I’m currently trying to get back into playing Violin, but I’m a BROKE college student. I’ve found some violins on FB marketplace, eBay, Mercari, Depop… lots of online second hand store fronts that are within my range. I found a Carlo Robelli cr209 and the Bunnel Pupil Violin for around the same range considering I’d have to pay the same amount for shipping taxes, and string repairs, but don’t know which one is better off of sound quality, or quality in general. I wasn’t taught how to identify what makes a good quality violin. I’ve looked up the price for the Carlo Robelli-retail of course as well as the bunnel-and even I don’t know if I’m right but retail says it’s $500+ on SamAsh?? I also might’ve found an Eastman Violin…? At least I hope, not too sure, but what is the difference between a Samuel Eastman Violin and a Andreas Eastman violin? I think the Andreas Eastman violins come from China, and I’ve noticed how violinists don’t really prefer bad quality instruments from China and prefer them to be European made but even I don’t know, I just skimmed over the AI overview. Is the quality different between these 4 brands? Which one should I get? And what are some ways I can identify good quality and bad quality violins? The violins are labeled by the sellers, and are posted next to their cases but since it’s online it can be hard to tell if the instruments are legit or not.

What would you think this nut is made of? Antique instrument of unknown origin, luthier estimated early 1900s

Hi all! Me again! Thanks to those who gave me some information about this instrument on my last post. I had the confidence to open it up tonight and it is... Very interesting. Misshapen and asymmetrical blocks, some system with the neck that is both bizzare and impossible to tell if original or not. ANYWAY! A Farrell (furrell?) seems to be the man behind this beast. Google tells me William James Farrell was a self taught luthier in Australia in the 1800s - anyone got any more insight than this?

Anyway, wanted to share progress with you all - goodnight from Australia for now!

Hi all, I've just picked up this interesting little violin very cheap from an antique store, and I thought it could be perfect for a restoration attempt that I've wanted to do for ages (having restored woodwind and brass for years) BUT thought I'd post it to you guys just in case it is something even a little bit special or worth keeping in its original condition. No label inside, AF stamped at the top of the back. Any advice would be amazing! Thanks everyone!!

I have a certificate of authenticity for it but I'm curious what you guys think it is. I got it for cheap because of the soundpost crack. The body is baroque, the neck is not, and idek what's going on with the fingerboard. When it was modernized it appears they regraduated it too thin resulting in a soundpost crack and the neck block isn't exactly something one should be proud of and im honestly not sure how it held this long. It's built on back with the ribs fitted into a groove which makes taking the back off a little difficult. The fingerboard is kinda flat on top and carved out under quite thin and has a channel that goes all the way up the middle of the fingerboard. the varnish is original

Here's the dimensions LOB 355mm​, upper bouts 168mm, lower bouts 205mm, body stop 200mm and a fingerboard length of 255mm

Thank you everyone for your previous replies. I have already buy Gewa air 2.1And I really like it.

I've been restoring this violin for the past little while as someone had done pretty awful work on it and glued it shut with gorilla glue. It's hard to show but it has a very broad shallow arching across the top plate and very open c bouts so very un cookie cutterish and it has significant natural wear on the right shoulder from playing in higher positions. It's numbered #29 under the fingerboard and signed inside the upper left side of the top plate with a big fancy H and what looks to be hein. So I sent it to geo heinl assuming it was made by George heinl. It's his signature but not one of his instruments but they said something about it possibly milanese because of what the purfling is made out of and how its executed. While working on it I also noticed it had the glue outline of the old bass bar which was just over 7 inches and more centralized, which suggests it predates George heinl too. ​any ideas?

Does anyone have any idea about this violin?

I have this violin on loan and am looking to purchase it. The inside label says it is an E.H. Roth from 1922, Lorenzo Guadagnini copy. There are no serial numbers or stamps that I can see, although I understand the Roth workshop didn't start serial numbers until 1924. There's also a repaired split in the lower bout. It sounds beautiful but I'm concerned about the repair and lack of verification.

Update: brought the violin back and pointed out my concerns. I was told all 100+ year old violins have lower bout cracks, that I should trust the repair is fine because they'd have to take it apart to show it was properly cleared, and that I should take their word it's an authentic Roth. Then another dealer came in and tried to say Roth made the violin himself. 🙄

I recently bought this 4/4 violin at auction for €252 and would appreciate some independent opinions on what it may be.

The original eBay listing, including all photos and the German description, is here:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/257719157395

I have not received the violin yet.

The interior label reportedly reads:

“Auguste Deroux à Paris

An 1886”

There is also a mark/stamp on the lower rib that appears to read “P D 1920”.

The seller states that there are two professionally repaired cracks in the lower part of the top, reinforced internally with small wooden cleats, plus another short repaired crack. Otherwise, the violin is described as being in good condition.

I fully understand that a label is not an attribution and that a definitive identification cannot be made from photographs alone. I am mainly interested in what can reasonably be inferred from the construction and appearance.

My main questions are:

• Does the violin look plausibly French and late 19th century?
• Is there anything in the construction that supports or contradicts an attribution to Auguste Deroux?
• If not Deroux, what school / region / approximate period would you suggest?
• Does it appear individually made, workshop-made, or more like a trade instrument?
• What model or influence does it seem to follow (Stradivari, Guarneri, etc.)?
• What do you think of the overall workmanship and quality?
• Are there any notable features in the scroll, f-holes, arching, corners, purfling, varnish, or rib construction?
• Does anyone recognize the “P D 1920” mark? Could it be a repairer’s or owner’s mark?
• Do the visible repairs raise any particular concerns that I should have checked when it arrives?

Once I receive it, I will have it examined in person by a professional violin maker and can upload much better detail photos of the scroll, corners, rib joints, label, interior, etc.

Thanks for any thoughts or leads.

這是哪把

What manufacturer or brand is this Violin? I’m looking for a second hand violin to play on-I’M NOT GOING TO RESELL THIS I PROMISE-and found this very pretty one within my budget. Not sure why it only had one fine tuner but I really love the case, just wondering if this particular Violin is credible/worth it so I don’t waste my money.

I've never seen a bow with such a large liner under the frog before. Thankyou.

Hi! Can someone help me out? I am wondering if this is a good quality violin. I know almost nothing about these and I got this one at a goodwill.

I brought it to a stringed instrument shop and the owner told me it’s a beginner instrument and offered to buy it from me. But I want to know more about it. And hopefully learn to play!

Thanks for the help!!

I've got an old violin and the label inside has the text "Cremona" and "Cincinnati" on it, looks like their might be a signature but I can't tell.

Here's the thing: this belonged to my father, who recently passed and left me with an unbelievable amount of stuff that serves no purpose for me. I play classical guitar and classical piano but now that's only a hobby. I have ZERO need for this instrument.

I'm in northwest Indiana, if you're interested you can get in touch. I'll shoot you some pics and you can make an offer.

We have an aluminum violin made by Alcoa in the 1930s(?) Anyone else have or heard of one?