a few JTLs with this label. The fingerboard looks rather than, and it seems to have lifted a bit, there's some wear under the bridge but that's just cosmetic. The pegs seem to be rather cheap German replacements but if they work they're fine. With a bit of a spruce-up and with functional fittings I would expect to see this violin retailing for over £1500. Slightly nicer varnish and slightly better condition and it would be over £2000.
Violadamore Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 Thank you, Martin!!! [Cheers and applause]
Banjoblue Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Posted January 17, 2017 Blimey! Thank you Martin! I've put it in the hands of my local luthier for a new bridge, soundpost, sort the fingerboard and nut. Be really interested to hear how it sounds. Thank you all for your input. BB
sospiri Posted January 19, 2017 Report Posted January 19, 2017 On 17/01/2017 at 10:32 PM, Banjoblue said: Blimey! Thank you Martin! I've put it in the hands of my local luthier for a new bridge, soundpost, sort the fingerboard and nut. Be really interested to hear how it sounds. Thank you all for your input. BB My guess, it will sound very nice. How did you get that for £50? Not on ebay, ebayers are too sharp to let that one pass for so little.
Banjoblue Posted January 19, 2017 Author Report Posted January 19, 2017 A local auction. Makes up for all the other awful ones I've bought . I bought another one at another auction for a bit more that sounded so nice that I put it in the hands of another luthier for renovation. People tell me that one is German. I'll share some pictures when I get it back as I'd be interested in hearing and learning from peoples' views on that one too
sospiri Posted January 20, 2017 Report Posted January 20, 2017 Good for you. It amazes me that so many auction houses are clueless about violins.
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