Overall condition is near mint condition. Original varnish is in excellent condition. Virtually no wear to the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Top is medium-grained spruce, with maple back, sides and neck. I would classify this one as loud in volume with a full, moderately bright tone quality. Great for all styles of music!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in excellent condition. Minimal wear to the edges. Virtually no dents, dings or scratches. There are two tiny patches in the top that are original to this instrument during making. See Pic 1. Instrument is guaranteed solid and ready to play. Top is very fine-grained spruce, with maple back, sides and neck. I would classify this one as medium loud in volume with a more mellow, forgiving tone quality. Great for all styles of music! Great for the beginning player!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in excellent condition. Just a tiny bit of wear to one of the edges. Virtually no dents, dings or scratches. No cracks or repaired cracks. Top varies from fine to wide-grained spruce, with maple back, sides and neck. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume with a warm and forgiving tone quality. Great for all styles of music! Great for the beginning player!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in excellent condition, with very few dents, dings and scratches overall. No wear to the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Top is fine-grained spruce, with a lightly flamed maple back, sides and neck. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume with a slightly bassy tone quality. Even across all strings and one of my favorites in this price range! Great for any style of music.

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in excellent condition, with very few dents, dings and scratches overall. Light wear to the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. The back has been reglued to the ribs at the end. Nicely fluted f-holes. Top varies from fine to wide-grained spruce, with a nicely flamed maple back, sides and neck. I would classify this one as loud in volume with moderately bright tone quality. Nice bass end, but not bassy overall. Great for any style of music!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in excellent condition, with very few dents, dings and scratches overall. No wear to the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Top is very fine to fine-grained spruce, with a lightly flamed maple back, sides and neck. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume with an all-around moderate to warm tone quality. Great for any style of music.

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in good condition, with numerous dents, dings and scratches overall. There is moderate wear to the edges. There is a tiny, 1/8" tight saddle crack in the top over the block. No other cracks or repaired cracks. Top is very even, fine-grained spruce, with a nicely flamed maple back, sides and neck. The neck is slightly more narrow at the nut, so string spacing is better suited to smaller hands. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume with a bright, clear tone quality. Great for bluegrass, Irish or folk.

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in good condition, with numerous dents, dings and scratches overall. There is virtually no wear to the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Neck has been reset. Top is very even, fine-grained spruce, with a maple back, sides and neck. The neck is nice and wide at the nut, so string spacing is good for a 5-string. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume with a slightly bright, clear tone quality. The C string is a little scratchy, but I think that would be greatly improved with a string with more tension. Great for any style of music! Great deal!

Nippon, circa 1920. Overall condition is okay. Original varnish is in poor condition, looking like this one has possibly survived a fire. There are numerous burn spots on the scroll and neck, along with fine heat lines in the finish. See Pics 1, 2 & Scroll. There are numerous dents, dings and scratches overall. There is moderate to heavy wear to the edges. There are five repaired cracks in the top. Two are tiny, 1/4" saddle cracks. Another is a very small, 3/16" wing crack on the treble f-hole. There is a 1-3/4" repaired crack and a 6-1/4" repaired crack to the right of the tailpiece. Repairs are well done structurally, but poor job with the touch-up. One rib also has a small 1/2" repaired crack. Instrument is guaranteed solid and ready to play! If you only care about tone, then this is a real bargain because it has a great bluegrass tone! Top is very fine grained spruce, and the back, side and neck are maple. I would classify this one as loud to very loud, with a full, moderately bright tone quality. Great bass end! Great projection! Easy to play! Evenly matched across all strings. Highly recommended despite the way it looks, and really a great value!

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in very good condition, with some dents, dings and scratches overall. There is light to moderate wear to the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Top is wide-grained spruce, with a beautifully flamed maple back, sides and neck. The string spacing is close at the nut, so string spacing is better suited to smaller hands. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume with a moderately bright tone quality. I think this would be good for all styles of music!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in very god condition, with several scratches and dings. There is also a little bit of wear on the center back where the fiddle was probably laid on its back when not being played. No wear on the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Very nice flaming on the maple back and sides! Top is medium to fine grain spruce. I would classify this one as loud in volume with a full, middle-of-the-road tone quality overall: neither bassy nor overly bright. Even across all strings, and a really nice E string that blends well with the rest of the instrument tone-wise. Very easy to play! Great for all styles of music!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in excellent condition, with just a couple of scratches. No wear on the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Absolutely beautiful flaming on the maple back and sides! Top is medium grain spruce. I would classify this one as loud in volume with a slightly bassy tone quality. Really fantastic tone and beauty! Great for all styles of music!

Overall condition is good. Original varnish is in good condition, though it does have a lot of chips, dents, dings and scratches. Moderate to heavy wear on the edges. There are two well-repaired cracks in the top, including a repaired saddle crack on the treble side that is about 3-1/2" long, and a repaired 2-1/2 crack to the left of the fingerboard. No other cracks or repaired cracks. One corner of the top on the bass side has been chipped and is missing. This will not affect the tone or playability of the instrument. Instrument is solid and ready to play! Nice flaming on the maple back! I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume. It has a bright, clear tone quality.

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in good condition, but it has lots of dents, dings and scratches. Moderate wear on the edges. I don't see any cracks or repaired cracks. The number "21" has been engraved into the button. See Heel picture. Top is even, fine-grain spruce, and the back, sides and neck and nicely flamed maple. This one has a nice, thin neck, which can make it easier to play if you have shorter fingers! I would classify this one as loud in volume, with a bright and clear tone quality. Great for bluegrass!

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in good condition, but it has lots of dents, dings and scratches. Moderate wear on the edges. This one does have several repaired cracks in the back. The longest is a repaired 1-1/2" crack to the right of the chinrest near the edge. There are five other small cracks where the chinrest attaches to the back, all 1" or less. There is one other repaired crack in the back to the right of the button. It is 1/2". See Pics 1, 2 & 3. This instrument is in ready to play condition! Ulrich-Tatter violins are known for their unusual tops! This particular instrument has a top that is made of 14 pieces across, each 1/4" in width. Top is spruce, and all pieces are fine-grain spruce of equal grain. The sides and neck are nicely flamed maple. The back is beautiful, quilted maple. I would classify this one as loud in volume, with a slightly bassy, clear tone quality. Nice depth! Great for all styles of music. Highly recommended as a great playing instrument and also as an American collectible!

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in good condition, but is very worn in places and has lots of dents, dings and scratches. The edges are natural in color, with moderate wear. There is a 1" repaired saddle crack under the chinrest. I don't see any other cracks or repaired cracks. One corner is a little bit chipped. See Pic 1. There is a tiny wedge under the fingerboard to increase the neck angle. Label says "Nicolaus Amatus Cremonen Hiernymi; Fil. ac Antonij Nepos Fecit 16." Top is medium-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are maple. I would classify this one as loud in volume, with a bright and clear tone quality. Even across all strings and super easy to play! (Almost plays itself!) Great for bluegrass! This one has good projection and will get you heard in any acoustic setting.

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in good condition except for the back, which is in poor condition. I suspect the instrument got very hot either in an attic or car, and it melted the varnish causing the back to stick to the case. Even so, it still has its original varnish and other than looking bad, it is in decent condition. There are some creases in several of the ribs from where the wood was originally bent. See Pic 2. These are not cracks and are completely stable and original to the instrument. There is a slight gap where the ribs meet at the end seam, so I suspect this has been reglued. It also looks like the back seam has been reglued on the lower portion. I don't see any cracks or repaired cracks. "Ernest" is painted in script on one side. See Pic 2. Top is fine-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are nicely flamed maple. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume, with a moderately warm all around tone quality. Even across all strings! Great for all styles of music! Great price for a nicely made, vintage American instrument!

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in very good condition with dents, dings and scratches overall. There is a 3-1/4" repaired crack in the top extending upwards from the treble f-hole. There is also a repaired 4-1/2" crack in the top under the chinrest that extends from the bottom edge to the bass f-hole. I see no other cracks or repaired cracks. Top is medium to wide-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are maple. Purfling is etched. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume, with a moderate all around tone quality. Even across all strings! Neck is slightly more narrow at the nut, making this more ideal for smaller fingers. Great for all styles of music! Great price!

Overall condition is excellent. Original antiqued varnish is in excellent with virtually no dents, dings, scratches or wear overall. No wear on the edges. No cracks or repaired cracks. Top is fine to very fine-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are lightly flamed maple. I would classify this one as loud to very loud in volume, with a full, all around moderate tone quality. Nice depth, not overly bassy, and even overall! Great for all styles of music! You will fall in love with this one!

Overall condition is excellent, especially considering its age! Original varnish is in excellent condition with very few dents, dings, or scratches overall. Very light to no wear on the edges. I don't see any cracks or repaired cracks. Top is medium-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are nicely flamed maple. One-piece back! Things that are unique about this instrument include long "ears" on the large scroll, concave button (carved), and fluted edges overall, including nicely fluted f-holes. The MOST unique thing about this instrument is the "Lens Eye Endpin." It has a clear center that you can look through into the fiddle. This was done to help with setting the soundpost. You can see an original Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory advertising his unique endpins here. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume, with a moderately bright tone quality. Not harsh or tinny, but not deep and full either. Great for all styles of music! Wonderful instrument to add to your collection or to play! Great piece of American history that you can actually enjoy!

Overall condition is excellent. This is a nicely made instrument similar to Robert Dolling. Instrument has been completely refinished. There are scratches under the varnish, especially on the top, but the varnish is in good condition and is not cracking or chippy. Overall there are dents, dings and scratches. I see a well-repaired crack in the top to the right of the fingerboard that extends from the edge downward 3/4". The button has also been reglued (see Pic 1). I don't see any other cracks or repaired cracks. This has really nicely fluted f-holes (see Pic 2)! Light wear to the edges. Top is very even, fine-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are lightly flamed maple. I would classify this one as medium loud to loud in volume, with a warm, full tone quality. Good volume, great depth and bass without being overpowering! This would be good for any style of music.

Overall condition is very good. Original varnish is in very good condition with dents, dings and scratches overall. Moderate wear to the edges. There is a well repaired crack in the rib near the endpin. See "End" picture. The top corners (bee stings) are all chipped. I don't see any other cracks or repaired cracks. Top is very even, super fine-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are nicely flamed maple. I would classify this one as loud in volume, with a clear tone quality. This would cut through any acoustic jam session very nicely! Great for bluegrass or Irish music!

Overall condition is excellent. Original varnish is in very good condition with dents, dings and scratches overall. I see a very well repaired 2-1/2" crack in the top to the right of the tailpiece (see Pic 2), and a tiny pressure crack from bending one of the ribs when the instrument was originally made (see Pic 1). I don't see any other cracks or repaired cracks. Light wear to the edges. Top is very even, fine-grained spruce, and the back, sides and neck are lightly flamed maple. I would classify this one as loud in volume, with a full, deeper tone quality. This would be good for any style of music. It is both a beautiful looking and sounding instrument!