Used Kessler Copy of a Strad Full-size Violin - With Case and Bow

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. Although 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 bearing this name 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 the package includes 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, giving these instruments a more substantial acoustic foundation than many inexpensive modern plywood violins. As with any vintage string instrument, individual examples can vary considerably depending upon their condition, setup, previous maintenance, and repairs, and a professional setup and evaluation can help ensure the instrument performs at its best.