Comments

Upper bout looks Hopf-ish. Definitly not Hopf ! I'll get a better pic of the upper part...the button had broken off when the neck let loose..so it's a bit messy up there... It's funny. There's a fellow from China who plays the violin in the NYC subways. He's extremely good. I think he is a graduate of one of China's many conservatories. I was on my way to practice, and had my violin with me. He nodded to me as if to acknowledge a fellow violinist which embarassed me because I am nowhere at his level. His playing at the upper positions was so effortless and filled with grace that it gave me a vision of how I should and can play. Anyhow, I asked him about his violin, and he told me it is a German violin which turned out to be a Hopt. You laid it face down on ceramic tile? VEEEERRRRRYYYYY gently Carley ! VERRYY gently ! I'm not a violin expert. My comment was just an association I make with a squarish upper bout, as likely wrong as not here. Means nothing. Does it have a grafted scroll? Darnton knows what this is if you can get his attention. As far as it being a "hopf" violin...I have no idea. Niether of the luthiers I brought it to ever mentioned hopf...Charles Magby in Ct was one I had brought it to. He's the one who told me it was a 250 year old saxon. The luthier I brought it to yesturday told me it was a german made instrument and very nice.
Either way, the violin itself isn't worth much in dollars...the top is not original to the rest of it and there is no label or mark telling who the maker was. It's just a lovely sounding instrument, that's all.
The bow however...I've had 4 different luthiers say it is a high quality fairly valuable old bow...worth well more than the violin. I have to get that checked out and get the repairs made on it that it needs. The 'extra' bow I have to use until that is done is GASTLY !! ACK ! I'm afraid of picking up some bad habit or something trying to compensate for all it's faults ! Thanks for the input Jim. I appreciate the help ! I've edited my last comment as I have been googling images of hopf violins..and I can see that there is a reasemblance of sorts. It really doesn't matter to me though who made it...whoever it was did a fine dem job because the quality of tone is just wonderful.
Do you know who here is informed on bows ? I'm curious about this one I have in the pic there.... Ah, okay. I figured as much, but I had to voice my concern! ;)