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Last year my uncle sent me this old violin that have been hanging on a wall for at least 30 years and possibly much much longer. It is dusty inside. Has a label that says "Antonius Stradivarius Cremone...(can't see the last letters) Faciebat Anno 17" and has a circle with an "A" a "cross" and a "S" in it. From what my eyes can tell there aren't any cracks on it. Soundpost/soundstick is still standing even though the bridge was on the side when I opened the box. The strings are there but not worth mentioning. Fretboard seams to been painted to imitate a dark wood. Those tuning thingys on the nut seams to be a mix-and-ignore-to -match, two is painted dark and two in dark wood.
It's obviously a copy and the paintwork makes me think it's a cheep copy. But how cheep I don't know.
I don't really care if this violin is worth fixing up. I mainly asked to have this violin due to what it represent to me and the memories that are involved. But it would be fun if it's worth fixing. So I am curious what it might cost to fix it up. But I have no now clue on what to expect or what I should keep in mind when I chose a repairman. 
"Why don't you dance to the music I hear inside my head?"
(Kent – Music Non Stop)
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Check out my buddy Raphael Winkler. He is a great Luthier in Malmo.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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It sure couldn't hurt to get an estimate for repairs.
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Thanks!
Yes, I can fix pictures. No problem. Not in a mood for a photo shoot right now, but I post here when they are ready. Is there any parts you want macro pictures of?
"Why don't you dance to the music I hear inside my head?"
(Kent – Music Non Stop)
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Here is 10 pictures in two different sizes. If they are not good enough or if I missed something, tell me what you need and I try again.
http://www.perfektion.nu/temp/.....violin.rar
7MB (1500x1000px)
http://www.perfektion.nu/temp/.....llsize.rar
35MB (3900x2600px)
"Why don't you dance to the music I hear inside my head?"
(Kent – Music Non Stop)
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I run Ubuntu too.
I'll re-compressed the fullsized in .tar.gz and are uploading them on the server right now..
"Why don't you dance to the music I hear inside my head?"
(Kent – Music Non Stop)
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It looks like it's in good shape to me. There might be a gap between the nut and the finger board. The pegs and the fingerboard don't look like they are ebony wood.Try it out.
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Agree 
Probably a good idea to put on some new strings first then tune it up and enjoy.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I had the same thing happen to me last weekend. My uncle gave me a fiddle with a stad. lable in it. It was his aunt's fiddle said it was from the 1930's. I took it home and cleaned the old rosin off the strings and tuned it up. It sounded pretty good but I noticed a crack in the back at the bottom and also below the pin the tailgut attaches to. I loosened the strings and took it to a luthier last Tuesday, he is going to charge me about $45 to fix it. Can't wait to get it back.
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Crack or open seam? An open seam would be easier to fix, hence the $45 price tag...
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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It's an open seam he explained he will need to loosen the back and clamp the seam and glue it bact to the block where the pin is. I should have it back this week.
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Sounds exciting. I'm anxious to hear about the result.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Really.. Huh.. So I thought it was worse of than it is.. Cool..
I only kept the old strings on to keep the bridge standing so it won't look naked. I'm sure they would brake before they even got close to tuned if I tighten them more. 
Oh and definitely no ebony fretboard, it looks nothing close to the ebony fretboard on my other violin.
Yes I saw the gap too. Could that be a problem? It doesn't seam to be all the way through.
"Why don't you dance to the music I hear inside my head?"
(Kent – Music Non Stop)
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DIY said:
Oh and definitely no ebony fretboard, it looks nothing close to the ebony fretboard on my other violin.
Yes I saw the gap too. Could that be a problem? It doesn't seem to be all the way through.
I wouldn't worry about what the fingerboard wood is - it might be rosewood dyed black, or maple, but it doesn't matter - you can always re-dye it yourself if you want it uniform in color.
The crack between nut and fingerboard could mean that the nut is loose and the strings are all that is holding it on - a simple fix with a bit of hide glue that you can do yourself. OTOH, it may just have shrunk at a different rate than the fingerboard, or the gap may have been intentional - no way to know at this point, but it shouldn't matter too much unless you notice a buzzing or other odd sound when you play. 
String it up and see how it sounds!
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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I don't worry about it, was just confirming that what someone else said was correct. I'm just happy you think it seems to be in good shape. 
I don't remember anything feeling loose when I got it (the bridge was on the side and the strings only tight enough so they wouldn't fall of) but I will take a closer look and find out.
And no, I'm not gonna string it up and play it for now. Someday yes, but not for a while. Next time I change strings on my other violin I'll put the old one on this and do a quick try. I live in an apartment in a quiet neighborhood and many of my neighbors are either old, sick or both so I don't feel right about disturbing them with an acoustic violin. Specially since I'm a beginner and don't play well enough for it to sound pretty. (insert imaginary smile that covers its ears)
"Why don't you dance to the music I hear inside my head?"
(Kent – Music Non Stop)
I have fixed many violins and the nut is almost always off of them. If the nut comes off when you remove the strings it is a great time to check out the finger board. You want a slight belly in the middle. If it isn't there the finger board can be easily planned and reshaped my a luthier. Don't try that one yourself.
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Kevin M. said:
If it isn't there the finger board can be easily planned and reshaped by a luthier. Don't try that one yourself.
Why not? The "belly" is actually so minute (0.5mm) that you may not even be able to see it with the naked eye. Is it really necessary? I have my doubts...A few swipes with a sharp plane (or fine sandpaper if you're chicken) will give you a slightly concave surface at zero cost, if you really feel you need it. It ain't Rocket Science...
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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