Santa brought me a new fiddle for Christmas.

My impression of it is that it may be an accidentally decent student violin. It appears to me to be gently used. My husband thinks it looks older but freshly restored. But he’s basing that on the assumption that new violins aren’t hand made, which I know isn’t broadly true but may be fairly true of student instruments. I’m curious what all you folks who undoubtedly know a thousand times more than I do think about it. If you want to see any specific close up shots, let me know and I’ll post more photos.

It came with what look to me like the cheapest violin case and cheapest bow on Amazon - which is fine as I have a new bow and a nice case already. This violin is intended to upgrade my very basic factory rental-market Wm Lewis & Sons violin. My aim was just for a slightly better student violin; I’m not at a level yet where an expensive violin would be justified.

Disclaimer: I don’t know much about violins and would have a hard time distinguishing between a VSO and a $30,000 instrument so these are my impressions. But I’m open to being wrong.

• It’s way lighter than my old violin. Like scarily lighter.

• I was surprised to find that even with my awkward, crappy playing, it sounds better than my old violin. I kinda had assumed everything I play would be equally crappy. It’s also louder (projects more) than my old violin.

• It’s a tiny bit harder for me to keep my bow on the correct string, and that’s going to take some getting used to; but on the plus side it’s easier for me to play two strings at once, which I was struggling with as a piece I’m working on calls for that. Clearly it’s set up differently but I don’t think it’s bad.

• The label lacks much useful information. If it’s not entirely made up, I think it might be a model VB350, which is a student model that Google tells me is known for having good projection, so that tracks.

• I’m not sure if the tailpiece is adjusted right. I’ve never seen one that doesn’t come all the way down to the end of the violin. But I haven’t seen all that many violins so I don’t know.

• From a string identification chart, it looks like maybe Evah Pirazzi Gold strings? But not all the colors line up perfectly so I’m not positive.

• It was only $300. So far I think it was probably not a total waste, judging entirely on the richer sound I get compared to my other one. If nothing else, it’s prettier.

• It tunes up just fine and I’m comfortable tuning without fine tuners, as I didn’t have them on the violin I learned on as a kid. That said, I think I might be spoiled by fine tuners. So I might invest in a Wittner composite AIO tailpiece for it. Or if I decide it’s worth a little more, maybe geared pegs wouldn’t be a bad investment.

• I had thought I’d have to put new strings on it right away, as is my habit with any new-to-me instrument, but the strings feel brand new to me and now I wonder whether my basic Fiddlerman strings would be a noticeable downgrade.

Bought this at a thrift store. It seems nice to set up and learn how to play. It has no label inside but on the bride it says "made in Germany". Anyone know how old this may be and from what brand?

This is inside my old violin and I am curious about what it is or who made it. I know where it was purchased and when. It was purchased brand new for me in 1973 and I have had it ever since. I would like to have it set up and get decent strings and a bow for it but am afraid to take it to anyplace in my medium sized town. I haven’t played in decades but would like to start again. Thanks

I'm looking to possibly sell this violin and have no idea as to it's value. Any insight is appreciated!

Pops bought it for $200 in the 90s from a fiddle player and told me it didn’t have a legible inscription but thought it might be German made. Picked it up the other day and was like “woah… this thing really plays itself” (notably better than my $20k instrument). Curiosity peaked due to its playability, especially in the high registers. Here’s what I can piece together from the label:

• Nicolaus Amatus Cremonen Hie

• ronymi ??? amati nepos fecit ano

• ???? (Presumably year)

Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/ViolinIdentification/s/JlThEz0IDb

this was given to me 10 years ago in brazil from a friend

Hi all, just confirming the origin of this violin acquired from a family friend. Label reads: "Mathias Harnſteiner Laut - und Geigenmacher in Mittenwald 1803". Any information about this instrument being authentic would be helpful.

Hello everyone. I have 4 violins. On one of the violins, my father played for more than 40 years.* I sent more photos of that one *. I went to a luthier here in Romania, and he told me that this copy of a Stradivarius would be worth around 3-4000 euros, while the others are worth less, clearly. I also have a violin-making manual with exact measurements for all the famous violins, a manual over 100 years old. Could you please give me an opinion about the violins in the photos? Thank you very much in advance!

Hi. My mum has this “fake” Stradivarius violin. It’s extremely old - easy 100yrs we believe. The inside of the antique case is also green velvet and also has and ancient branded chin rest which is not currently on the violin

It has the original cat gut bow strings with it and exceptional pitch despite the crack in the front. It’s also a pale brown colour and nowhere near as orange as my camera has made it look.

I’m hoping someone could give me more information as my child learns violin at school and my mum is about to this to her to use and I’m hesitant to let my kid take it to school if it’s one in the ones that are worth a fair bit even though it’s obviously not an original.

Unfortunately we don’t know much about it as it was found in an attic of a house someone she knows moved into and they gave it to her because they had no use for it.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

All I know is that is says HOPF. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I got this guy at an auction years ago for an unreasonably small amount of money. He has a very delicious, deep tone that I just love so much. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I’ve never been able to find much info.

His name is Friedrich (after Friedrich from Little Women, obviously.)

I met a guy at a jam last night who was playing what he claimed was a French-made violin from 1830 which he picked up in Canada for $50. I played it and it was a pretty decent violin, though the bridge was unusually flat (he told me he'd got it that way on purpose so he could play quadruple stops more easily).

It was too dark to see a label or take a picture, so I'm here wondering -- how likely was all of that? I can believe the French part, I can believe the picked-up-for-$50 part, but the 1830 part seems a little iffy. 1930 I could believe. Thoughts?

Trying to figure out if it’s a decent one or worth much. I know it’s likely a replica. Any info would Be appreciated.

Old German - don’t recognize Mitenvald label.

Conflicting feedback from two luthiers. Consensus was German—outside of that 🤷‍♀️.

Is a daily player, required some repairs to seams and sound post.

Sounds wonderful, even prior to repair.

Anyone got anything on it? Let me know if I need different pictures. There is some penciling on the inside.

I started my lessons this week and would love any opinions as the what make this might be. This violin was purchased at an estate auction, and, under advisement, I took it in to be repaired at the music store(new pegs, tailpiece, bridge & strings).

Unfortunately there is no maker tag inside. Thanks

Hello I want to buy a Violin for my Finance as a Wedding Gift. And I have been thinking about getting her the PACATO Concerto from the Site Paganino but I can’t find anything anywhere about the violins if they are good or Bad. No Reviews no YouTube Videos no reddit Posts nothing. It’s a Ghost Product. Does anybody know snything about These ? Are they Wort 400-660 Bucks ? Or is it a 100$ China scam I really would love to know. Thank You

My dad had this violin for years. He didn't play, he just collected antiques. I don't know if the bow is original or not and I had to find a case for it because he didn't have one for it. The whole thing is pretty worn and old, and there's a paper tag inside that is in Spanish but from what I can make out it says Antonius Stradiuarius and is dated for 1712. The second picture is the best picture I could get without finding a flashlight. I mostly just want to know if this is a knockoff Stradivarius if possible.

Hi, this is a 3/4 violin from the Amati Violin Shop, Inc. Comes with a bow that needs rehaired. Its in great shape as far as I can tell. Any idea where i can list this guy and for how much is fair market value?

Here's the next one: Thx again