Old Violin

Barn find last year. In the process of restoring it.
Posting here because I didn't see a music/instrument section.

 

Be aware that any restoration you do may reduce the value of the item.

 

I'm not changing anything. Certainly not gonna refinish it. I'm just gonna get it back up and playing. I already cleated the top cracks and put the top back on. It's gonna be a great sounding instrument once I'm done with it.

 

It's an old 1870's era fiddle. Someone played the hell out of it for a reason. ...

 

Whoever made that cared about what they were doing. I wish we knew who that was.

 

What else did they have to do in 1870??

 

People tended to large families back then...(innocent face)

 

Make babies

 

Which is why the sugar pots are so large from then.

 

Yes, and they also kept the elderly with the family, not much entertainment at night after the chores were done except maybe Gramps and his fiddle.

 

Life ain't anygood if there ain't no sugar

 

Agreed. I've owned a few nice old fiddles and this one is a little more special than those. It has a natural resonance when tapped with the finger. The wood is alive still.

Definitely European made. The headstock repair tells me that it is an incredibly good violin for the reason that the repair work is incredibly fine and well done. No one would put money into repairing something that isn't very good.

 

Unless it really was Grandpa's, of course, and the sentimental value outweighed whatever the actual dollar value was. I've repaired things that weren't worth it for similar reasons.

 

I understand that as well. It probably was Grandpa's fiddle, nonetheless, it is much nicer in construction than mass produced shop violins. The quality of flamed maple as well as varnish speaks highly of the makers' intentions. It was made for a professional violinist, I'm almost certain.

 

I really dig on the scroll work/shape/size