Garage Sale Violins

[Cantplay]

I picked up 2 violins in a fitted case this weekend.

Through the F hole I can read "Chas Benson New Rochelle"

One is in pencil, the other with ink stamp. The strings are not tightened, and several extra bridge pieces are in the case. There are no bows.

No luck from searching online about this maker.

Paid $25 for these and 4 Beatles records, so...

I'll post photos as soon as I get home.

John

[Phil_S]

If the strings were loose, the sound post probably fell down. Is it rattling around inside? There is a S shaped tool used to capture it and stand it up. It needs to be in the proper place in relation to the bridge. If it is standing up, you can see that through the f hole.

Nice find. For $25 and you got two of them + a case! That really rocks.

Do you know how to play? It is the most difficult of the stringed instruments. I played the 'cello when I was a teenager. I never had any luck getting a passable sound from a violin. The bowing technique is at a very different angle.

[Cantplay]

Heres photos.

John

[Phil_S]

Image resolution is a bit low. If not made of plywood and the pegs hold tension, these just might be decent instruments. One of those bridges is broken. The bridge profile is supposed to match the neck profile, so each one has to be hand fitted to be done right. The black thing is a mute.

Nice. Good luck with them.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Those are some good-lookin' violins! That they're in a dual box tells me, not junk. How to value, and/or put 'em in good working order? A good violin luthier might be of some help. I know of one in Kingston NY, got an excellent reputation. I know it's a long way to go. If you know any pro string players in your area maybe they could turn you on to someone trustworthy and local.

[Cantplay]

David Gage is around the corner, I might see if he had an opinion.

[Structo]

At that price I can't see where you could go wrong.

I played violin for 10 years during my education and there is only one way to tell if it is a good one.

Have someone that can play well play them.

Bow's can be a hit or miss proposition.
They are integral to how the violin will play.

I knew a gentleman that was a very good violinist back in the 70's and he paid $2,400 for one bow.

[cbass]

First thing to do is get them bridges flattened out .orange blossom specials gonna be mighty hard to pull off with all bthat arch

[Structo]

Also make sure the sound posts are intact.

Good strings (cat gut, silver wound) can cost upwards of $20-30 each except for the high E which is a plain unwound string.

Oops, I see Phil addressed the same thing.