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Posted By: GeorgeH (+18) | Rate Member
Price reduced to $999 for violin and case, a remarkable price for a wonderful bench-made American violin.
I am going to leave this listing up for a few more days, in case anybody is interested.
This violin was bench-made by William B. McLaughlin in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1930, and bears his original label:
W. B. McLAUGHLIN
HIGH GRADE VIOLINS
Artistic Repairing
746 Fifth Avenue South
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
204 1930
It also bears his “WM” monogram brand stamped on the back below the button (see pictures).
This violin is the authentic original work of a master violin maker, and is set-up and ready to play. This is a chance to own a genuine bench-made violin by a fine American maker for a very affordable price.
The violin sings with a full and colorful tone on all strings. The sound is clean and full all the way up the neck. It has a warm resonant voice on the lower strings, and a sweet bright soprano voice on the higher strings. It has excellent bow response, plenty of volume, and does not lose timbre when played softly.
(Updated 8/29/2021): I posted some sound samples in the media forum:
Ashokan Farewell, Key: D
Amazing Grace, Key: D
New Rigged Ship, Key: A
Westphalia Waltz, Key: G
Liberty of the Corn Licker Still, Key: G
Let me know if you'd like to hear anything else.
The tone woods are truly spectacular. The two-piece top is made from spruce with a uniformly fine grain across the top, and the back, neck, and ribs are made from maple with beautiful figure and flame. The amber varnish is highly transparent, and was carefully and artistically shaded over a golden ground. It is not an artificially antiqued violin, and there is not much wear to the varnish other than a few nicks and scratches (see pictures). The f-holes are neatly carved and fluted with McLaughlin's characteristic sharp nicks in the centers.
There are several very well several well-repaired cracks in the top that are barely visible (see pictures), but no soundpost or bass bar cracks. There are no cracks or repaired cracks in the back or the pegbox. I have owned this fiddle for 3 years, and everything is stable.
The bridge, nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece have been all set-up to proper proper playing specifications by a luthier at Bromberg's fine violins. The fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece are high-quality dense black ebony.
This violin was built on an Italian Stradivarius model, and the arching, edges, and corners are precisely made. The length of the back is 357mm. The workmanship is clean and precise both inside and out. The scroll and peg-box are finely-carved and the purfling is expertly inlaid. There is very little wear on the inside the treble C-bout. There is some wear on the lower treble corner bout in the top. All 4 corners are blocked.
There are wooden pins at the top and bottom blocks of the back in the style of the Cremonese makers. William McLaughlin was a pupil of Jerome Bonaparte “JB” Squire in Boston. J. B. Squire is one of America’s greatest 20th century violin makers, and it is easy to see his influence in this violin.
Please study the pictures closely as they are an essential part of the description. Please ask me any questions before you buy. I can send you additional pictures if you would like. I have included detailed un-retouched pictures and described it as best that I can.
The violin will be carefully packed for shipping in a like-new older-style hardshell case.
If you buy this violin and decide it isn't what you were expecting, you can return it by a Priority shipping service, insured and undamaged, within 7 days for a full refund excluding my actual shipping charge. You are responsible for the return shipping charges. It is obviously not returnable if the violin has been damaged or altered in any way, including string changes and soundpost adjustments.
Location:
United States, DE
Shipping:
Free to continental United States
Payment Methods:
Paypal
Return Policy:
Returns accepted. Buyer must contact seller within 7 days to arrange return. Refund will be given as Money Back.
Buyer pays return shipping.
Additional return policy details: Fiddle and case must be returned in original condition in original shipping materials. No changes or adjustments (strings, soundpost, bridge, etc.) may be made.
Condition of Item(s):
Used - Excellent Condition
Category:
Make:
W. B. McLaughlin
Ad Status:
Sold
Listing No:
11619
Page Views:
1312
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