Hermann Geipel Violin- Markneukirchen/Saxony 1935 Beautiful Violin!

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Hermann Geipel was born in Bad Brambach, Vogtland, Germany in 1862. As a young man he apprenticed with Ludwig Glaesel II in Markneukirchen and spent five years assisting various German luthiers in that famous violin making town. Markneukirchen makers had the wood and the esteemed makers! No doubt about it the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries were truly the golden age of Markneukirchen instrument making. Undoubtedly this area of the world economically responded to growing industrialization, but Geipel insisted on quality and worked mainly on his own. His impeccable modeling and handcrafted violins were much esteemed and sought after instruments in England and American before WW II.

In 1884 he established his own workshop in Brambach. Our violin is a Stradivarius pattern, and the woods are simply gorgeous. The ribs, neck and scroll are at another level. Wow! The spruce top plate has very even straight grain while the two-piece maple back is stunning too. The arching helps in the creation of a powerful sound along with the slightly broader rib height. The violin has no issues and is awaiting a new home.

Corpus 358.0 mm., Major Width 206.0 mm., 167.0 mm., Rib Height 30.0 – 31.0 mm.

The sound is lush, full, and mature. The lower strings give a beautiful resonant sound, and the violin responds to a light touch as well as shear power from the bow. I can’t say enough about the warm lower end – WOW! The treble has it too. The E & A ring is sweet and clean. The sound rings and is full of life. This will make an excellent instrument for an up and coming player that has power combined with warmth.