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I have this old 3/4 violin that is really in fairly excellent shape (needs strings and bridge) except for some unfortunate damage which probably is due to the strings and tailpiece being loose for decades when this was moved from house to house... I don't have a picture of the damage because it's hard to see with the tailpiece on, and I can't really tell how deep but it almost looks like it's just the finish and maybe a slight indentation into the spruce... maybe if someone thinks they could give better advice by seeing, I will take the strings off and take a pic of it? Anyway, here's some pics I took of the rest... honestly, plucking on the G string it has a really nice resonance to it... I'm really tempted to take it to a luthier (though I'll have to travel to do so) and see what it would cost to bring it back to playing status. I'm just afraid of what it might cost to do so... also, if this fine tuner damage would make it pointless to do so. what do you guys think?
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I'd say take it to a luthier when you have the chance. I presume a 4/4 would be more comfortable for you anyways, but having an extra violin is always nice. 
Skype: augustoad Email: augustoaguieiras@hotmail.com Phone number/whatsapp: +55 42 9861-4084. I'd be happy to talk anything fiddle-related to anyone! :)
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I agree with @augustoad, you should probably take it to a luthier. However, a broken fine tuner is no big deal and it can probably be replaced all by itself or at worst you'd have to get a whole new tailpiece. Even with a new bridge and strings, it shouldn't be very expensive at all to get it 100% fixed up.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright
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Uzi said
However, a broken fine tuner is no big deal and it can probably be replaced all by itself or at worst you'd have to get a whole new tailpiece. Even with a new bridge and strings, it shouldn't be very expensive at all to get it 100% fixed up.
The fine tuner is fine. Boy does that sound weird... ha!
But seriously, it's not the fine tuner, it's that the bottom of the fine tuner sort of scratched/dug in a little to the wood of the violin. Maybe I'll go ahead and get a better picture of the damage. That is what I'm concerned may make taking to a luthier a waste of time for me...
as for playing it, I probably could... also it has some "sentimental" value...
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by the way, i've noticed some posts have images inserted into them. i can't see how to insert an image other than via hyperlink. if anyone can tell me how, i'd appreciate it. would save people having to click on a link to see what i'm talking about here.
so i removed the tailpiece and took some more pics. also examined with 10x loupe- it appears to me that this is all just varnish damage. it doesn't look like i'm going to get any advice short of sending this to a luthier for evaluation, so that's what i'm going to do.
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That's not damage, that's just a scratch. No violin's finish stays perfect. There are no structural issues that I can see in those pictures. Everything is fine. The bridge will almost always blemish the varnish a little and over time you'll get little dings, etc. In fact, nowadays they pre-ding violins to make them look old -- like stone washed jeans. Yours got that way through honest use.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright
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Thanks @Uzi! I didn't know- but I sent the same pics to the best luthier I know of that's close by (only about 4 hours drive) and they confirmed that it's just minor spot touch up, maybe an hour of labor max, and with a full clean and polish is would look great once again. It will probably be awhile before I get this done, but I definitely am going to, and will try to remember to follow-up with the result by adding to this thread when I do.
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