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Posted

HI I bought this violin recently. It belonged to the mother in law of the seller, and this was used in the local symphony orchestra back in the days.

It is surprisingly loud, a bit tinny, but that could be due to the setup and strings and possibly it hasn't been played for a long time. 

The seller has no idea on the origin, or estimate of value. I am just wondering its valuable enough to warrant spending money on luthier. Please help.

 

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Posted

It looks like its in decent condition, looks like the neck set is OK and the neck proportions look good at least from these pics. Probable worth it if you are going to use it. Probably not if you want to become a violin business man.

Here's roughly the numbers. Bridge/soundpost $250, peg work ~$200 (I would go with a whole new set which would be more). Strings (wide range-I would go with Tonicas). The wild card would be the fingerboard, it probably needs work, they usually do, so add $100-200. And the nickel and dime stuff, nuts, glued seams, chinrest etc. Some shops might charge less for all of this work, but it still a marginal endeavor fom a financial standpoint.

One thing to consider is that if you like the sound now, most likely you will like it even more with a proper setup. So I would probably spend the money, just as a (relatively) inexpensive way to get a decent playing instrument back in use.

Posted
6 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

It is aa product of the Markneukirchen/Schönbach area cottage industry ca.1900. It is always worth spending money at a violin makers:)

Hehe I biught this for $60usd. Do you think its a good enough quality violin to spend money on?

 

What work do you think I should get. New bridge and sound post. That fingerboard is not ebony. And would a new bass bar help?

Posted
3 hours ago, deans said:

It looks like its in decent condition, looks like the neck set is OK and the neck proportions look good at least from these pics. Probable worth it if you are going to use it. Probably not if you want to become a violin business man.

Here's roughly the numbers. Bridge/soundpost $250, peg work ~$200 (I would go with a whole new set which would be more). Strings (wide range-I would go with Tonicas). The wild card would be the fingerboard, it probably needs work, they usually do, so add $100-200. And the nickel and dime stuff, nuts, glued seams, chinrest etc. Some shops might charge less for all of this work, but it still a marginal endeavor fom a financial standpoint.

One thing to consider is that if you like the sound now, most likely you will like it even more with a proper setup. So I would probably spend the money, just as a (relatively) inexpensive way to get a decent playing instrument back in use.

Thank you Dean. I biught for 60usd so I have some room to spend. The big question what might yhe value of this be now and what might the value of it be after so I can justify the spending

But feel very lucky to have bought for 60usd

Posted
6 hours ago, Strad O Various Jr. said:

The G string isn't in its notch on the bridge and the e string needs the sleeve positioned over the bridge, your teacher should have noticed that

Hehe to be fair she only had a quick glance between lessons. She will play on it over the weekend.

 

Also the violin came with loose strings and bridge and I out them back myself. And thus the terrible job :) still sounds good hehe

Posted

"What work do you think I should get. New bridge and sound post. That fingerboard is not ebony. And would a new bass bar help?"

You can spend as much money on it as you want, but it might only be worth $1000 or so, in very good condition. If you replace the bass bar, the cost, with the new bridge and strings, would far exceed that.

 

Posted
7 minutes ago, FiddleDoug said:

"What work do you think I should get. New bridge and sound post. That fingerboard is not ebony. And would a new bass bar help?"

You can spend as much money on it as you want, but it might only be worth $1000 or so, in very good condition. If you replace the bass bar, the cost, with the new bridge and strings, would far exceed that.

 

ohh i fyou think it might only worth $1000usd, then its definitely a no go on those spending. Maybe i just put on newbridge, new soundpost if required, new tail piece, and a set of dynamo. 

would ebony fingerboard help with the sound? i dont mind the current fingerboard at all. 

Posted
5 minutes ago, yoyogogo said:

ohh i fyou think it might only worth $1000usd, then its definitely a no go on those spending.

If you like it enough to play it, its worth 1000 bucks, IMO. If you play a lot. And especially if you are shelling out for Dynamos. I think as a general rule, if you enjoy the violin enough to spend more on strings during the time you own it,  than you did for the violin itself, you won. 

Posted
21 minutes ago, deans said:

If you like it enough to play it, its worth 1000 bucks, IMO. If you play a lot. And especially if you are shelling out for Dynamos. I think as a general rule, if you enjoy the violin enough to spend more on strings during the time you own it,  than you did for the violin itself, you won. 

I'm likin' that analysis. :)

Posted
28 minutes ago, deans said:

If you like it enough to play it, its worth 1000 bucks, IMO. If you play a lot. And especially if you are shelling out for Dynamos. I think as a general rule, if you enjoy the violin enough to spend more on strings during the time you own it,  than you did for the violin itself, you won. 

I like dynamo because of its shelf life. Cost more but last longer. Apparently hehe

Posted
1 hour ago, yoyogogo said:

Hehe I biught this for $60usd. Do you think its a good enough quality violin to spend money on?

 

What work do you think I should get. New bridge and sound post. That fingerboard is not ebony. And would a new bass bar help?

a new bass bar would NOT help

Posted

Personally I would just remove the fine tuners and put some decent strings on before doing anything else.

it’s amazing how much worse a violin can sound with good strings ..,

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