E. R. PfretzchnerFiddle Reviews

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

E. R. Pfretzchner
A112/c
submitted 4/17/2008

Submitter

mattiskim (see all reviews from this person)

Where Purchased

Flea Market

Year Purchased

1986

Price Paid

175 ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

Stuent grade fiddle made in Germany imported by Roth. Sounds OK for a used student fiddle. Got it for my daughter's elementary school strings class. Practice FOR kid use only. It sounded better with the Red Label strings than the Dominants i replaced them with. Sometimes you can OVERDRESS and instrument.

Sound Rating

5

Setup

No setup. I took it to a local music shop [ C.A. House, St. Clairsville,OH] they did a nice job. New bridge and replaced the 2 piece tuners [that cant be replaced with reg. tuner pegs]. I've replaced all 4 of them and then replaced more.

Setup Rating

2

Appearance

Looks good. Thermoplastic case and cheap fiberglass bow. Nice looking wood, a few nicks but for kids very firm and solid [ ex. for the tuners] Nice finish. Spruce top, maple back and sides.

Appearance Rating

not rated

Reliability

Good solid -but the tuners have left me down twice. Once I took it to a weekend bluegrass camp and the tuners broke in 3 days. I had to juryrig them to finish. Reg. pegs wont fit. I replaced them all and had to replace 2 more. If I was using it out a lot I would keep a few new ones [ not cheap] in the case for this.