Can anyone tell me about this violin?

[CianDoran]

I have acquired this violin from my grandfather. 

I studied and worked as a luthier primarily on guitars, and the build quality to my eye seems rather high. 

Also the wood selection is good too. Very close grain spruce top very well quarter cut. The back is a single piece of quite highly flamed maple. 

However upon inspection I found a small letter A carved into the pegbox. 

There is no makers label in the inside of the instrument, however I've been made aware that with violins that not always the best means of identification. 

Can anyone shed some light on this instrument please. 

My grandfather said he thinks it was made around 1860. 

[jacobsaunders]

The purfling, with the narrow white and wide slightly bleached out looking "blacks" is a dead give away for the Markneukirchen area, end of 19th C

[CianDoran]

Thank you for the information. I just did a little digging and I know what you mean it does share a lot of similarities with violins from that area and time. What would you say of the value of it? 

[CianDoran]

The fretboard is solid black but the lighting in the room caused some of the fretboard to appear slightly faded. 

[Brad Dorsey]

Since violins do not have frets, they do not have fret boards.

[FiddlinDave]

If your looking for what its worth ask to get it consigned at a auction house like the T2 auction from Tarisio or you can just put it flea bay and see which way the wind is blowing.

[Wood Butcher]

8 hours ago, FiddlinDave said:

If your looking for what its worth ask to get it consigned at a auction house like the T2 auction from Tarisio or you can just put it flea bay and see which way the wind is blowing.

Or, visit a violin shop, and have them take a look at it.

[Bownut]

On 3/2/2024 at 5:10 AM, Brad Dorsey said:

Since violins do not have frets, they do not have fret boards.

But, by the same logic, violins cannot have fingerboards either, as they don't have fingers!

[LCF]

On 3/2/2024 at 2:40 PM, Brad Dorsey said:

Since violins do not have frets, they do not have fret boards.

Afaik fretting is the act of stopping the strings with your fingers. They don't actually stop either, usually they start but I wouldn't fret about it. 

[Altgeiger]

46 minutes ago, LCF said:

wouldn't fret about it.

I'm board with these puns.

[Wood Butcher]

If you keep this up, you will get punished.

[CianDoran]

What have I started here lol

[Aston4]

10 hours ago, Bownut said:

But, by the same logic, violins cannot have fingerboards either, as they don't have fingers!

This makes my head hurt.

[LCF]

On 3/4/2024 at 9:02 AM, Aston4 said:

This makes my head hurt.

Just quickly scroll past. 

[waldguy]

you guys are all nuts

[Dr. Mark]

5 minutes ago, waldguy said:

you guys are all nuts

You pegged it.

[CianDoran]

Maybe if I'd have fine tuned my post we could have avoided this 

[LCF]

On 3/5/2024 at 11:54 PM, CianDoran said:

Maybe if I'd have fine tuned my post we could have avoided this 

Would have given a better twist to it and one good turn deserves another. 

[Spelman]

Why do we keep stringing this thread along?

[Violadamore]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:24 AM, CianDoran said:

Maybe if I'd have fine tuned my post we could have avoided this 

Nah, the OP was fine. but the moment you said "fretboard", the thread was doomed.       

Welcome to Maestronet, where funny things happen at the forum.  

So how does your violin sound when played?   

[CianDoran]

The violin sounds wonderful a full sound with lots of life and overtones. It seems very well made.