Help: Hopf Fiddle

Subject: Hopf Fiddle
From: Gypsy
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 10:57 PM

Well, just to follow the piano saga...friend mando player just aquired a Hopf Fiddle. We think. Anyway, that is the stamp. So, after perusing the bezillions of google articles, all of which say "very good instrument, IF authentic" None say how to tell. It is a handsome piece, deeply flamed tiger maple, very light, and wondorous sound. Anyone got the history? Thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 10:30 PM


Does the information HERE help any?

John

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Gypsy
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 10:56 PM

'preciate the effort, but found that one. What i'm looking for, is a way to clearly identify the beastie, and see if it is the real thing. There's just gotta be SOME distinguishing mark on it! Thanks for your time.

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 11:03 PM

You might want to compare your friends Hopf with the two I found for sale in a quick search

Here
and

Here too

Maybe one of these looks like your friend's?

Given the number apparently made with the Hopf stamp on them, it is unlikely that the history of a particular instrument can be found by working down from the many makers. A better bet would be to try to track previous owners, it there is any info available.

You may have already found the site of another owner HERE. I didn't note whether he gave contact information, but maybe he would have more info?

He looks friendly enough????

John

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Gypsy
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 11:14 PM

What a prince you are, thank you so much for the clickys. Looks most similar to the first "here" only the flaming is quite intense. So much so, that the back is rippled along the flames. Nice job of bookmatching. There are odd fade marks, initially thought it was faded where the chinrest was missing, but noticed that it had the same fade on all four corners of the sound board. Odd, eh?

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:04 AM

There are several knowlegeable people at the Maestronet Fingerboard forum; you could ask there. You have to join to post, but it's painless.

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 04:41 AM

The fade marks sound like simulated (fake) wear. This practice became very common and quite stylised in the late 19th early 20th centuries,leading to some puzzling 'wear' marks.

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Gypsy
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 11:03 PM

they are indeed phony looking. Tis a sweet fiddle, but it is always fun to know for sure.......

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From:
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 02:36 PM

I'm new here but not new to fiddles. Most fiddles that are branded, either Hopf or Stainer, are German factory fiddles. A lot of them from 1880 to 1910 or so had very good striped maple backs and sides. Yours may be one of them. Without a hands on inspection of the fiddle it's hard to tell the age and pedigree. Even over the web pictures don't do much good. I'm in St.Louis, Mo. area and if you're ever in the area I would be glad to see what I can determine about the fiddle. Most of the time the brand outside and sometimes inside and labels inside ordinary factory fiddles doesn't mean much. The bottom line with a fiddle as far as I'm concerned is; if it plays well and has a tone that you like, if it's worth $10.00 or $200,000.00 as long as you're happy with it, that's all that counts. Thanks for letting me ramble on.

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Gypsy
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 04:57 PM

What a hero you are! Thanks for your time and answer

Subject: RE: Help: Hopf Fiddle
From: Gypsy
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 11:35 PM

Oh yeah, Sorcha, DID sign up at Maestronet, and eagerly awaiting the answer to my post. Will share once i have it.