1950s Unmarked 4/4 Violin

It is very likely that this unmarked instrument is German-made and from around 1950-1960. My friend Anders traded it to me and it used to be his Mom's instrument. As it hasn't gotten use around his place, we both figured it was time to get it out into the world again.

There's nothing wrong with it at all -- it plays well, has a strong and clean sound, has only minor scratching here and there, and has been sturdy and stable in service. The pegs are even fit well, too. I hadn't seen this violin in years and the only thing I needed to do on it was lightly dust it off and tune it up.

Per the usual violin specs, it's cut vaguely along Strad lines, has a solid spruce top, lightly-figured solid maple back and sides, maple neck, and ebony tailpiece, pegs, nut, and fingerboard. Everything appears original to it save perhaps the chinrest, but that might be original as well. The tailpiece hanger is still gut, for that matter, and holding steady.

Repairs included: old work included setting the soundpost, mild cleaning, and a restring with John Pearse Mezzo (like Dominants) strings. Those are still on it and still performing well.

Setup notes: the bridge has good height and it has a setup somewhere between a "classical" feel and a "fiddling" feel. I can bring action down closer for fiddling if that's the intended application, however. The neck is straight and the board is in good order.

Scale length: 13"

Nut width: 7/8"

String spacing at nut: 11/16"

String spacing at bridge: 1 7/16"

Body length: 14"

Lower bout width: 8 1/4"

Waist width: 4 1/2"

Upper bout width: 6 3/4"

Side depth at endpin: 1 3/8"

Top wood: solid spruce, carved

Back/sides wood: solid maple

Neck wood: maple, figured

Bracing type: tonebar

Fretboard: ebony

Bridge: maple

Neck feel: slim C-shape

Condition notes: it's fairly clean throughout with just minor light scratching to the body's top and a little on the back/sides. There are no fine tuners at the tailpiece.

It comes with: a presumably-original case, newer cheap (but functional) bow, and a pad of not-great rosin.