1880s Unmarked 4/4 Pochette Violin

I suppose this fiddle could be a little later than the 1880s, but when it arrived it had fittings and styling that reminded me of others from that age. It looks homemade or at least small-shop-made and has weird construction. I'm betting it's US-made as well because it's so quirky.

The top and back are highly-arched and made from decent-quality wood (the figure on the back is particularly nice). The middle of the body is actually cut from a single piece of pine and the 1/32" thick maple sides are "veneered" over it. Curious, right? There's no soundpost, either, and it looks like other players used a bridge either where I have it now or 1/2" forward at the waist in a completely inactive part of the soundboard. Right now it's a little over 13" scale which roughly makes it 4/4 in size.

It has a thin, bright, midsy tone and not a lot of volume -- it's good for practice or use as a travel instrument. I suppose it could also be used with a pickup, too, to get some more sound out of it. Still, that's the point of a pochette -- to have something small enough to take with you wherever you're headed.

Repairs included: regluing a few seams, regluing the fingerboard, making a custom bridge for it (normal fiddle bridges wouldn't work in the small space), fitting 4:1 geared Perfection Pegs at the headstock, minor crack repairs, cleaning, and setup. It's strung with Dominant-like John Pearse strings at the moment.

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid flamed maple

Bracing type: none

Bridge: ebony custom

Fingerboard: ebony

Neck wood: maple

String gauges: John Pearse Mezzo (like Dominants and made by Thomastik)

Neck shape: medium C, thicker board

Neck relief: straight

Scale length: 13 1/4"

Nut width: 7/8"

Body length: 14"

Body width: 4 3/8"

Body depth: 1 1/8" (2" full depth)

Weight: 13 oz

Condition notes: it's all-original, apparently, save tuners and bridge. There's a tight, repaired hairline crack in the top and average use-wear throughout the body.