trip to the luthier with the ole saxon

March 19, 2006 at 3:25 AM

Ok....visited the luthier today. She had a good look at the neck and she says she thinks she can fix it without taking the top off...which could save me a bundle if it's so !

Funny, but the price she quoted me for the job, just....by coincidence.."??"....happens to be the exact amount I've managed to save up for this job to this point ! hhmmm...interesting...

I left the violin with her and will be contacting the owner to see what she would like me to do..

I also found out the bow that I have is one which is probably wasted on me...to tell the truth. She told me who she believes the maker is...but being an ignorant slob about such things...I can't remember the name she gave me..even though I made a note in my head to remember. I think the name started with an "S" and they were copied quite a bit back in the 20's. She suggested I take it to someone who specializes in bows as it needs a bit of work. Great.....something else to save for...

Either way, this violin and bow are of a quality that I could NEVER have afforded to purchase, I'm sure ! What a gift ! I do hope I can measure up at some point and do these beauties justice !

Here's a couple of pics of this lovely old gentleman...german made I found out today. It has a very high arched back which gives it a wonderfully deep mellow tone. (ignore that chin rest, the original broke and that was all I had on hand)

Some pics of the bow as well...some of you may be able to place the maker...

I appologize for taking up so much room with the pics. I tried to get the two of the violin next to each other...but I guess you can't do that...tried thumbnails too, they didn't work either... ?

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 3:55 AM

Upper bout looks Hopf-ish.

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 4:02 AM

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...

From John Chew
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 8:20 AM

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.

From Carley Anderson
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 6:25 PM

You laid it face down on ceramic tile?

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 7:18 PM

VEEEERRRRRYYYYY gently Carley ! VERRYY gently !

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 7:52 PM

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.

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 7:59 PM

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 !

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 8:06 PM

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....

From Carley Anderson
Posted on March 20, 2006 at 1:53 AM

Ah, okay. I figured as much, but I had to voice my concern! ;)

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trip to the luthier with the ole saxon

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