mezzopiano Posted January 7 Report Posted January 7 Background: I have just bought this violin off eBay and I was wondering about its origins. To my untrained eye, it doesn't tick many boxes for a "usual", besides the lower rib being divided into 2-parts. The linings end at the inner corner blocks, and the the rib joints are not pointy as on the few Markies I've seen before. I cannot really tell whether they are pinched or mitred, though, as the varnish covers the joint. Also, the pegbox is not painted black and the scroll carving doesn't stop at 6 o'clock. There is no label on the inside. To me, some traits are somewhat similar to my son's French probably Mirecourt/JTL factory violin. I bought this in the hope of finding a decent but inexpensive 4/4 instrument that my son could play when he will have outgrown his current 3/4 size. I am optimistic by nature, but the half-life of violins in school orchestras of 12-year-olds is too short for a multi-k$ instrument... Descripton: There is a saddle crack on the right edge, that goes quite deep into the body and a shorter crack at the middle of the saddle (green arrows in the images). Some other grain lines around the sound post area are darker (cyan arrows), but I cannot see or feel any crack, so I don't know whether that needs to be treated. Someone has managed to glue the nut off-centre (I wonder how this can be done if not on purpose) and I hope they did not use superglue, although there is a suspicious filament of what could be superglue on the top of the violin (yellow arrow in one of the pictures). The fingerboard needs resurfacing. I shone a UV torch on it and the varnish reflection is the same on both sides of the body and the scroll, except around the button, so not much of a retouching took place (or it was completely re-varnished). Now to the questions: 1. any thoughts about the origin of this violin? 2. is it safe to set up the instrument in the present condition to test how it sounds? 3. would the cost of the repair be higher than the final value of the instrument? Reason for question 2 (the most important) is that, since the sound post is properly set and I am able to fit a basic bridge, I could test the violin in the current condition with no expense: if it sounds good, I might decide to have it repaired and properly fitted by a luthier. If not, I can still return it to the seller. Thanks in advance! Oliver
Ratcliffiddles Posted January 7 Report Posted January 7 Looks more like one o these rather better Markneukirchen instruments that look a bit French to me.
Jeny Mahon Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 1 hour ago, Ratcliffiddles said: Looks more like one o these rather better Markneukirchen instruments that look a bit French to me. Funny, I had that same immediate reaction "Oh it's a nice little Mire-- no, wait, Markie."
Brad Dorsey Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 I think it's safe to test. But loosen the strings after testing. It looks like Markneukirchen to me.
Blank face Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 And the long uncleated saddle crack looks to me very close to a soundpost crack. To me unmistakeable a Markneukirchen/Bohemian, too.
GeorgeH Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 5 hours ago, Blank face said: And the long uncleated saddle crack looks to me very close to a soundpost crack. Yes, it does, and setting it up might lengthen the crack. This violin looks very much like an "E. Martin Saxony" violin marketed with "Parisian accents." You can generally find them on eBay in better condition for $500 - $1,000. I don't think this violin is worth repairing. 13 hours ago, mezzopiano said: Reason for question 2 (the most important) is that, since the sound post is properly set and I am able to fit a basic bridge, I could test the violin in the current condition with no expense: if it sounds good, I might decide to have it repaired and properly fitted by a luthier. If not, I can still return it to the seller. I think you have enough information to decide whether or not to return it without setting it up. If there are any changes from the original sold condition, even including things like changing strings, the seller can rightfully reject the return.
Blank face Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 There are a lot of unknown variables, like the original price you paid, if it would be enough to open it for some cleats, plane the board, make a setup, or if it’s in need of more costy operations (new fb, soundpost patch etc.). Also the costs for repairs and retail prices for similar violins might vary a lot between different countries or regions.
mezzopiano Posted January 8 Author Report Posted January 8 Many thanks for all your advice. I'm currently working from southern Germany and I paid about $400 for it. Repairing it would cost at least the same just for the cleats + planing the fingerboard + set-up, if I did my homework correctly, not even considering a soundpost patch. I think I will follow your advice of sending it back without setting it up. I still learned a lot from it: this forum is great, thanks again! Oh, and I definitely need to travel to Markneukirchen and visit the museum there...
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