SmakulaSmakula
Fretted
Instruments
PO Box 882, Elkins, WV 26241
304-636-6710
Phone Hours; 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday and occasionally on Saturday.
Fiddles, Violins, and Bows, contact us...
Page Updated 3-1-2023
Please Visit our Home Page for links to our banjos, guitars, mandolins, and more.
For On-line Ordering, Please go to our new website; smakulafrettedinstruments.com
VIOLINS & BOWS
1960's John Juzek. A nicely made modern instrument that has some of the most vivid curly maple I have ever seen on a fiddle. Varnish color is red to amber. Tone is full and even with plenty of volume. In excelent condition and comes with a nice oblong hard case. $1,800 Stock number O-28. Photos
1925 John Bauman. I am always fascinated with early American made fiddles. The woods used and designs are often just a little different than the millions of vintage European instruments that are on the market. The interesting design feature of this instrument is the upper and lower bouts are narrower than the normal Strad copy instruments we see every day. The upper and lower bouts are 6" and 7-1/2" respectively compared to 6-7/16" and 8" commonly seen. This gives the illusion of a longer instrument. Back and sides are likely American curly maple. Top is fine grained spruce. Ebony fingerboard and rosewood pegs and tailpiece complete the fittings. A good sounding instrument worthy of attention no matter what style you play. Price is $1,200 and includes a featherweight case. Stock number O35. Photos
New Core Select 1850S. With vintage instruments being the best available in the 1970's when I first started my music career, newer instruments have rarely caught my attention. Recently an ad from my trusted violin parts supplier caught my eye. A really good looking violin with an exceptional curly maple one piece back at a bargain price? I could not resist and the fiddles did not disappoint. Aside from amazing curly maple, the instruments have a solid European spruce top, ebony pegs and fingerboard, a Wittner Ultra fine tuning tailpiece, and an antique looking amber to red-brown varnish finish. After doing our style fiddle style set up that includes a lower, flatter bridge and Pirastro Cromcor strings, I was impressed with the full sound even sound that will develop as the instrument is played. At $950 with a featherweight case these instruments are an exceptional value in a new or old fiddle. Stock number P73. Photos
1920's Stradivarius copy made in Czechoslovakia. Central Europe was responsible for exporting millions of "Stradivarius" violins to the US from the mid 1800's through World War two. Many just had reproduction Stradivarius makers labels that confused those that inherited the instruments from long passed relatives and were hoping for an extra million or two US Dollars when they sold Granny's fiddle. As far as we know, Antonio Stradivarius did not have a summer home in Czechoslovakia in the early 1700's, so this instrument was not made by his hand. An interesting color scheme with most of the instrument being a dark red, but the edges, up to the purfling, are natural. Tone is full and bright. Good for square dances and jam sessions. With a featherweight case, this fiddle is $850. Stock number P-55. Photos
1920's Amati Copy. Lightly figured maple back, sides, and neck, but a great smooth even tone. The high end carries well, but is not shrill. Don't let the reflections in the pictures scare you, the condition is very good, but it's so shiny, you see all the stuff in the yard mirrored in the finish. A nice instrument at a nice price. $800 with a featherweight case. Stock Number P37. Photos
1920 German Strad Copy. With the Stainer stamp on the back, you would think this fiddle would be one of those squarish, boxy shaped fiddles. Nope. Definitely a Stradivarius pattern. It's a little crude, and quite a bit of honest relic'ing has gone on over the years, but the bottom line is it sounds really good. Price is $750. Stock number P63 Photos
1930's Carlo Alberi, Imported by B&J. With a name like Alberi, you would think this was a violin made in Italy. Hmmm, I wonder why it looks nearly identical to most Made in Nippon fiddles that have been through the shop.. Probably the same reason many modern instruments have brand names that don't exactly match with their country of origin. Still, I have always liked the better Japanese made fiddles. Always a good even tone and very respectable craftsmanship. This one is $700 and includes a featherweight case. Stock Number P41. Photos
Violin Bows
New Dörfler German Made Pernambuco violin Bows.
Model 15A. Octagon stick, $300
Model 22. Highest grade pernambuco, round stick. $800Core Select Braided Carbon Fiber violin Bows Ebony frog with parisian eye. Thread/wire grip; $110
CFX Braided Carbon Fiber violin Bows Black infused with sparkly blue strands, ebony frog with fleur-de-lis inlay; $120
Photos of CFX BowsNew Jacques Remy Pernambuco bows, made in China, 60 to 62 gm $320
J. LaSalle LB-13 Brazillwood octagonal violin bow. $40
J. LaSalle LB-17 Select Brazillwood octagonal violin bow. $60
Many used Pernambuco bows, 57 to 70 grams, $125 to $650
Guide to Abbreviations and Physical Condition;
New; An instrument that came to us from the manufacturer. It has never been owned by a consumer and has it's full warrantee.
Mint; As the instrument came from the factory. No blemishes at all
Near mint; Almost as it came from the factory
Excellent condition, a very clean instrument that has a few minor blemishes
Very Good Condition, reasonable wear for its age.
Good Condition; plenty of player wear.
Plus or minus indicates the condition is half a grade better or worse.
Hard case is either made of laminated wood or ABS plastic. Hard cases offer the most protection for your instrument. The disadvantage is they are heavy.
Original Hard Case, the hard case purchased with the instrument when it was new.
Softcase refers to a chipboard (stiff cardboard) case,
Original Soft Case; The chipboard case sold with the instrument when new.
Gigbag is a padded cloth bag. Usually with shoulder straps.
Shipping
We ship most of our instruments via UPS. Cost to ship a mandolin or fiddle is $20 to $40. Cost to ship a guitar or banjo is $25 to $60. The cost of insurance is extra. We will be happy to quote before shipping.Small goods like banjo heads and other parts cost $9 per order for Priority Mail shipping in the continental US no matter what the order size. Micro orders weighing less than 12 ounces and valued less than $50 are usually shipped via first class mail for $6. The cost of orders headed out of the continental US will be quoted before they are shipped.
Sales Tax
We are legally obligated to charge 6% West Virginia sales tax on anything purchased here at the shop or shipped within the state of West Virginia. We do not charge sales tax on orders sent out of state.To Order
Call us at 304-636-6710. For payment we accept checks, wire transfers and MasterCard & Visa. If you prefer Paypal, please send us an email requesting a Paypal invoice.Email;
Occasionally a customer will let us know that the "Contact Us" button will not work on their computer. If you have that problem, please use sfi<at>smakula<dot>com You will have to change the <at> and <dot> to @ and .