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fiddlemn - Posted - 06/06/2023: 11:18:17
I fully acknowledge that I’m a sucker for an old dusty helpless fiddle that isn’t being played. I found this one in an antique shop and against my better judgement bought it. It looks like it needs some seam work on the lower bout near the end pin. The fingerboard was carelessly slapped on as it isn’t centered and the nut is missing. It’s super dusty and it smells like the musty old coffin case that it was in. It has some sort of old waxy strings on it that are not metal other than the e string. It has the word “Windsor” stamped on the back of the scroll. No label inside. My guess is that it’s an old German import but I don’t know much about these things. I’ve seen conservatory violins with stamps but not with “Windsor”. It has some different inlay on the back. Any thoughts on this violin? My guess is it isn’t special but I just had to save it.
Edited by - fiddlemn on 06/06/2023 11:28:57
Erockin - Posted - 06/06/2023: 11:39:55
Nice! I've been looking ever since I found mine less than a year ago. I think you should name this one "Windsor"
Can't wait to hear it!
KCFiddles - Posted - 06/06/2023: 16:10:24
If I ran across it, I'd probably put some time into it and see what I could get out of it. Better than average wood and workmanship for a trade violin (which it is). Would like to see the lower bout. and better pix or the rib corners and throat of the scroll.
Edited by - KCFiddles on 06/06/2023 16:11:03
fiddlemn - Posted - 06/06/2023: 16:31:08
thank you that makes me feel better for buying it! It's amazing what a difference running a damp cloth over it made. Here's some more pictures. The fingerboard is a hot mess. It's totally out of alignment with the neck and the nut is gone
quote:
Originally posted by KCFiddles
If I ran across it, I'd probably put some time into it and see what I could get out of it. Better than average wood and workmanship for a trade violin (which it is). Would like to see the lower bout. and better pix or the rib corners and throat of the scroll.
Edited by - fiddlemn on 06/06/2023 16:33:15
KCFiddles - Posted - 06/06/2023: 18:14:07
First thing to be sure about is whether the neck itself is properly aligned. It takes some skill to get the fingerboard off cleanly, and to get it re-glued properly. It takes a LOT more skill and practice to do a neck reset if the neck itself is out of line. Hot hide glue only, and don't do anything you haven't practiced on a junker. IMHO, this one won't ever be worth a lot of money, but it should become a good player if someone who has good skills puts some time in on it. You'll notice, I didn't ask how much you paid for it. That's not the point.
fiddlemn - Posted - 06/06/2023: 18:20:12
thanks so much! I really appreciate it! I'm not shy- I only paid $100 for it as I knew it was a risk. I knew even at $100 that it could be a risk. Hopefully it is at least worth that but like you said.. not the point.
quote:
Originally posted by KCFiddles
First thing to be sure about is whether the neck itself is properly aligned. It takes some skill to get the fingerboard off cleanly, and to get it re-glued properly. It takes a LOT more skill and practice to do a neck reset if the neck itself is out of line. Hot hide glue only, and don't do anything you haven't practiced on a junker. IMHO, this one won't ever be worth a lot of money, but it should become a good player if someone who has good skills puts some time in on it. You'll notice, I didn't ask how much you paid for it. That's not the point.
NCnotes - Posted - 06/07/2023: 09:39:02
Thank you for rescuing the poor old fiddle!
Would love to hear what it sounds like after you get it fixed up :-)
NCnotes - Posted - 06/07/2023: 09:42:04
quote:
Originally posted by KCFiddles
Would like to see the lower bout. and better pix or the rib corners and throat of the scroll.
For somebody who is just a player, I'm curious...
what do these parts tell you about an instrument's quality?
(It's ok if you don't have time to write :-)
The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 06/07/2023: 10:30:06
quote:
Originally posted by NCnotes
quote:
Originally posted by KCFiddles
Would like to see the lower bout. and better pix or the rib corners and throat of the scroll.
For somebody who is just a player, I'm curious...
what do these parts tell you about an instrument's quality?
(It's ok if you don't have time to write :-)
Those things are identifiers for the regional making style, not the quality of construction. There are a lot of details one can use to determine where and when a violin was made.
NCnotes - Posted - 06/07/2023: 10:48:05
Thanks Rich, I understand!
DougD - Posted - 06/07/2023: 12:52:51
NCnotes - Don't know if this will be of interest or not, but I happen to own an instrument by this maker, and every once in a while I Google to learn more about it. Just found this thread that mentions some regional\historical building styles: maestronet.com/forum/index.php...4-seidel/
Some nice pictures at any rate.
fiddlemn - Posted - 06/29/2023: 18:51:29
I took it to a violin shop out of curiosity and they offered me $50 and said it would cost me $600-$800 to fix it. Thankfully, I have a friend that tinkers with getting old fiddles playable again. I'm so glad he did. I am loving how this fiddle sounds!!
youtube.com/shorts/lE0AaeAyxE4...ure=share
youtu.be/VCYq2W8BMzQ
quote:
Originally posted by NCnotes
Thank you for rescuing the poor old fiddle!
Would love to hear what it sounds like after you get it fixed up :-)
fiddlemn - Posted - 06/29/2023: 18:55:59
before and after pictures
quote:
Originally posted by fiddlemn
I took it to a violin shop out of curiosity and they offered me $50 and said it would cost me $600-$800 to fix it. Thankfully, I have a friend that tinkers with getting old fiddles playable again. I'm so glad he did. I am loving how this fiddle sounds!!
youtube.com/shorts/lE0AaeAyxE4...ure=share
youtu.be/VCYq2W8BMzQ
quote:
Originally posted by NCnotes
Thank you for rescuing the poor old fiddle!
Would love to hear what it sounds like after you get it fixed up :-)
NCnotes - Posted - 06/29/2023: 19:10:58
Wow! What an epic rescue!
It is sounding so good!
And just think how it was lying there dusty and unplayable until “brought back to life” :-)
looking very nice, too!
Edited by - NCnotes on 06/29/2023 19:11:59
'The Coleraine jig' 1 day
'Woodchoppers reel' 2 days
