Thank you for looking. To browse my entire collection of vintage and contemporary violins and bows, please click on my user name and then filter by Category.

Master Luthier Josef Horner (a senior luthier at Karl Höfner), Bubenreuth, Germany, 1987

Size: 4/4.
Model: Konzert series KH200 (Guarnerius).
Proficiency level: Professional - Orchestra.
Condition: Excellent vintage condition. There are minor traces of use in the varnish - please review the images carefully.
Fittings: high-grade ebony fingerboard, pegs, tailpiece, and chinrest; Wittner tailgut and fine tuner. Bridge: Aubert a Mirecourt, France.
Strings: brand new Thomastik-Infeld Dominant (135B, $55 on Amazon).
Bow: brand new - unused, unrosined - better quality octagonal wooden bow (ebony frog decorated with Parisian eye and full nickel-silver mount; mother of pearl slide; three-piece button with a m-o-p eye; natural white horsehair - $80 value).
Case: brand new (unused, with tags and dust cover - includes two backpack-style straps) deluxe antiscratch carbon composite oblong "Flight" case Crossrock CRF4020OVBK, July 2023 manufacture date ($250 on Amazon).
Accessories: KUN "Original" shoulder rest in excellent condition; brand new "schwarz" rosin in a wooden tray.

Full-size professional grade violin signed by Master Luthier Josef Horner, made by him at Karl Höfner's custom shop (Meisterwerkstatten) in Bubenreuth, Germany in 1987. 

The main label - which is hand signed by Josef Horner - reads (in translation from German):

  This instrument was made
  at the Master Workshop of Karl Höfner
  by Jos Horner [hand signed]
  Bubenreuth 1987 [hand signed]
  Made in Western Germany
  6-digit Karl Höfner serial number

The KH200, which is a copy of Guarneirus, was described in the catalogue of the time as a violin with "nicely flamed two-piece back, yellow-reddish varnish, artistic old shadings, imitation old."

The violin features beautiful tone woods and shows precise, expert workmanship. It represents an excellent value for this price.  The two-piece back is strongly flamed, with narrow, regular stripes, which underscores the instrument's high model ranking. The tone is medium-warm and rich. The violin is resonant and responsive and will reward the skilled player.

This is a vintage instument - it is in excellent vintage condition: defect-free structurally and very good cosmetically. There are no cracks or repairs. However, like in any hand-varnished instrument, the surface is fragile and there are minor nicks/blemishes in the varnish from prior use. 

The violin comes with a premium accessory set and is equipped with brand new Dominant strings. Fully play-ready.

Accessory Options: If you prefer to purchase this violin as instrument only (the only accessory would be a shipping case - used but functional), I can offer a $230 discount. If you prefer a different accessory set, please let me know your wish list and I will work with you to meet your needs. 

KARL HOFNER VIOLINS

In 1990s, Karl Höfner produced violins in four main grade categories: Student; Orchestra; Concert; and Master. This violin is one of their Concert models. Concert violins were fully hand made by Höfner's top luthiers from the highest quality seasoned tone woods and targeted professional orchestra musicians and advanced students.

According to Karl Höfner's descriptions for distributors, its senior models - such as this one - were "made throughout of beautifully flamed and thoroughly seasoned wood... We only use best tone-wood, choice Bavarian spruce and European maple. The seasoning of the wood over years is standard. All trim is select ebony... Each instrument is carved from a solid block of wood and adjusted for best tone. The scroll and neck are hand-carved... Each instrument is meticulously crafted and graduated to ensure optimum performance. All instruments are finished with spirit varnish and hand rubbed..."

Vintage Höfners are sought-after instruments and command solid prices in the secondary market. You may wish to search the internet for price points. Please make sure you look for "KH" models (produced before approximately 1995). For example, Brobst Violin Shop often has a good selection of vintage Höfner violins. If you search their website for Karl Höfner (browsing by maker), you will see a good representation of prices by model. At the time of this writing, their prices for vintage Höfner violins range from $2,500 for the KH200 model to $5,000 for Master models.

Please note that Höfner's senior models, which were hand made at their custom shop, should not be confused with the relatively inexpensive (but still excellent for their purpose) Student models that Höfner factory-produced in large quantities. Please also note that it is important to differentiate between the highly sought-after vintage Höfners (the model numbers start with "KH") and the contemporary Höfners which are readily available from retailers and, arguably, are significantly less valuable (the model numbers start with "H", such as H225 GG for example).

V101