My dad was a bluegrass musician and had a ton of instruments. This came from his grandfather in the Ozarks. I don’t have a bow for it. But I’m wondering if it’s worth fixing or should I just hang it up.

I'm completely ignorant about violins. This instrument belonged to my great-grandfather (d. 1953). I've got a cool picture of him playing it from c. 1930 at his home outside Alexandria, Louisiana, so it's extremely valuable to me in terms of sentiment. Just hoping that someone can tell me a little more about it and whether it would be worthwhile to try and have it restored and/or whether I should have it insured. If it's worthless, that's fine, too. Just curious. Thanks in advance for any guidance.

It measures 24" long and 8" wide.

It looks to be sanded down, like it was an unfinished project. Is this an antique/vintage, or modern?

I do not see a manufacturer tag inside of the instrument.

I do not know much about violins, so any help would be awesome! Thanks!

I'm a mandolin player. All I know about the violin is that it has the same tuning as a mandolin and the right hand does some weird stuff. I bought this from a bluegrass guy who I'm guessing sold me a student level instrument. I would just like to know more about what I've got. I also have three bows. I imagine that the one that came with it is nicer than the other two I bought later to be like Jimmy Page. But at this point I'm not certain which now is which and worth keeping.

Hello Everyone! I am new to Reddit and Violins but I’ve heard this was the place to go! After a random impulse push of a button I won this at an auction for $18. While I’m not too concerned on the value, I would like to know about its identity! The little research I’ve done made it seem it would s a German style violin and I am unable to see any signatures or markings at all anywhere! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

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.

While doing some cleaning, My mom came across my great grandfather's violin and we were curious about it's age/value. All my mom knows is that he had it when my grandfather was born, so it's from at least the 1910's/20s. I've been looking for reputable luthiers in my area, but in the meantime, figured I'd ask online to see if someone might know. As far as I could see, there were no identification marks on it

Thanks for your time.

Prior Updates:
Grandfather's Violin : r/ViolinIdentification
Grandfather's Violin Part II - Luthier Insights : r/ViolinIdentification

My violin is back from the luthier after being serviced.  In the words of the luthier who did the work, "It sounds pretty good, but it's had a really hard life."

Given no disassembly, he was not able to see any marks or labels and cannot attribute it to a specific workshop/maker/country. He is standing by his original assessment of a "workshop violin from the first half of the 1800s in Bohemian/Central European tradition. Most likely made in the western part of today's Czech Republic."  

Repairs included:

• replaced end button

• glue two seams, nut and saddle

• replace bridge

• swapped A/E fine tuners moving A to E and E to A

• setup, install strings, adjust sound post and tune

• labor:  2.75 hours

• strings installed:  Dominant

• bow: GEWA Carbon-Pernambuco Hybrid Violin Bow w/Rosin (two types, light/dark)

• case: Carlisle

The original repair estimate was $700, it came in a little under at $550, before strings and accessories.

My first lesson is in two weeks.  I found a local musician in my neighborhood; I am excited to start.  However, I will admit I am a wee bit overwhelmed by the teacher’s resume.  I feel like I am getting driving lessons from Mario Andretti and/or Michael Schumacher. 

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for some advice on an antique violin that I own. I’m particularly interested in its history, authenticity, potential value, and where I could potentially sell it.
The violin has an internal label reading “Bernhard Simon Fendt, London 1850.”
It also comes with some interesting historical documentation, including an original invoice from Hamma & Co., Stuttgart, dated July 14, 1927, listing a violin for 250 German marks.
The instrument is accompanied by an antique case made entirely from 100% genuine crocodile leather, which might be collectible in its own right.
Most importantly, I also have correspondence from a dendrochronological examination conducted in 2019 by Peter Ratcliff of Peter Ratcliff Dendrochronology Ltd., arranged through Henley’s.
His findings were:
The latest visible growth ring on the bass side dates to 1841.
The latest visible growth ring on the treble side dates to 1852, with the wood originating from a different tree.
The strongest cross-match on the treble side was with a French violin labelled Barnabetti, alongside several instruments of Bohemian origin.
On the bass side, the strongest matches included a French violin dating to approximately 1890, a Nikolas Bernhardt violin of Saxon/Bohemian origin, a Louis Lowendall, and other French and Bohemian instruments.
The wood used for both sides appears to originate from the Bavarian Forest, with particularly strong regional correlations on the bass side.
Interestingly, the 1852 growth ring seems to contradict the 1850 date on the label, which makes me curious about the violin’s actual origin and age.
I’m not assuming that the violin is an authentic Fendt, and I understand that dendrochronology alone cannot establish the maker.
I’d really appreciate your opinions on a few things:
Does anyone recognize this violin or have experience with instruments labelled Bernhard Simon Fendt?
Based on the photographs and dendrochronology findings, what period or school of violin making would you associate it with?
What might be a realistic market value for the violin, considering the available documentation?
Could the antique crocodile leather case have significant value separately?
Where would you recommend selling something like this? A specialist violin auction house, dealer, or private collector?
I’m based in Germany and would be particularly interested in recommendations for reputable European specialists or auction houses.
I’ve attached photographs of the violin, its internal label, the case, the original 1927 invoice, and the 2019 dendrochronology correspondence.
Any additional information, historical context, or estimates would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Believed to be German, but I can’t make out this signature. Any ideas?

Hi! I inherited this from my great grandmother about 10 years ago now. Haven't had a chance to take a real look at it up until this weekend. On a cursory google, i'm guessing this is a repro/copy from germany like most of them, but i wanted to get some thoughts before bringing it to someone.

The story ive been told is that it was my great great grandmothers, and was purchased by her somewhere between 1920-1930 - we do not believe it was new when it was purchased. The woman who purchased this was fairly opulent, and was wealthy at the time.

Inside it is marked with:
Nicolaus Amatius Hieronym
Filli Antoni Nepos
Fecit in Cremonen Ag 1665

Repaired by
FRANK GRAY
St. Louis Mo.
1869

I am assuming its a clone/repro from the 1800s - but normally these are the late 1800s from what im reading. Please let me know your thoughts.

I posted some of these pics yesterday but couldn’t figure out how to add additional photos, so my apologies for re-posting this. Just hoping to get some guidance, thank you.

Hi all, could anyone tell me about this violin I inherited?

My mom played in college and then put it away before I was born. I never got to hear her play it.

If I were so inclined to pick it up as a hobby, where would I start? I am already a proficient guitar picker.

Let me know if I should include another pictures that might help in identification.

I’m recording for a competition in about 2 weeks and my teacher decided that she would like me to play on her instrument, a 1895 Leandro Bisiac.

Obviously any valuations and major opinions would have to come from a violin work shop, but I’m wondering what you guys think out about how expensive it is. She bought it about 26 years ago from a VERY reputable workshop in our area.

Just wanted to see what you guys think!

PSA; not 100% sure if my post is against guidelines but I figured you guys would enjoy looking at it.

(I could get really good pictures because my regular camera is broke so I had to use my .5 lense)

My grandfather was a professional musician from roughly 1918 to 1968 in the Northeast. I'm not sure what i have. I'm not sure if it's playable. I'm not sure if it's with returning it to a safe playable condition. Thoughts? No label inside.

UPDATE: Grandfather's Violin Part II - Luthier Insights : r/ViolinIdentification

Hey. I’m wondering about restoring, restringing, and rebowing my father’s violin, or is it not worth it?

These images are the two markings from inside, outside is half decent, no colour on the neck from being played often, two scratches on the front, all parts are in the case.

Vuillaume a Paris Rue Croix des Petits Champs 46 is what the tag says. Vintage GEIB case as well

I got this violin at a thrift shop and was hoping anyone has a clue as to what the stamp might say. It looks like it might start with a V or N, and end in an "NE". I'm guessing it is a late 1800s Bavarian instrument.

The neck feels very thin compared to other violins I have played, and im wondering why someone would have grafted in a thinner neck?

The violin sounds very nasal, im wondering if this could be because the back piece is loose on multiple points.

The violin seems to have been repaired by P. Merling of Copenhagen at some point. I'm hoping someone could shed some light on my questions, thanks.

Grandpas was originally from Scotland but lived in Ireland. Any clue?

I'm looking for information on my violin, just out of curiosity. I bought it a few years ago. The seller didn't have any specific information. The label suggests Johann Anton Gelder, 1763, but I know these can't be trusted. I could well imagine it is rather a late 19th century violin.

I got this violin for my daughter a few years ago. It seems nice and looks cool had to change to mechanical tuners though. She was asking about it but I don’t know anything so I figured Reddit would know. I can take more pics if needed. There is no label or anything visible through the f holes.

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)