SOLD! American Violin, Contemporary, 4/4 size, very little Provenance

This is, as far as can be determined, an amateur-made, American violin, approximately 40 to 50 years old. No label. The person who brought this fiddle in to us reports that he purchased it from the famous "Ted's Music Store" of Baltimore, MD, in the late 70s. Ironically, Ted's closed its doors only last year.

I had no high hopes for this violin. The top is of an irregular and wide-grained spruce, the back and ribs are of a plain maple, (two-piece back). The saddle is rosewood while the nut and end pin are quality ebony. The pegs are rosewood, and the fingerboard, while quality, is of an ebonized rosewood. The strings are D'Addario Helicore mediums. The tailpiece is of the old style (years ago) but with excellent built-in tuners. Perhaps it is Bakelite.

The varnish is a spirit varnish of an amber hue. This poor fella has seen some bumps and bruises over the years. The A peghole needed to be bushed, and there are two small cracks on the lower left rib which have been sealed. There is also some surface fracturing on the lower right top, but this too has been tightly sealed.

We gave this violin a thorough over-hauling, with re-graduation, top quality bass bar and sound post, fingerboard planing and dressing, and a set-up with quality bridge and strings. Because of the cosmetic bumps and bruises, we are offering this violin at a sale price. It is a real bargain! You'll get much more fiddle than you bargained for.

TONE: Lo and behold! I couldn't believe it when I drew the bow across the strings. It has a nearly explosive, big sound. It is not edgy, nor is it too dark, but it is very aggressive, yet quite playable. There is enough warmth in the tone to please the ear; however, this violin can hold its own. I took it to some gigs to play it against other instruments. It is solid and robust. This is why I always maintain that old wood can almost always hold happy surprises, even a 50-year-old fiddle.

Sound Sample: Please be forbearing and keep in mind that I am no Paganini! This was recorded with a humble iPhone; if you do not have a sophisticated sound system on your computer, try to use headphones so that you can hear as much as possible what is being played. https://youtu.be/QWw8UhfpG3s

**As a rule, we do not include chinrests when a violin is purchased. We've found that customers are very picky about that, as they well should be. There is nothing worse than an uncomfortable chinrest. Many players prefer their own chinrests, and there are hundreds of different models out there. If you are a brand new player or someone who would be happy to receive a "Guarneri style" chinrest, we will include one at your request.

PLEASE NOTE! There is no free shipping to Alaska or Hawaii or to countries other than the United States.

TERMS OF SALE: Filius Fiddles, LLC guarantees all violins sold are functional and playable right out of the box. Any repairs done on the instrument are guaranteed upon arrival, less any abuse or negligence on the part of the owner. Starting from the date of delivery, you have two weeks during which to try out your new fiddle, let it settle in, make any string changes if so desired, and play it in different venues so that you can get a good idea of its ability. Should you care to return or exchange it during that two-week period, no problem! The buyer pays for return shipping. As long as there is no change in the integrity of the instrument, no sign of negligence or new damage, a full refund will be sent.

Also, after that two-week period, should you wish to exchange the violin for one of equal or greater value, that is doable. Simply contact me and we can make that happen.