Our best guess is that this 1692 Stainer Stainer “Lionhead” copy replicates a Markneukirchen instrument made in the 1880-1890 period, when the Stainer “Lion Heads” were particularly popular.

We put our money on Heinrich Theodor Heberlein; however it could also be one of the Glaesels. It is a very good Stainer copy, so you can expect it to be powerful and dark.

Plus, how much cooler can you get than a Stainer Lionhead?

About this model

Violinmaker Wayne Chow makes this special model for the Wang Luthiery collections. Wayne is one of the sons from the Chow & Sons workshop. In 2011 he struck out on his own to make his own unique range of violins. He draws a lot of inspiration from Stradivarius 1715 and models his range of violins after it, while making minor adjustments for the thickness according to the tonewood. He prefers his varnishings to resemble more of the Italian makers (even when a Tyrolean Stainer, which would usually be a bit darker in color…in fact, scary dark!), and non antiqued.

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

Features of this fiddle

• 100% Handmade, 100% hand oil varnished
• Selected Seasoned Spruce Top, naturally air dried (over 12 years)
• Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back, Ribs & Scroll, naturally air dried (over 12 years)
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Hard-carved pegs, tailpiece and chinrest
• Genuine Inlaid Purfling

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.