1920s Ernst Martin (German) 4/4 Amati-Copy Violin

Ernst Martin shop violins are well-respected German trade fiddles. I expect that this one was made somewhere in the 1910s or 1920s and it bears a label with a Bruno (retailer) mark on it, reading "E. Martin, Sachsen (Saxony), Germany, Bruno, Copy of Amati."

It has a singing, clear, creamy voice that's easy to get really good sound out of. The build quality is high, with a tightly-grained spruce top, good figured maple on the back, sides, and neck, and good fittings throughout. For an older instrument, it's also exceedingly clean and was clearly cared-for as it looks sharp.

Andy did a bit of "glorified setup" work on it and it's now playing spot-on.

Repairs included: fingerboard leveling, soundpost and bridge fitting, cleaning, new chinrest, minor seam repairs, setup, etc.

Weight: 1 lb 2 oz

Scale length: 12 7/8"

Nut width: 7/8"

Body length: 14"

Body width: 8 1/4"

Body depth: 1 1/2" (higher arching to top/back)

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid flamed maple

Bridge: maple

Fingerboard: ebony

Neck wood: flamed maple

String height: fiddler's
Strings: Thomastik Vision (I think)

Neck shape: medium C/slight V

Neck relief: straight

Condition notes: it's in great shape and appears all-original save the tailpiece, bridge, and chinrest. The tailpiece is one of those aluminum types with the fine tuners integrated into it, though the chinrest is ebony. Its finish is amazingly-clean for such an old instrument but it does show some "rosin deposit darkening" around the bridge area.

It comes with: a decent case.

Consignment tag: R5