Looking for info on a fiddle/violin

[Dano Reible]

One of my harmonica students brought me a violin/fiddle the other day that belonged to her grandfather and she is in her late 60s. She gave it to me as thanks for what her lessons have given her, and she though maybe I would use it.

I know nothing about fiddles but thought maybe someone on here might.

It has a label inside marked as follows:

Giovan paolo Maggini
brefcia 1620

The 20 of the 1620 is hand written and hard to tell for sure what it says but 20 is my best guess.

There is also a impression in the wood on the top of the back that says MAGGINI. It is in fair shape, the finish is ok but all is quite solid except the bow which has only the wood and no white cloth part what ever it is called.

There is some inlay on the tailpiece and an old hard case.

Any info would be greatly apprieciated.

Thanks

[Bill Snyder]

Not that I really know much about it but from Googling, it seems that Giovanni Paolo Maggini (1580-1630) was a well know luthier and copies of his violins are not uncommon.
Look on any auction site and you will find probably half of the violins for sell use Antonio Stradivari's name on them, some Giuseppe Guarneri's name other famous makers. They do not all do a good job of noting that they are copies.
My guess is this is a copy.
The white cloth part of the bow is called the hair because it is most commonly horse hair (from the tails). You can get one rehaired with synthetic hair, but I don't know why you would want to. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Here (http://www.si.edu/resource/Faq/nmah/violmagg.htm) is a little bit on Maggini.

[Dano Reible]

I just googled it also and saw the same although it seams thecopies were mostly after his death. I will have to find some more info and maybe get it making some noise at some time. I will have to see about getting the bow re-haired.
I imagine refinishing something like this would be a mistake unless done by a luther but of course the way it looks now has unbelievable style and life from years of playing.

[Bill Snyder]

If it is a fine violin you probably don't want it refinished even by a luthier. Violins are repaired all the time and not always without the scars of surgery, but some people maintain that Stradavari's secret was the finish on his instruments or it was at least an important component of the sound his violins get.

[Michael Lewis]

The difference between a "real" violin and a fake can be very subtle to the untrained eye. I advise that you take it to a real violin shop to find out what you have. If they say it is the real thing you will need to take it to another violin shop to have it verified. Look up AFVBM on the internet. It is the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, all of whom are masters of their craft, and there is sure to be some one not too far from you that can tell you what you have. Even if it is just a copy it is still a violin, er, fiddle, and can be put right so it will play well.

[Jim Garber]

It is not a real Maggini, certainly no more than it is a real Strad or a Stainer. Maggini copies prob came right after Strads in terms of commonality.

Most Magginis copies are easily recognizable because they usually have double purfling and and extra turn in the scroll. They have an elongated form to the body. Irish fiddlers, for some reason, really like them.

I was told by my violin guy, that the original Magginis actually don't resemble these copies, so if it looks like one it prob isn't.

Anyway, tell your student to not get too excited. it could still be a nice fiddle but very unlikely a valuable one.

Read more here (http://www.afvbm.com/strad.htm). What applies to Strads also applies to Magginis and Stainers as well.

Jim

[Dano Reible]

Anyway, tell your student to not get too excited. it could still be a nice fiddle but very unlikely a valuable one.
My student gave it to me and I realy don't care much if it is a copy or not just would like to know what I have.

Accualy I am almost afraid to try learning to play it when I am still trying to figure out the mandolin but now I am kind of intreged

[Lane Pryce]

What Jgarber said and the fact that its a production fiddle most likely from the twenties does not mean its a bad fiddle. Tell your student all it needs is a good set up and to be played. Some of those mass produced fiddles sounded real good. Lp

[Dano Reible]

Who would you recomend I send it to for setup?

[Bill Snyder]

His student GAVE THE MANDOLIN TO HIM. It is his now. He is asking about it for his own edification.

[Lane Pryce]

Who would you recomend I send it to for setup?
Steve Perry or Bob Kogut in Lenoir NC. Both do excellent fiddle work. Lp