FEATURES
• Full-size 4/4 vintage German workshop violin attributed to Johann Georg Kessler
• Imported for the North American market by C. Bruno & Son
• Commonly labeled "Johann Georg Kessler – Copy of Stradivarius"
• Mid-20th century instrument from Germany / West Germany
• Traditional acoustic violin construction
• Top typically solid spruce
• Back and ribs typically solid flamed maple
• Genuine ebony fingerboard and fittings
• Traditional vintage-style neck profile
• Warm, balanced traditional violin tone
• Shop adjusted and ready to play with new strings
• Minor feather scratches on the top, back, and headstock
• Includes hard-shell case and a new wooden bow (not rosined)
DESCRIPTION
This full-size (4/4) Johann Georg Kessler violin, imported by C. Bruno & Son, is a vintage German workshop-made instrument representative of the student and intermediate violins produced for the North American market during the mid-20th century. While it carries the Kessler name and is commonly labeled "Copy of Stradivarius," it should not be confused with an 18th-century master-built violin by the historical Johann Georg Kessler — instruments in this format are generally understood to be German trade or workshop instruments, including examples associated with West Germany during the mid-century period.
C. Bruno & Son was a prominent American musical-instrument distributor and wholesaler that imported European-made instruments for students and developing musicians. The company's instruments are often recognizable by labels incorporating "Bruno Means Security" along with a lighthouse or tower-style logo.
Our featured instrument is over sixty years old and still in playable condition, with minor feather scratches on the top surface, the bottom of the instrument, and the headstock. Our technician has adjusted the violin for general playing conditions with new strings, and it ships with a hard-shell case and a new wooden bow (not rosined) for the next player.
Vintage German workshop construction commonly employed solid tonewoods, traditional violin construction techniques, and genuine ebony fittings — a combination that gives these instruments a more substantial acoustic foundation than many inexpensive modern plywood violins. As with any vintage string instrument, individual examples vary depending on condition, setup, previous maintenance, and repairs, and a professional setup and evaluation can help ensure the instrument performs at its best.
SPECIFICATIONS
• Instrument: Violin
• Size: Full Size / 4/4
• Maker Attribution: Johann Georg Kessler
• Instrument Type: German workshop/trade violin
• Period: Mid-20th century; examples of this type are associated with the mid-century German market
• Country of Origin: Germany / West Germany
• Importer: C. Bruno & Son
• Label: Commonly marked "Johann Georg Kessler – Copy of Stradivarius"
• Level: Student to intermediate
• Construction: Traditional acoustic violin construction
• Top: Typically solid spruce
• Back & Ribs: Typically solid flamed maple
• Fingerboard & Fittings: Genuine ebony
• Tone: Generally characterized by a warm, balanced traditional violin sound
• Neck Profile: Traditional vintage-style profile
• Outfit: Vintage violin outfits of this type are commonly paired with a hard-shell case and a wooden bow
• Condition: Over sixty years old, playable; minor feather scratches on top, bottom, and headstock; shop adjusted with new strings
*Includes Hard-shell violin case, new wooden bow (not rosined)
Model# Strad Copy
