So I decided to purchase a used violin from Craigslist. I paid 25 dollars for a student violin that came with a case and an unusable bow. The inside label shows that it’s a Marquis MV100. Since it has a serial number, I can assume it’s definitely a mass produced violin. But I thought it would be a good start to learn more about the violin.
The violin had the following flaws:
- Dirty finish that was riddled with rosin
- Unusable strings that were worn down to the coil.
- Dirty fingerboard with permanent painted markings
- Nicks and scratches throughout the body and scroll.
- Unusable bow that is damaged – but could be used as a practice bow for when I want to learn how to change out the horse hair.
The features of the violin that are good:
- It has lower strings on the fingerboard – about half the height of my new violin. This makes it easier to play and causes less strain on my finger tips.
- Has a great quality bridge (looks like a custom fitted Aubert bridge)
- Has a beautiful case (which I also restored)
- Great potential for my first restoration.
Here are some Before and after pics:
Overall I’m really happy the result. It looks great and now I can practice without a fingerboard sticker. After practicing several times with my new restored violin, I noticed that it is a much louder violin than I expected. I’ve had to use a mute several times. But overall, I do enjoy playing this violin very much.
