Joh. Bapt. Schweitzer – Trade Violin Germany circa 1880-1900- Great Sound!

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Label Reads:

J. B. Schweitzer was an actual maker in Budapest in the early to mid-1800’s but his name was used in many thousands of trade instruments. The instruments were made in Markneukirchen, Germany and Czechoslovakia from 1880 into the 1920’s. Finished in an amber-brown varnish, the instrument carries with it patina marks placed there by the maker and a fake neck graft, all to make the instrument appear even older than it is. The Schweitzer has some beautiful maple for the highly figured one-piece back and ribs and an impressive spruce top with wider flank grain at the edges of the instrument and a much finer grain heading toward the center seam. The one-piece back instrument is in very good condition, having reset the neck to the correct projection for the instrument. We meticulously went over the entire violin, cutting a new set of pegs, bridge, soundpost, and chinrest. The tail piece is from my collection of old ebony parts. It has two mother-of-pearl eyes which help set this instrument apart. Buffed up and cleaned up the tail looks great.

Corpus 358.0 mm. – Major width 201.0 mm. – Minor width 162.0 mm. – Rib Height 29.0 mm.

The sound is full and inviting. The bottom end has a rich mature tone even as you travel up into positions. The response off the strings is quick and the tone pleasant to listen to. The top end is clean and rings well. The sound has good resonance and is clear, not covered. The violin is easy to play, and the sound matches the look. This violin has age, looks, and German workmanship. The violin is light in weight and responds better than well. This is a player’s find if you’re looking to get into a beautiful European violin, very good sound, and classic old world look.