found an old family fiddle! Does it have value?

nboyer941 · #1 08-13-2010, 03:19 PM

My great great grandpa apparentaly played the hell out of it about 60 years ago. I know nothing about it. It has been in storage for many years. Does anyone know anything about it by looking at it? Is it worth anything? I wish it was an old p bass!

nboyer941 · #2 08-13-2010, 03:20 PM

There are no markings, or labels anywhere.

MatticusMania · #3 08-13-2010, 03:22 PM

The best place for fiddle information certainly is a bass website.

nboyer941 · #4 08-13-2010, 03:33 PM

This is the only forum I frequent. I thought some people here may appreciate it, or know about it.

McHaven · #5 08-13-2010, 03:39 PM

If there's no labels, don't count on any value, especially coming from us. Maybe find an actual appraiser of stringed instruments.

Crass! · #6 08-13-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

The best place for fiddle information certainly is a bass website.

He DID post it in "Off Topic"...

bassteban · #7 08-13-2010, 03:43 PM

If it was worth more than say $50-$100, it would very likely be in the hands of someone who knows it by now. I found a very similar(from what I can see)violin for $20 at a garage sale, put $130 into it & it's worth maybe $220 now.

nboyer941 · #8 08-13-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crass!

He DID post it in "Off Topic"...

Thank you.

He played it until he died and then it was put in storage. I wasn't looking to sell it, I was just curious if it was worth anything. It'l be put on display at my parent's house.

Jim Campbell · #9 08-13-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nboyer941

Thank you.

He played it until he died and then it was put in storage. I wasn't looking to sell it, I was just curious if it was worth anything. It'l be put on display at my parent's house.

how does it play,and how does it sound...my great grand dad used to build them and do repairs.....i heard that a few were being used by some members of the edmonton symphony,back in the seventies,but i don't know for sure.....if the one you have is a genuine "john smith",it's one of great grand dads

MIJ-VI · #10 08-13-2010, 03:57 PM

Is it red?..

MIJ-VI · #11 08-13-2010, 04:04 PM

Try the DB forums. The folks there may know a a good luthier or two who repairs members of the violin family.

BTW. Have you tried playing it?

(The late, great Mel Blanc as Jack Benny's violin teacher):

"Play - those - notes - a - li-ttle - thin-ner. I - don't - want - to - lose - my - din-ner."

MatticusMania · #12 08-13-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crass!

He DID post it in "Off Topic"...

I never said it was in the wrong forum. What I meant was, a bunch of bass players might not be the best place to garner information about a violin/fiddle.

Crass! · #13 08-13-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I never said it was in the wrong forum. What I meant was, a bunch of bass players might not be the best place to garner information about a violin/fiddle.

More likely we'd know about another stringed instrument than a Porsche, as posted in a previous thread =)

Jim Campbell · #14 08-13-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nboyer941

My great great grandpa apparentaly played the hell out of it about 60 years ago. I know nothing about it. It has been in storage for many years. Does anyone know anything about it by looking at it? Is it worth anything? I wish it was an old p bass!

it might be something carried over here from the old country,or played for
the troops at gettysburg....not valuable so much as an instrument,but as an artifact....why not check into great grandaddy's lineage,and see if any relatives are alive and can tell you the story

MatticusMania · #15 08-13-2010, 04:32 PM

Pfft, all bassists drive Porsche... what, you dont?

EBodious · #16 08-13-2010, 04:37 PM

well, maybe that's how you socal bassists roll...

MatticusMania · #17 08-13-2010, 04:42 PM

You mean to tell me you dont have your very own Porsche to pass down to your little Fubodious when she's of proper driving age? I was under the distinct impression that everyone on this forum drove Porsche...

KeithBMI · #18 08-13-2010, 04:43 PM

It might be worth a lot if it warded off the devil while he was in Georgia.

EBodious · #19 08-13-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

You mean to tell me you dont have your very own Porsche to pass down to your little Fubodious when she's of proper driving age? I was under the distinct impression that everyone on this forum drove Porsche...

lol.

actually, my son (older) likes to remind her that he gets my '78 ES-335 when i die. i appeased her by offering her my '86 vw vanagon. she loves the van and is very happy with the idea. the humor (well sort of) is that she is a very small person. docs predict she may only get to 5ft tall. she may never even be able to reach the pedals, but its hers!

so don't go giving her any fancy ideas...

MatticusMania · #20 08-13-2010, 04:53 PM

A porsche would suit her well! Im sure by the time she is a teen she will no longer want your stinkin van.