Joh. Bapt. Schweitzer Trade Violin – Germany circa 1880 Great Sound!

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Label:

J. B. Schweitzer was an actual maker in Budapest in the early-to-mid 1800’s but his name was used on many thousands of trade instruments. The instruments were made in Markneukirchen, Germany and Czechoslovakia from 1870 into the early 1900’s. Finished in an amber/brown varnish, the instrument carries with it antiquing marks placed there by the maker and a fake neck graft, all to make the instrument appear even older than it is. The Schweitzer has beautiful highly figured maple for the one-piece back and ribs and an impressive spruce top with wider flank grain at the edges of the instrument and a much finer grain heading toward the center seam. The instrument is in very good condition; we restored one top opening on the center seam by the saddle. It is cleated and in great shape. No other issues were present. We meticulously went over the entire violin. The pegs are new ebony, we cambered the fingerboard, we cut a grade B Despiau bridge made from 200-year-old maple, and new soundpost. The tailpiece and chin rest are ebony.

Corpus 362.00 mm., Major Width 203.0 mm., Minor Width 166.0 mm., Rib Height 29.0 -30.0 mm.

The sound is full and inviting. The violin has strength of sound with the bottom end having a mature tone even as you travel up into positions. The response off the strings is quick and the tone pleasant to listen to. The top end rings with a sweetness that I love. If the treble side doesn’t grab you the rich mature bottom end will have you hooked. The sound is clean, clear, and slightly covered. The violin is easy to play, and the sound matches the look. This violin is very nice and worth trying. German craftsmanship and detail in a violin with some great age.