Composed Posted November 21, 2017 Report Share Posted November 21, 2017 (edited) I assume that this is an old copy, but would like to hear your thoughts. The link is https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antonius-et-Heironimus-Amati-1677/292339389394?_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49476%26meid%3D5361ee4014fc4facb2b1c391817b3694%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D122820205222&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982. Thanks, Composed Edited November 22, 2017 by Composed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxMitchell Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 Someone's bidding $450 for it? Do they know something we don't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 10 minutes ago, FoxMitchell said: Someone's bidding $450 for it? Do they know something we don't? They probably figure there's a Vuillaume under all that varnish, and they're probably mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Jetson Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 Welcome Composed and Happy Thanksgiving to you, If you are looking to buy a violin to play I think you would be better off to go to a local shop and pick one out. That way they will keep it in tip top shape for you and if you decide in time you want another violin instead they will let you trade it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Holmes Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 Even though these requests often start with something like "I assume this is just an old copy", I'm still amazed that potential Ebay buyers seem to have an undying hope that a listing there will yield a 1/2 mil violin for a few hundred dollars. Definitely optimistic. Slim chances... and it were to occur, I would expect those who have the knowledge to recognize one would snap it up well before it reached these discussion boards. "Copy" is probably the wrong choice of a descriptor, BTW. Had one here that regular visits me earlier this week. This listing isn't even a shadow of it. It's a mildly interesting model, in pretty rough condition, and the listing only claims what the label reads... and that it's "old". Wait a minute. From my kids perspective, I'm "old". That about does it for my thoughts! Happy Thanksgiving all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane88 Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 10 hours ago, Violadamore said: They probably figure there's a Vuillaume under all that varnish, and they're probably mistaken. I'm not even sure that there is a violin under all of that varnish. perhaps a vile-in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Composed Posted November 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 (edited) 10 hours ago, Jeff Jetson said: Welcome Composed and Happy Thanksgiving to you, If you are looking to buy a violin to play I think you would be better off to go to a local shop and pick one out. That way they will keep it in tip top shape for you and if you decide in time you want another violin instead they will let you trade it in. Thanks Jeff Jetson. Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else! My violin is in the shop, and I don’t have a backup violin. I was missing my violin and bored, when I noticed this odd looking violin on several websites (not just ebay, although most of them did link back to ebay). Curiosity compelled me to ask, and the response I have received is clear, confirming that my suspicions are probably right. Once my violin is back in my hands, I will start a serious search for a much better sounding and possibly a better looking violin. Again, thank you everyone for your thoughts and comments. Edited November 23, 2017 by Composed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Jetson Posted November 24, 2017 Report Share Posted November 24, 2017 I have known the violin fixers in my area for so long and they are all friendly and generous and I think if didn't have my own menagerie of fiddles that any one of them would be glad to loan me one of their instruments for sale. There is always the chance of seeing a loaner instrunent as superior and maybe the borrower might want to buy it. It is sad feeling to be separated from my favorite violin overnite. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted November 24, 2017 Report Share Posted November 24, 2017 3 hours ago, Composed said: Thanks Jeff Jetson. Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else! My violin is in the shop, and I don’t have a backup violin. I was missing my violin and bored, when I noticed this odd looking violin on several websites (not just ebay, although most of them did link back to ebay). Curiosity compelled me to ask, and the response I have received is clear, confirming that my suspicions are probably right. Once my violin is back in my hands, I will start a serious search for a much better sounding and possibly a better looking violin. Again, thank you everyone for your thoughts and comments. [Waddles up to the rostrum while nibbling on a slice of mince pie, and suppresses a belch] Happy Thanksgiving, all. My advice is to look for ads featuring photos of violins that look good, rather than "odd", which begin with some believable attribution, such as "Antique Saxon trade fiddle in good condition............", and reserve the questionable hyperbole for how great it sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted November 24, 2017 Report Share Posted November 24, 2017 Have a lovely Thanksgiving! I have fond memories of ours...lol... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Composed Posted November 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 On 11/23/2017 at 6:51 PM, Violadamore said: [Waddles up to the rostrum while nibbling on a slice of mince pie, and suppresses a belch] Happy Thanksgiving, all. My advice is to look for ads featuring photos of violins that look good, rather than "odd", which begin with some believable attribution, such as "Antique Saxon trade fiddle in good condition............", and reserve the questionable hyperbole for how great it sounds. Violadamore, It sounds as though you had a great Thanksgiving, as was ours. Admittedly, the damage, the excess varnish and the label of the violin i.e. "Antonius et Heironimus Amati" caught my attention. My belief is that "Heironimus" is likely mispelled when it should have been spelled "Heironymus." (I am curious if I am right or wrong.) Although I have no desire to purchase this violin, I was curious about the thoughts of the experts. I appreciate your advice (and everyone's elses). I agree with you about what to look for and what to ignore when planning the purchase of a violin. Although I played violin for years, I admit that I know the sound of the instrument I am looking to purchase (if I ever find it within my price range), but not much more when it comes to designing, building, correction or repairing a violin. I prefer to locate and then play as many quality instruments as necessary prior to making a purchase. Before I reach retirement age, I would enjoy learning to build quality violins as a hobby (and perhaps to improve those with a "beaver chiseled top" as I read about in another thread), and would like any suggestions and/or constructive criticism that could help me start. I have been building my workshop to build toys for my grandchildren, and weight driven wooden gear clocks. As for tools, I have a Shopsmith Mark V, an extra bandsaw, drill press, scrollsaw, routers, various planes (including pocket planes and finger planes) and a few clamps. I also have some woodcarving tools for various projects. Again, thanks everyone, Composed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted November 25, 2017 Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 On 11/23/2017 at 11:48 AM, Jeffrey Holmes said: ........................and it were to occur, I would expect those who have the knowledge to recognize one would snap it up well before it reached these discussion boards............... Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! How the Accademia funds itself is not a matter for open discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palousian Posted November 25, 2017 Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 15 hours ago, Composed said: ...and the label of the violin i.e. "Antonius et Heironimus Amati" caught my attention... ...what to look for and what to ignore when planning the purchase of a violin... One thing to ignore is the label (I only mention this because you seemed at least partially drawn to this fiddle by the label). If everything else about this violin screamed "AMATI!!" ...then, you might consider that the label could be authentic. Mostly, you have to start from the position that the label is bogus, and attribute the violin on the basis of what it actually looks like, how it was made, etc., something I am utterly unqualified to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luthier Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 On a side note, there's always this one... https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1677-NICOLAUS-AMATUS-HIERONYMI-VIOLIN/322876923513?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 1 hour ago, luthier said: On a side note, there's always this one... https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1677-NICOLAUS-AMATUS-HIERONYMI-VIOLIN/322876923513?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 OMG!! Now this one is more like it, though just a tad pricey, IMHO: https://www.ebay.com/itm/FINE-OLD-GERMAN-AMATI-VIOLIN-around-1920s-VIDEO-ANTIQUE-RARE-9/312017487922 I wish people would realize that "rare" can also imply "not well done at all", and should stop using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 One anecdote from my past, that I don't think I will ever be able to forget (pardon if I have narrated it before) Once upon a time when I used to work in Bremen, I was happily minding my own business, when the doorbell rang. It was an elderly couple, who had found an Amati violin in their attic, and they wished to show it to the boss. I had to politely explain that neither the boss (Dietmar M) nor the senior boss (Heinz M) were in, but I would be happy to inspect their violin for them, so that their journey into town would not be to no avail. It was, predictably, “the usual”, and I explained patiently the music industry in the Markneukirchen area, the “Dutzendarbeit” marketing system, and how one could distinguish that the instrument was from the pre-WWI industry of that area. They (particularly he) were having none of it, and were determined to sit there, until “the boss” came back (always unpredictable when that could be). Gradually, becoming desperate, it crossed my mind that there was a real Amai downstairs in the safe, and I rashly asked if they would like to see, what a real one looked like. Yes, why not, since they were evidently determined to stay there anyway. So I went downstairs, opened the safe, and took the Amati back upstairs. “Oh look Doris, exactly like ours!”, was the immediate response, at which point, the only think left was to stump off, and look if Roger was in, and ask him to try and chuck them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sospiri Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 9 hours ago, luthier said: On a side note, there's always this one... https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1677-NICOLAUS-AMATUS-HIERONYMI-VIOLIN/322876923513?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 Negative feedback in the last month: 1, Canceled after I purchased, said didn't get enough for it, was Buy It Now. Oh well. If you don't have the $40,000 for that one there's still a chance to buy another one from this dealer, another Nicolo Amati only $4,000 https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1634-NICOLAUS-AMATUS-CREMONEN-VINTAGE-FULL-SIZE-VIOLIN-w-BOW/322929681652?hash=item4b301be4f4:g:ZCwAAOSwLJ9Z9O3O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 4 hours ago, jacobsaunders said: One anecdote from my past, that I don't think I will ever be able to forget (pardon if I have narrated it before) Once upon a time when I used to work in Bremen, I was happily minding my own business, when the doorbell rang. It was an elderly couple, who had found an Amati violin in their attic, and they wished to show it to the boss. I had to politely explain that neither the boss (Dietmar M) nor the senior boss (Heinz M) were in, but I would be happy to inspect their violin for them, so that their journey into town would not be to no avail. It was, predictably, “the usual”, and I explained patiently the music industry in the Markneukirchen area, the “Dutzendarbeit” marketing system, and how one could distinguish that the instrument was from the pre-WWI industry of that area. They (particularly he) were having none of it, and were determined to sit there, until “the boss” came back (always unpredictable when that could be). Gradually, becoming desperate, it crossed my mind that there was a real Amai downstairs in the safe, and I rashly asked if they would like to see, what a real one looked like. Yes, why not, since they were evidently determined to stay there anyway. So I went downstairs, opened the safe, and took the Amati back upstairs. “Oh look Doris, exactly like ours!”, was the immediate response, at which point, the only think left was to stump off, and look if Roger was in, and ask him to try and chuck them out. Love that story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luthier Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 5 hours ago, sospiri said: Negative feedback in the last month: 1, Canceled after I purchased, said didn't get enough for it, was Buy It Now. OK, I went back to see the seller's completed listings, and found the violin had been sold once before. https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1677-NICOLAUS-AMATUS-HIERONYMI-VIOLIN-/222715531887?hash=item33dae1526f%3Ag%3ALoQAAOSwVlVZ-hgr&nma=true&si=lcS%2FLcKEUNseSLntpKIQDxMh7kw%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.