yoyogogo - Posted - 02/14/2024:  00:55:37

I had the chance to play on an old violin today. It had been worked on by a luthier and he found the text amati under the finger board. There was no other markings on the violin. It is being offered for 600usd. Thoughts please and is it worth it?



Would love to hear your thoughts please and whether it's worth the investment.



I feel the finger board is quite short compare to my cheap full size violin. So that felt a little bit strange. Also the shape of the bottom is very curvy. Another strange feature.



But the sound was full and warm and very loud next to my ear. And schindler list just felt so touching even with my terrible playing.



One thing that is making me considering this 4/4 instrument is that it has been worked on by a well known lutheir in New Zealand. he put on new bridge, string, polished, and he lowered the fingerboard, this is how he discovered the amati text under it. So at least i know it has been setup properly and ready to play. The cost of the work was essentially $300, i.e. half the price already.



Thank you for your advices

Edited by - yoyogogo on 02/14/2024 00:56:25

 

wrench13 - Posted - 02/14/2024:  05:54:09

In this range, it is more about how it feels and sounds rather then anything printed in or on the fiddle. Honestly this looks like a low end trade fiddle to me. $600 seems on the high end, but if it was recently set up and worked on by a reputable luthier AND you like how it sounds and feels, it may be worth it.

yoyogogo - Posted - 02/14/2024:  11:10:03

can i please ask, from the images, why do you feel its low end? this is purely so i understand more and educate myself please :)

wrench13 - Posted - 02/15/2024:  06:00:18

After looking (and handling/playing) at a few hundred fiddles, you get a sense of overall quality. And some things like the stain, finish don;t hit as particularly artistically applied. The lighter spots on the top are not well thought out, usually that is done to simulate wear at that spot, but the one near the bridge - who even touches the fiddle there? The varnish or laquer seems thick and not very transparent. Also the F-holes are not well executed, notice the notches on the left side are not well defined and clean. Scroll not well defined. All these add up, to me. But as I said, if you like how it sounds and plays, thats the most important thing.

Erockin - Posted - 02/15/2024:  06:43:39

Take it from these guys...they know their stuff. I'm grateful I found this site. It's helped me immensely. What I do like about the ones that you have posted is the full piece backs. Don't think too much on the price. Think about the sound and the way it makes you feel when you saw on it.

boxbow - Posted - 02/15/2024:  12:16:40

quote:

---

Originally posted by Erockin

Take it from these guys...they know their stuff. I'm grateful I found this site. It's helped me immensely. What I do like about the ones that you have posted is the full piece backs. Don't think too much on the price. Think about the sound and the way it makes you feel when you saw on it.

---

You can't buy your way into playability.  You have to put in the time with the instrument.  That's very difficult if your instrument sounds bad or is hard to manage and you can't stand to have it under your chin. 

I well understand about living within a budget and it's taken me a long while to upgrade my gear for that reason.   Is this where your budget lies?  Have you tried other fiddles in that range?  Did you know that you can further uupgrade your fiddle(s) by going bow shopping?  A good bow is at least as important as a good instrument.  It might be your next upgrade when your piggy bank gets uncomfortably full.

One other thing, now that I think about it.  I just handed my latest acquisition off to a luthier to do his magic.  This fiddle that you like has been recently worked on.  That is money in the bank for you and a (unsurprisingly) largish outlay for me.

yoyogogo - Posted - 02/15/2024:  14:18:35

In New Zealand, labour is quite expensive, probably everywhere else in the world. The luthier cost was $530NZd, and the violin is $1000NZD. that was 2 years ago, so for the same work now, it would probably be even more expensive. it will be interesting to hear what the violin teachers will say about this violin once they get a chance to play it. i dont trust my ears