1997 Marshall Music S30 4/4 Violin

This fiddle was so dirty when it came in that I thought it must have been a 1930s instrument. Wrong! Its label clearly states that it's from 1997, "adjusted" by Scherl & Roth, and sold through Marshall Music. Where was it made? I'm not sure. It looks like it could either be an average mass-market European instrument or an average mass-market Chinese one. It's inconclusive.

Either way, I fixed this up for its owner's use and it has a decent, fairly-loud voice and easy playability.

Woods are plain-Jane in the extreme: it has a mid-grade spruce top and very plain maple back, sides, and neck. The fittings are ebony, however.

Repairs included: seam repairs, soundpost set, new bridge, new nut, banjo-style friction pegs installed at the headstock, setup.

Made by: unknown -- for Marshall Music

Model: S30

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid maple

Bracing type: tonebar

Bridge: maple Aubert

Fingerboard: ebony

Neck wood: maple

Strings: John Pearse Mezzo (Thomastik Dominants, basically)

String height: in-between "classical" and "fast fiddling"

Neck shape: medium C

Neck relief: straight

Scale length: 12 7/8"

Nut width: 29/32"

Body length: 14"

Body width: 8 1/4"

Body depth: 1 1/2"

Weight: 1 lb 5 oz

Condition notes: replacement pegs, bridge, and nut. The finish shows light wear and tear and a little discoloration throughout. It's crack-free save one old-repaired hairline at the treble f-hole.