Karl Meisel, an Under-rated Inexpensive Alternative?
I was looking at these things on EBay and one seller even made a nice video on YouTube demonstrating a particular model and it sounded really good but what can you tell from a video? I watched a video on there with a woman playing her not a copy Stradivarius and I thought it sounded like hell. Well I found a Karl Meisel on EBay with the same model number as the one in the video and bought it because it was dirt cheap and I was curious about it. After winning the auction, I thought it would probably end up finding a spot in my closet. I was shocked when I got the thing prepped to be able to play it. Now I'm thinking it is my other violins that might end up slightly neglected.
Note: typo in summery above that does not seem to be editable. What I meat to write is: short shrift (defined as "brief and unsympathetic treatment" according to thefreedictionary.com)
In pictures, these can have a dipped candy apple look, like some of the earlier Chinese examples had a tendency to have. Looking at it in person, what I see is a very sophisticated varnishing where it gives what one would really be having as the goal, to have the protective coating give an appearance of depth, which it looks like they managed to get right.
I thought I would put this out there because this stigma of "factory" violins may be misplaced when talking about the better violins that were being made in Germany in the sixties. I think these were skilled craftsmen who we can not even understand today, given the economics that ruined a lot of the old arts in Europe through globalization.
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I'm also curious about violins that get lumped in a group and therefore seen as no-good. Everyone is down on Chinese made violins but surely there is some talented Chinese luthier out there? Samual Shen seems to make some very nice and affordable violins although I believe he is now living in the US?
There are some very talented Chinese luthiers out there, some of whom even train in the States and elsewhere (abroad), then return home to make instruments. Some stay where they have trained, though. As with all things, be informed and stay informed so you'll be equipped to make the right decision, should the moment arise.
I bought four violins on EBay and figured that at least one I would like, and I could sell the rest. That may be easier said than done (that will be done locally), but the one I am keeping is the one that is the subject of this thread, a model 6115 which is better than what was the lower level, the 6110. This was "The Artist" which would be indicating it being an intermediary model. So, I am not advertising this. My intent is to show how these are nicer in person than would appear by crumby photos on EBay . I finally got around to taking some outdoor photos that I hope gives a good representation of this violin. I am not an expert on describing sound quality of a violin but once I changed strings on it, the sound is now resonating through my chest and this is new to me and I am taking it as a good thing.
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December 2, 2010 at 03:57 AM ·
I should note that I am not selling a violin, nor do I know anyone selling a violin. I bought one and that's the extent of my involvement with anything to do with my original post.
Another thing is there are a lot of variations on the violins going by this name and different levels between different models and probably some difference between different examples of a particular model. I'm just giving my personal experience and my thoughts that came from that experience. I was actually shocked and in a good way and am of course happy to have made a nice find and one a little better than expected.
Also, I meant to write Shrift, not thrift in my summery above. I looked it up and found out that a shrift is penance but in the days of hangings and such in England you weren't given much time for that before execution.