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Author Topic: Violin restoration (completely off target)  (Read 179 times)

DJoksch

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Violin restoration (completely off target)
« on: March 08, 2023, 05:38:11 pm »
Completely off topic.  This is a violin bought by my mother’s great aunt in about the 1870’s and brought to America when she immigrated.  There is a tangled web of murder and a hanging that shrouds its past.  It was broken about 70-80 years ago and ended up in my closet.  After taking it apart and installing 32 cleats, it is back together.  I am currently taking lessons for fun.  It has a beautiful tone.
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St Paul Steam

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2023, 07:01:36 pm »
Now that is some nice work, I can tell this isn't your 1st time with this kind of work, serious collection of clamps 😉
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Inge

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2023, 08:09:19 am »
That is impressive, what does the label say?  Does it have real purfling? I took fiddle lessons 10 - 12 years ago, mostly to learn Cajun music. I did a large share of my lessons in Louisiana.  Good luck with the lessons, hang in there!
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DJoksch

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2023, 10:10:10 am »
It has a label that says “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno”.  After I got it together, I took it to a violin shop in Berkeley Ca. where they made a bridge and a sound post for it. They confirmed that it was German from around 1870-1880.  These are fairly common.  It only has a double line in the front and back.  The tail piece has a nice silver wire inlay. It also has an 1911 repair marking.  I was to take lessons in the late 60’s, but it was already broken. My lessons were delayed 50 years.
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DJoksch

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2023, 11:46:38 am »
I practiced working on a local High School dead cellos before working on my violin.  The cellos shown were purchased in the 1940’s.  The new cellos they purchased are imported and made of plywood lacking the resonance of these rescue instruments.   I ended up repairing five in total studying crack repair techniques as I went.
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Weedensteam

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2023, 03:58:41 pm »
Very impressive work, and the history you mentioned has some of us intrigued.
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txlabman

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2023, 10:50:29 am »

My wife leads an "Instrument Petting Zoo" for our local symphony.


She has been quite an expert at repairing string instruments.

She has 7 violins (including the smallest Suzuki Violin), 2 junior Cellos, a junior Viola and a junior classical guitar.

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RichSteamTx

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2023, 11:12:45 am »
The skills that I keep seeing around these forums is astonishing - you guys make me feel like a 5 year old running around inside a china shop!  What great stuff, stories, and outreach work!
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Richard

jkbixby

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2023, 02:08:08 pm »
Looks like you did a great job restoring the violin - very well done! It takes a lot of skill to correctly repair a stringed instrument especially a violin as a small mistake can ruin the sound. My grandfather, a retired stationary engineer at our local steel plant and a rough, hard drinking guy to boot retired and went down to his tiny basement workshop where he made nine beautiful and sought after violins......amazing I thought. All his forms and clamps and handmade planes and everything else went to my niece's husband who makes custom guitars so it's all in a good place. Keep up the good work as it will be hugely satisfying down the road.
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Regards,
Larry

tenniV11

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2023, 03:58:52 pm »
Very good work on that Stradivarius - but I am sure
it was made in Mittenwald Germany - the funny is I have
a Violoncello that has a similar label inside - but
with the name of Giuseppe Guarneri. These are all fake
labels as the builder's tried to get more money for the
instruments. Today you have to buy a chinese violine in
the style of Stradivari - haha
Arnold

NB. you should try guitar playing - it is much easier than violin
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Raphael

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2023, 04:43:59 pm »
Bonjour,
It is possible to reconcile music and model making  ;)
https://youtu.be/3L4szKL-Ewg
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txlabman

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Re: Violin restoration (completely off target)
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2023, 08:24:05 am »
Quote from: Raphael on May 30, 2023, 04:43:59 pm
Bonjour,
It is possible to reconcile music and model making  ;)
https://youtu.be/3L4szKL-Ewg

Awesome!
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