friedr. aug. glass violin repair and appraisal requested

[Lumbrix]

I purchased a German Glass violin that needs some repair. First, the finish has been sanded to bare wood on the top. Second, it has a machine head because the peg holes were enlarged. Third, the tone seems affected because the grafted (nailed) neck contacts the top of the instrument (perhaps because of the amount of arching in the top or because of the neck installation and angle). Fourth, there is a crack in the fingerboard, so it needs replacing. I am interested in an appraisal and in getting the instrument put in better condition. The label reads: friedr. aug. glass verfertigt nach; Antonius Stradiuarius Fies; Fabrikat in Cremona 1737; Made in Germany.

Edited July 1, 2018 by Lumbrix

[MarkBouquet]

Not worth the effort to restore. Hope you didn't pay too much.

[martin swan]

The entire body has been revarnished ...

Sorry but I would not restore this either - it would be cheaper to buy an equivalent instrument  good original condition.

[Lumbrix]

Thanks for the helpful comments. I bought the instrument for $129 and have only paid for strings, a tailpiece, and a bridge. It's adequate as a beginner student instrument. 

[vathek]

It's most likely early 20c from the Glass factory. An original Glass wouldn't say 'made in Germany'

[Rue]

4 hours ago, Lumbrix said:

Thanks for the helpful comments. I bought the instrument for $129 and have only paid for strings, a tailpiece, and a bridge. It's adequate as a beginner student instrument. 

Then just use it as is.  If it functions well for beginners that's fine. Put your money aside and start saving up for the next one.

[FiddleDoug]

"needs some repair"

That's an understatement! That's probably about a $1800 minimum repair (neck, upper ribs, upper block, button,  fingerboard), and I charge on the low side.

[Guido]

13 hours ago, Lumbrix said:

Thanks for the helpful comments. I bought the instrument for $129 and have only paid for strings, a tailpiece, and a bridge. It's adequate as a beginner student instrument. 

Did you have the bridge fitted? It looks like its on backwards... or already badly bent forward.

[Rue]

3 minutes ago, Guido said:

Did you have the bridge fitted? It looks like its on backwards... or already badly bent forward.

So it is! Good eye!

[vathek]

I have heard these can sound good so if you get it set up right it could be a good player.

[Lumbrix]

On 7/1/2018 at 7:57 AM, vathek said:

It's most likely early 20c from the Glass factory. An original Glass wouldn't say 'made in Germany'

Thanks. I thought it was from that period. I am curious as to why it appears to have a grafted neck though, which seems to be something done to much older instruments.

[Guido]

21 hours ago, Lumbrix said:

Thanks. I thought it was from that period. I am curious as to why it appears to have a grafted neck though, which seems to be something done to much older instruments.

I can't see a neck graft on the pictures posted.

[Violadamore]

IMHO, you need to fix what you did with the bridge, there's threads here about how to do it properly.  The neck isn't grafted (which would mean putting an original pegbox/scroll on a new neck), it seems to have been replaced entire, and rather crudely, but it looks solid.  $129.00 for anything German and playable isn't bad at all.  This one is going to be totally about how it sounds.

[FiddleDoug]

On 7/3/2018 at 10:20 PM, Lumbrix said:

Thanks. I thought it was from that period. I am curious as to why it appears to have a grafted neck though, which seems to be something done to much older instruments.

That's not a neck graft. That's a horribly broken out, and very crudely repaired neck. No telling what the inside looks like. That's why I estimated $1800 to repair/restore. I'm going to guess that the OP just bought a blank and just stuck it on.

[Lumbrix]

On 7/6/2018 at 10:45 AM, FiddleDoug said:

That's not a neck graft. That's a horribly broken out, and very crudely repaired neck. No telling what the inside looks like. That's why I estimated $1800 to repair/restore. I'm going to guess that the OP just bought a blank and just stuck it on.

Thanks for the helpful observation. I'm going to just play and enjoy this violin. I am a cellist, but I like this instrument for personal use. I have invested little, and I like the tone. It's okay for what I paid for it.

[GeorgeH]

10 hours ago, Lumbrix said:

Thanks for the helpful observation. I'm going to just play and enjoy this violin. I am a cellist, but I like this instrument for personal use. I have invested little, and I like the tone. It's okay for what I paid for it.

I am not sure how you can "like the tone" of a violin that has a broken fingerboard resting on the top, but whatever. YOLO.