22 replies to this topic

[stephen maloney]

http://www.ebay.com/...9#ht_3348wt_934

Price seems on the high side but what an incredible del Gesu tribute by JB. Wonder how it would do in a sound comparison.

[Addie]

I didn’t realize the Cannon had painted purfling.

[fiddlecollector]

I didn’t realize the Cannon had painted purfling.

What? If your refering to the top left of the back edge,its wear/simulated wear

[lyndon]

steverino if you are going to drool over a vuillaume, at least be sure its real, go to cozio.com, or sothebys, tarisio, this seller on ebay is very suspect, theyre all appraised by the same bloke linked into the seller and theres N0 RETURN POLICY, and the prices are really high if they even were real.......

[fiddlecollector]

Lyndon it is a Vuillaume,but i agree his prices are often very high.

[martin swan]

This particular seller usually offers stuff with his own certificates, a practice which is susceptible to abuse but doesn't necessarily mean it's dishonest or that the items aren't real.
In this case the certificate is by Rampal, who is OK by me, even for a Vuillaume.
Given that good Vuillaumes are selling at auction (particularly to a Korean collector) for over £120,000 ($180,000), for once I don't think the price is unreasonable, though most of this seller's stock seems laughably over-priced.
As I understand it he regularly accepts offers way below the Buy It Now price.

[stephen maloney]

What? If your refering to the top left of the back edge,its wear/simulated wear

I like how he has made the purfling channel really "sloppy". The scroll, of course,
is pure Katarina.

[Christopher Jacoby]

The scroll is mindblowing. Ha! Who would dare!

[MikeC]

The scroll is mindblowing. Ha! Who would dare!

What's so great about the scroll? It's very asymmetrical. Well... if it's a DG copy that would make sense I guess

[Jeffrey Holmes]

I have one (same model) on the bench today owned by a well known quartet player. Great sounding fiddle...

[Addie]

What? If your refering to the top left of the back edge,its wear/simulated wear

Yes, I thought is was painted, not “worn” through inlay.

[hk1997]

So this is what an antiqued violin looks like after 167 years. It finally looks its age.

[Christopher Jacoby]

Actually, I would say that Vuillaimes are accurate snapshots of the fiddles when he got them, even 160 years later. When you handle a Vuillaime, the varnish is so damn hard... The old Cremonese are antiqued because the varnish was soft and vulnerable. French 19th century varnish is not.

[stephen maloney]

Actually, I would say that Vuillaimes are accurate snapshots of the fiddles when he got them, even 160 years later. When you handle a Vuillaime, the varnish is so damn hard... The old Cremonese are antiqued because the varnish was soft and vulnerable. French 19th century varnish is not.

Very interesting point, I didn't know that (re: really hard Vuillaume varnish).

Ah that Cremonese wabi-sabi...

[martin swan]

Hi Steve,
All is not lost - you can have a superb French violin for much less, it also has the "natural and dark brown varnish like the best of Vuillaume" : Louis-Paul Jabot (?)

[stephen maloney]

Hi Steve,
All is not lost - you can have a superb French violin for much less, it also has the "natural and dark brown varnish like the best of Vuillaume" : Louis-Paul Jabot (?)

That one is not wabi-sabi, it was varnished with wasabi !

[Tommy]

Are those the famous black rosewood pegs?

[maggini1]

I've seen and tried this fiddle. Very good deep, dark "Del Gesu" sound, but it is oversized at 35.9cm and wasn't to my liking.
It is also quite overpriced considering its condition.
If you look carefully at the lower right portion of the top - right of the F-hole - that is a whole new piece all the way to the right corner. (Notice the darker color wood compared to the intact wood on the left)
This alone would bring the price down significantly. I'd say in the 150k range.
Make him an offer! LOL

[martin swan]

I'm interested in your statement that 35.9cm is oversized - could you explain your thinking?

[maggini1]

For me 35.9cm is on the big size. True Del Gesu back length is anywhere from 35.3 to 35.6/.7
Even the "Cannone" which Vuillaume modeled many of his Del Gesu copies on is about 35.3/.4
Vuillaume then put his own interpretation on the pattern where unless it was a "Bench" copy they are in the 35.7-35.9 range.
In the end it comes down to your personal preference and hand/body size etc.