With Clara being the superior instrument in pretty much every way, I don’t think about my other violin much. But she deserves it =).

When I first started taking lessons, I decided I needed a better instrument than my high school violin. That instrument was purchased for a grand total of $900, including case, bow, and stand. And it was just awful.

So I shopped around locally and ended up in David Stone’s shop in the U District. He regaled me with the story of a particular violin that he’d been restoring – “an early 19th century German fiddle found in an attic some dude who cared nothing for it.” The romantic in me sucked it all in – this violin was around during the early days of the United States, and she looks it!

She didn’t sound great, but multiple people told me that old violins like this will open up with playing and love. I christened her Rowena, because well, she’s old 😉

Unfortunately, Rowena never did open up in sound much. And I also struggled somewhat with playability, because being so old, her dimensions were a bit non-standard too. But I can’t bear to get rid of her, so she rests comfortably in her case.