For sale is a German made, late 19th - early 20th Century copy of a Joannes Maria Valenzano violin.  It is in Excellent structural condition, with honest play wear, but suffering from no cracks, no splits and no open seams.  It has a lightly curled Maple Back Plate, Ribs and Neck, and comes with a Sivori Round Stick Bow, which has been recently rehaired.


This is an instrument that has been both well-played and well maintained.  There is some loss of varnish at the edges of the top, but it is all consistent with normal use over a hundred or more years.  The bridge is well cut, the fretboard is clean and smooth, the pegs are snug and hold a tuning well.  The tailpiece has four fine tuners. As a copy, it is remarkably close in style to Valenzano, true to his use of less figured woods, and even his exaggerated knife cuts in the purfling.


The sound of the Violin can best be described as powerful. This instrument has a big voice, rich, warm and able to cut through on the high end.  Also, the Action of the violin is especially fast.


Important Dimensions:

Total length -23 3/8 inches

Corpus - 358mm

Major Width - 198mm

Minor Width - 163mm

Waist - 108mm

Rib Height - 31-32mm

Scroll (tip to edge of Fingerboard) - 107mm

Neck (Nut edge to Root) - 130mm

Arch Height - 63mm

Vibration Length - 327mm


This is a very good example of a German Trade Violin from the late 1800s - early 1900s, set up and ready to play.  Please Note:  The apparent graft of the Scroll to the Neck is just that, apparent.  It is a detail added sometime later to make the instrument appear older than it is.  The neck and scroll are indeed, one piece.  Also, in the photos, there is an adjustment screw missing from one of the fine tuners.  It has been found and replaced.


Please check the photographs carefully as I have tried to capture this instrument in detail and from all angles.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.


This Joannes Maria Valenzano Violin copy is sold AS IS and is not returnable unless it arrives in a condition other than as described or photographed, here.


The violin comes with a very nice, fitted soft case and the Sivori, round stick bow (German).


Price: $1600 + $85 shipping (Lower 48 of USA only)


Assessing Instrument Condition


Instrument condition is a concern for sellers and buyers alike, and it is important that we are both on the same page.  Often, terms used in defining instrument condition, are somewhat misleading because they only reference appearance, and not functionality.  All instruments that we list are defined in the following ways, and under the accompanying understandings:


Brand New - Brand new simply means that it has never been sold, previously.  It is safe to assume that a Brand New instrument functions perfectly, but it is NOT necessarily the case that it is without blemishes.  Think of going into a guitar store and taking a new instrument off the wall; it will occasionally have dings or scratches that it has picked up by bumping into other instruments or from another person, trying it out.  If we sell an instrument as Brand New and it has blemishes, they will be photographed for the listing.


Mint - Mint condition is Flawless.  It is an instrument that is both flawless in appearance and perfect in its functionality.  


Near Mint - If our listing stresses that the instrument is Near Mint, it may have a cosmetic flaw or two.  They will be photographed or described as part of the listing.


Excellent - An instrument in Excellent condition will function perfectly, but may show some signs of use on close inspection.  Minor nicks and dings, cloudy spots of finish, or fading color or finish, is all par for the course. The determination of Excellent condition will also depend on the age and overall quality of the instrument.  A 1940s Gibson J200 with a scratch or two, a nick in the finish, and even a repaired bridge plate, but otherwise perfect and with a great playing action, can be said to be in Excellent Condition.  At the same time, a five year old Gibson J200 with the same blemishes might be considered to be in Excellent Minus condition.  And a 1970s era guitar that has been played regularly, gigged out, and has some scuffs and dents to show for it, but which don’t tend to show from a short distance, and which sounds and plays great, is still in Excellent Condition.  There is a degree of “it’s all relative,” at work here.


Very Good - An instrument in Very Good condition is still perfectly functional, but will have blemishes, scuffs, dents and dings that are readily apparent, at a reasonable viewing distance (like from the audience to the stage). That instrument also may have signs of prior repairs, or may have been retrofitted or customized with non-original parts.  Any of these conditions with an instrument will be photographed and described as part of the listing.


Good - An instrument in Good condition will play well, but perhaps not without some minor issue.  For instance, an electric guitar with a scratchy potentiometer, may still be considered to be in Good condition if that pot does not affect the output of the pickup. Or a guitar might lack a tremolo arm or pick guard.  The instrument is playable, the part can be replaced if the buyer wishes to do so, and thus it is in good condition.  Again, any and all defects or limitations to the instrument will be defined or photographed for the listing.


Fair, Poor or Project - This instrument is most likely to be in need of substantial work to make it fully functional.  It may be a violin with an open seam along the back, a guitar with a lifting bridge or non-working pickups, a saxophone in need of a repad, or a guitar or mandolin with a high action and in need of a neck reset. 


The Bottom Line - The bottom line is this: Functionality is more important than Aesthetics (though aesthetics ARE important), and the quality and recognized market value of the instrument takes precedence over minor cosmetic concerns.  Read the listing carefully. Study the photos thoroughly.  Reach out and ask questions first (we are always happy to talk shop!).

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Listeda year ago
ConditionExcellent (Used)
Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • 4/4 Violin
Categories
Year
  • Late 19th Century - Early 20th
Made In
  • Germany

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Gees Gear

ABINGTON, PA, United States
Sales:223
Joined Reverb:2017

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