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Scherl & Roth 1713 Stradevarius Copy submitted 11/24/2008
Submitter	Curt57 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	pawn shop
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	Seems to suit the bluegrass fiddle style very well.
Sound Rating	10
Setup	I set it up myself. The only thing I replaced on it were the strings (switched from violin strings to fiddle strings). the actions is excellent on this instrument.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Excellent finish and durable construction. You can see this fiddle in my photo section.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	yes to all.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	never actuall dealt with them.
Customer Service	10
Components	Haven't found any weak or cheap parts. As I said before, the only thing I have replace are the strings.
Components Rating	10
Overall Comments	I would recommend this instrument to anyone at any price.
Overall Rating	10

Wilhelm Ebe'rle AntoniusStradivarius Copy submitted 10/22/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Friend
Year Purchased	1986
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	It seems to be an OK fiddle. Not particularly loud or rich sounding, but a good starter or perhaps intermediate level fiddle.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	I bought it used, but it was set up satisfactory.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	It is not a gorgeous fiddle. The wood is medium flame and the appearance has a dull shine to it.
Appearance Rating	6
Reliability	It has stood up well over the years and I have never had a problem with it.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service	It was probably made in the 20s in Germany and from what little I know about these fiddles, the manufacturer does not exist anymore.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	All it’s parts were made well. I changed the tailpiece out for one with fine adjusters for all the strings and a different chin rest. I also polished (with toothpaste) the top and back to shine the finish somewhat. Everything else is original to when I purchased it
Components Rating	8
Overall Comments	It is a good fiddle, but not as loud as most fiddles that friends play. The tone is not as rich as other fiddles I have heard either, but not scratchy either. It records well. Were I a good fiddler player who played with a group, I would trade it for a louder fiddle, but it is satisfactory to learn on and be used in public occasionally.
Overall Rating	7

China ? N/A submitted 10/22/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	eBay
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	$50.00 ($US)
Sound	It seems to be an OK fiddle. Not particularly loud or rich sounding, but a good starter or perhaps intermediate level fiddle. It is a standard Stradivarius copy.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	The set up was very rough. I had to trim the peg holes, bridge and soundpost to fit properly.
Setup Rating	3
Appearance	The finish is a deep black paint or stain with gold (probably painted) lines around the edges. Very pretty.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	It has stood up well so far and I have never had a problem with it.
Reliability Rating	8
Customer Service	I bought it new, but it has no name or makers mark on it. Probably made in China and I doubt it has a warranty that would be honored if I needed it.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	All it’s parts appear to be made well. The fit of the external parts like pegs, bridge and soundpost were not done properly. Once they were fitted, the fiddle sounded and played much better.
Components Rating	7
Overall Comments	It is a good fiddle, and the black finish is unique. It is louder than most fiddles I have owned, but not as loud as most good fiddles that friends play. The tone is not as rich as other fiddles I have heard either. For the money considering it came with a case and bow, it is a good deal. I have thought that I would perhaps make a solid body electric fiddle out of it someday because of its appealing jet-black finish and cheap cost (in case I screw it up).
Overall Rating	7

Stainer n/a submitted 10/22/2008
Submitter	MitchellB (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Milwaukee pawnshop
Year Purchased	1981
Price Paid	Don't Remember (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	It seems to be an OK fiddle. Not particularly loud or rich sounding, but a good starter or perhaps intermediate level fiddle. It has a new finish on it, so I hope it will sound a little better with age.
Sound Rating	6
Setup	I bought it used, but it was set up satisfactory at the time. I allowed a friend to repair a small crack in the top, but sadly he died before completeing it. When I got it back most of the finish had been stripped and most of the parts were missing. It now had 3 cracks in the top and nothing had been repaired.
Setup Rating	1
Appearance	It is not a gorgeous fiddle. The wood is medium flame and I have refinished it in a dark walnut/brown hand rubbed varnish to hide the crack repairs I made.
Appearance Rating	4
Reliability	The top had 3 cracks in it that I repaired. The neck angle seems a little low and it now sports a new hand rubbed varnish finish.
Reliability Rating	4
Customer Service	It was probably made in the 20s and from what little I know about these fiddles, the German manufacturer does not exist anymore.
Customer Service	not rated
Components	The top has 3 crack repairs around the F-holes. I changed the tailpiece out for one with fine adjusters for all the strings and a different chin rest. It had Grover Champion friction tuners pegs on it originally when I bought, but they were missing when I got it back. The peg holes are enlarged so normal wooden pegs will not fit it.
Components Rating	5
Overall Comments	German made Joseph Stainer copy. Stamped in ink on the inside of the back and stamped Stainer on back. It will be a good fiddle, but not as loud as most fiddles that friends play. The tone is rich and it records well. Were I a good fiddler player who played a lot, I would trade it for a better (unrepaired unrefinished) fiddle, but it is satisfactory to learn on and be used in public occasionally.
Overall Rating	5

Silver Creek Model 5 submitted 7/12/2008
Submitter	harperk31794 (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Musicians Friend
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter
Sound	I'm a novice fiddler, however, the fiddle sounds good, loud rich tone, I had a friend play it and it has a really nice sound.
Sound Rating	6
Setup	I had it checked and the sound post was up and in the right place the bridge was correctly positioned.
Setup Rating	8
Appearance	Flamed Maple Sides, Back and neck. Solid Carved Spruce Top Maple Bridge with 4 Fine Tuners Guarneri Ebony Chin Rest, Ebony Pegs Spirit Varnish Finish Finish didn't seem to be great quality there are some dull spots
Appearance Rating	5
Reliability	Hardware seems good, finish is suspect we'll have to see.
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	No Comment
Customer Service	10
Components	Parts seem to be quality. Nice case and bow as well.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	Not qualified to recommend or not, seems to be a good fiddle I'll know more after a while and I'll repost another review.
Overall Rating	7

Jean Tabary Prism (Carbon Fiber Bow) submitted 6/13/2008
Submitter	bj (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	http://conradstrings.com/product_details.asp?id=1385
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	104 ($US)
Sound	This bow has improved my speed, accuracy and phrasing overnight, and has made playing much easier overall, especially drones and double stops. It weighs approximately 60 grams and is extremely well balanced. I am a beginner so I don't have much to compare, but I read a lot of reviews before my purchase. Here's a couple I found. http://www.jrmusicsupply.com/testimonials.htm http://fiddleheads.ca/shop/testimonials/index.htm (scroll down!) I did try a Glasser braided Carbon Fiber bow, and liked it just a bit better, but it was much more money.
Sound Rating	9
Setup	Bow only needed to be tightened and rosined.
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	This is an attractive bow. Real MOP inlay on the ebony frog, silver winding, and a leather grip. I got the bronze, which is a satin metallic finish that looks like wood from just a short distance away, and it does not give the appearance of a carbon fiber bow, it looks much better than most. Though you can always Go Green for St. Pattys, if you play Irish! There are some fun colors available.
Appearance Rating	10
Reliability	LIFETIME guarantee against defects in workmanship and materials. It doesn't get much better than that.
Reliability Rating	10
Customer Service	I bought this from Conrad online, as noted above. They were good to deal with, and the price was considerably lower than elsewhere. Shipped fast, packaged well.
Customer Service	9
Components	Excellent quality for the price. The tensioner might be just a bit better as I compare it to the Glasser braided CF, but I imagine it is on Tabary's higher end bows.
Components Rating	9
Overall Comments	This is a stellar offering for the price. An excellent step up bow for those beginner to intermediate players who are ready to take it to the next level. Also a good travel bow or second bow for those who have an expensive wood bow they wish to last longer. :) I do have a comment for left handers. I had read a review that I can't find now that mentions this bow having a camber to it that favors the hair on one side more than the other, and that gives it an exceptionally large "sweet spot". My teacher is left handed and tried this bow, and complained it had a "dead spot" in the place the sweet spot should be. I told him to try playing with it tilted opposite the way he usually holds and try a note. The dead spot went away. So unless they make a left hand model, I would suggest that left handers stay away from this one. And I've not seen mention of a left hand model on any of the sites I shopped.
Overall Rating	9

E. R. Pfretzchner E 11 15 1/2 Viola submitted 5/10/2008
Submitter	wilford (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	from a friend
Year Purchased	2008
Price Paid	400.00 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	This viola has a "woody" rich bottom and clear upper tonal range. It's very responsive and although I think it was intended for a student violist, it behaves very well in the recording studio, producing a clean and wholesome tone.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	The viola was built in 1979 in Mittenwald, Obb. It's a copy of a Stradivarius and was hand made in West Germany. It was set up and adjusted by the Scherl & Roth shop in Cleveland Ohio in 1980.
Setup Rating	9
Appearance	It is finished beautifully and shows very little wear on the back and literally no wear on the front and sides. The finish is well done.
Appearance Rating	9
Reliability	The pegs are well set and dependable, staying in tune very well with little slippage noted. I would bring this without a backup viola to a gig.
Reliability Rating	9
Customer Service
Customer Service	not rated
Components
Components Rating	not rated
Overall Comments	I would cheerfully recommend this fiddle for the price I paid without a hitch. I've seen them on Ebay for over $1,100.00 and I'm sure they're making their owners real happy.
Overall Rating	8

Nippon no info. submitted 4/17/2008
Submitter	mattiskim (see all reviews from this person)
Where Purchased	Smakula Music, Elkins, WV
Year Purchased	2006
Price Paid	700 ($US) (bought USED)
Sound	Very nice fiddle sonnd. This is a fiddle not a VIOLIN, Bright, squeeky, loud fiddle sound. Not a lot of bottom [ this may be by string choice I havent had a reason to change to other strings] smooth playing. IT SOUNDS LIKE A FIDDLE, even when I play it. I had to get a attached mute so my wife wouldnt go crazy.
Sound Rating	7
Setup	Set Up by Bob Smakula, Elkins WV--Very well done. with fiddle bridge [ flat] and new pirastro comcor strings]
Setup Rating	10
Appearance	Very nicely made strad copy. 2 piece flame maple back, light brown to red color the pre-war Japanese standard. It has some odd shapes in the style[ compared to a trad strat] but this is just a style factor in these japanese made things.
Appearance Rating	6
Reliability	It was reconditioned by B. Smakula. It seems very solid. I have seen others of this type used by jammers and teachers with great success. Always have a backup.
Reliability Rating	7
Customer Service	Bob Smakula is very easy to work with and quite a reconditioner and set up guy. He has great service and customer relations.
Customer Service	10
Components	It came with a new soft case and fiberglass bow. A new good bow would help. For fiddeling it should be ok as is. I added a mute to the strings after seeing my teacher with one. I was in pretty good shape for being 70 yrs old and going through WWII.