Violon BRETON.

[Janer]

Does it seem to be in good shape to give it strings to test its sound or will you have to wait ? Expecting for its sound !

The top cover it isnt useful. Its not the original and can not be glued.
Its impossible to make it playable.
The Luthier said me to make a new one top cover .... But I dont be sure.
First of all I want to know if the rest of the violin is an interesting piece.
Later I upload more pictures.

[Janer]

[Janer]

As seen in the first and second photo top cover is made from wooden two levels; looks perfectly at the f-holes and the top break f-hole. Is rare because the wood looks the same, but it is clear that there are two attached wood.
The third photo shows the edge is cut out and have tried to adjust a cover of a larger instrument. The purfling is painted and has been cut to fit the body.
In the fourth photo of the completed work back and sides looks like. It is well made and my Luthier says it is handmade by someone with experience, good wood and good work.
In the fifth picture you can see the fit and poor performance of the volute.
The sixth picture shows the great work purfling the back.

Any help?
thank you and sorry for the pictures.

[IFred]

well, with those proper picture I'll confirm and adjust my initial assesment
Front and scroll => poor quality very industrial
Back & ribs => Genuine Breton
+ varnish termpering

I do not think there is much that could be done for this fiddle.

[Janer]

But, what kind of breton?
Do you think on the possibility of make a new top cover?
How much price to make this violin playable and what possibility that it sounds well..?.
Thank you.

[Nicolo]

Bonjour,
Nous comprenons que vous avez acheté un violon dans lequel vous portez les plus grands espoirs car il porte une marque au fer. Hélas, il va falloir vous résoudre à admettre qu'il ne servira plus jamais à faire de la musique, nous le voyons, nous le savons.
Il peut faire cependant un très bel objet décoratif.
Meilleures salutations.

[Malkichay]

Hola ,
Entendemos que usted compró un violín en el que te pones las más altas esperanzas porque lleve una marca de hierro. Por desgracia , tendremos que admitir que nunca mas se puede utilizarlo para hacer música, vemos , sabemos .
Tal vez, sin embargo , un hermoso objeto decorativo .
Saludos cordiales .

[Janer]

I know how to use the translator of google, thanks.
Several questions still arise to me at this point.
What kind of Breton? Joseph-François Breton, F. Breton, Breton (Thibouville, Laberte, etc.)
What has happened to have a top cover such low quality?
What reasoning could give me those luthier here about the top cover? It is common to find this? it was a trick to sell the violin as "almost" repairable so they can get rid of it?
I feel that looks like I want the violin, with these answers, sounds again by itself , but I would like to know as much as possible.
And seeing that there are several luthier here in the forum (and good no doubt), I wonder if they think it worth reconstructing a top cover and how much could cost to make an instrument of the violin again.

thanks again.

[Marc Genevrier]

I can't help you much about the origin of it, nor about the story behind the top.

As far as making a new top is concerned, everything is feasible in violin making and it wouldn't even be a technical challenge in this case. Properly restoring the back would require more skills, as far as I can tell from the pictures. However, you should probably expect to pay a few thousands euros to have a new top built, the back restored and the violin fully setup. You would end up with a possibly good sounding violin, but a violin whose tone qualities would reflect the skills and habits of the repairer much more than those of the original Breton. And still a violin with an ugly scroll, except you are willing to pay more to have a new scroll made...

[IFred]

=>imo François Breton.
=>You'll never know for sure, likely top vas damages beyond repair and cheap remplacement top was fitted.
=>Having a top made and the instrument restore will cost you more than Breton in playing condition. Plus you wont be able to know how it will sound before repairing it. Further more even repair the value of the instrument will be less that the cost of the repair.
=> considering the varnish tempering, waiting for a breton whos back was damaded in order to salvage part and make a composite instrument will not work, plus the cost of the process will also be prohébitif.

[Janer]

How much for a Francoise Breton in a good conditions?

[IFred]

The market value is 1,5 to 2k€ , the retail value .. well it depends where you get it from

[Chanterelle]

Un véritable François Breton :

http://s23.postimg.org/62h8vtsln/Breton_FRa.jpg


http://s22.postimg.org/byclz6qsh/Breton_face.jpg


http://s8.postimg.org/k16xd58at/Breton_F.jpg


http://s22.postimg.org/w4k6yv6bl/Breton_Fran.jpg

[Janer]

Merci beaucoup à tous.
Enfin je suis retourné l'instrument à la maison de vente aux enchères et ils remboursé de l'argent .
Vous étiez une grande aide .
Bientôt, je vais vous montrer deux autres violons Je viens d'acheter connaître votre opinion

[IFred]

on witch ground did you get reimbursed ?