While I'm here I'll share a Cleaning/restoration project that I purchased about a year ago for $120. This violin previously belonged to the womans grandfather (if I recall) She never learned to play and wanted it to go someplace it would be cared for and I insisted I would take good care of it.

I was originally looking for something in worse shape that I could open and practice repairing cracks, but this really needed very little, honestly it could have just used new strings and would have been playable (aside from the bow, which needed to be rehaired).

After inspecting I decided I didn't want to do such a deep clean to remove all it's patina, so I did a polish and a very light sanding in a few spots, then touched the corners with a tiny bit of color and varnish to protect them. Carved a new bridge and soundpost (although both previous were in decent condition). Installed new pegs with the classic 1:20 taper, adjusted the tailgut and installed new strings.

Here are some photos of it and some others at a "Violin Party" where a friend had a chance to play all of them. She currently has this one on loan to spend a little time with.

Why do photos rotate 180?

My family of violins, Top to bottom, StewMac kit, Wifes Fiddlerman Artist, My Tower Stings legend, Vintage Violin

From Left to right, My vintage, wifes Fiddlerman, Friends 100 year old, Friends "daily" also about 100 years old, my Kit.

My Vintage Violin