The ultimate fiddler’s fiddle!

This is no orchestra violin. It’s a fiddle! This is true of this instrument, as well as the 90+ year old instrument it replicates.
The instrument does well with a low action. The instrument is set up as a violin, but we will make the string height as low as you wish within reason. Our rule of thumb is that it has to be playable in 1st and 3rd positions without any string buzz. Even with a low string height, the instrument is magically responsive, full-bodied and powerful German “factory fiddle” sound that Old-Time fiddlers have always sought. Here this type of fiddle on old and new recordings: See the accompanying videos.

Learn more: See Introducing Golden Age Old-Time Fiddles by D. Rickert Musical Instruments

About our replicas of violins made by Ernst Heinrich Roth I in the 1921-1933 period (the originals from this “golden period” sell in the $10,000 to $15,000 range at auction).

Our supplier of these fine instruments is a serious researcher and leading authority on the famous early 20th Century German violin maker, Ernst Heinrich Roth I, with a focus on Roth’s construction and legendary varnishing techniques and how these factors resulted in violins with extraordinary bass overtones.

His replicas can generally be described as producing a balanced deep tone and uncommonly fast response…just like the original Roth violins from the 1921-1933 period. ??Our Ernst Heinrich Roth I 1921-1933 period instruments are available either with a non-antiqued varnish (the look of a new instrument in the 1920s) or a perspiration-bleached finish (replicating how many of the Roths look today).

??If you look, you will find less expensive violins described as "Ernst Heinrich Roth style" and other similar descriptors. These are not the same as the instruments we sell, for which all peg fitting, bridge carving and fitting, sound post fitting, as well as all of the other set up details for the specific chosen string options (including nut grooving) is done in the workshop of D. Rickert Musical Instruments in the North Georgia Mountains (Hiawassee, Georgia, U.S.A.).

Features of this fiddle

Of course, the instruments are:

• 100% hand made
• 100% hand varnished
• Made from the finest woods that are dried at least 12 years

And have…

• Genuine ebony fingerboard
• Genuine Ebony fittings
• Inlaid (rather than painted) purfling on front and back

The best part is that the fiddle is in one piece and has NO cracks, nor has the neck settled so much over the last century or more that your bridge has to be cut ridiculously low. It is a new replica! We know from comparing the replicas in our Golden Age series with the scores of originals we have owned, repaired or set-up, that this fiddle is made from better wood (e.g. better grain matching of the two back halves) and has a better varnish job than the original.

Comes with a great suspension case and pretty good brazilwood bow.

Plus, the instrument comes with a good quality suspension case and decent Brazil wood bow. If you are an advanced player, you will want to use a better bow. If you need a new bow, check out the selection of bows we have, which includes a number of pernambuco bows in the $400 to $1,500 range. If you contact us when you buy, we can quote you on a great discount on a pernambuco bow.

Don’t let the low sell price fool you.

This is a superb instrument so close to an original that a fake label could fool most. Note: We do not do fake labels. The label identifies this instrument as a replica. If you are not okay with that, you will have to make your own label. We believe in identifying an instrument for what it really is.

Strings

No Extra Cost Options (Brash, Bright and Harsh!)

We don’t like the sound (i.e. nasty) of any of these strings, nor do we sell them except as options for these fiddles; however, many fiddlers love them. We suggest you consider some of the better strings.

• Super-Sensitive Red Label
• Super-Sensitive Old Fiddler
• D’Addario Fiddle Strings
• Black Diamond Vintage Violin Strings

No Extra Cost Options (Good Strings)

• D’Addario Helicore medium gauge:
• Better than any metal string that was available in the 1920s, so their use could be cheating a little (but we won’t tell anybody)
• D’Addario ProArte synthetic gut core strings
• Play like gut
• Slightly dark sounding
• Replicate the metal wound gut strings of the early 20^th Century pretty well, but they stay in tune and don’t break for no apparent reason at all.

Other Options that Cost a Bit More

The extra cost we charge as part of setup is substantially less than the actual cost of the strings.

• Thomastik-Infeld Vision stark (heavy) gauge (replicate silver-wound silk strings)…$15
• Quite powerful and full-bodied, verging on dark
• Our favorite string for all fiddles, including those in contemporary setup
• D’Addario Zyex (dark sounding metal wound synthetic gut core with a steel E string…play and sound like real gut)…$20 extra
• Pirastro Eudoxa traditional wound real gut strings with a silvered steel E string…$50 extra
• A very plausible replication of the type of strings used from the 1890s until well into the 20^th Century.
• Still the favored string for many contemporary classical violinists
• Gamut real gut strings with a silver wound gut G string…($50)
• The best real gut strings we have ever played. The only authentic choice for 19^th Century replication.