To continue with those instruments lurking in my life, here's my violin. Like the mandolin this was a surprise Christmas gift from my wife. I'm not sure exactly when that was - 2008? 2009? The instrument is a Meisel full-size (4/4) model "Mozart" 6104. The s/n is 111971 which I have not been able to decode. It was made in China, although the label says "Geigen Cello Und Bassbau", which would indicate a German company. It came with a nice hard-shell case made by Meisel.

I took lessons for a couple of years, and I could play some slightly more than beginner stuff in the lower positions. I could never get the vibrato. Also, I think my old hands had trouble in some way so that I had an irritating "wobble" in my playing. So eventually I gave up. I still wish I could play the violin, because it's such a sweet, expressive instrument.

Meisel violin