Select Violins © Copyright 2007.
Out for a sound post veneer patch and baroque set up.
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This Josephus Pauli violin has a wonderful, pleasant, ringing tone on all the strings. A ringing tone is usually associated with brightness, but this instrument is more warm. It has good projection and is suitable for the soloist. Listen to the recording and see if you agree that this violin belongs in the hands of a fiddler in a country, folk, or bluegrass band. If you are looking for something with a lot of character, a little mystery, and a life of its own, this 200-plus-year-old violin will satisfy you!
Very Old Baroque Violin Labeled Josephus Pauli 1722.
Josephus Pauli made violins in the 1700’s in Lincii (Linz), Austria. Labels are always in question, especially when an instrument is this old and has had a lot of repairs. However, Pauli is a very obscure maker, and his violins have not been high-priced instruments. So why would someone put a false label in it? It is possible that it may indeed be correct.
The back is the only place you can look and not see some sign of repair. It has many repaired cracks on the top and ribs. It has a scroll graft that is very hard to see. The neck length is baroque, so it is 10 mm. shorter than normal. There is a soundpost crack, as one would expect on a violin this old. It has been repaired, and the violin is playable as is. However, I would recommend that a soundpost patch be put in for extra strength. (I would have it done, but the new owner may wish to have other cosmetic repairs done as well. So I will leave it up to the new owner.) The arching on the back has been distorted on the lower bout, as can be seen on the photos near the bottom. This violin shows its age, but it is very worthy of serious consideration.