Intermediate Violas for Sale: Featured Spotlight
At Dolce Violins, we have a wide selection of violas for sale in the $1,000 to $3,000 range. These are excellent affordable intermediate violas for advancing players, but also great options for new students looking to start playing with a higher quality instrument.
Snow Viola Model SA100 (15″) – $990
Our Snow SA100 violas are the moderately-priced violas in Snow’s lineup, but are some of the most affordable violas that we carry here at Dolce. Each viola features a brilliantly-flamed maple back and sides, coupled together with an antiqued rich reddish brown, hand-rubbed oil varnish. These finely-made instruments are well-known for a beautiful and rich sound for the price range. The elegant design and full-bodied sound makes the Snow SA100 an aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective choice for advancing players.
Eastman Strings Peter Kauffman (15.5″) – $1,650
At Dolce Violins we perform dozens and dozens of playtests to choose the best sounding viola models for every size. For the 15″ and 15.5″ Peter Kauffman, our numerous playtests have preferred the Tertis Model (as opposed to the Stradivari), so that’s what we carry here. The Tertis model offers a large resonating “box” but still manages to keep the scale of the string length manageable. This is a viola with a warm, rich tone, and strong focus, too. Simply put, this Peter Kauffman 15.5” has everything you could want as an advancing student, all at an extremely reasonable price.
West Coast Strings Sandro Luciano (16”) – $2,295
The West Coast Strings Sandro Luciano viola is a high-quality, handmade viola made with well-aged tonewoods. Its maple back and sides, coupled with its select spruce top, are all accented with an antiqued golden-amber varnish. As always, our violas feature only the best viola strings, and we used Evah Pirazzi Gold strings on this Sandro Luciano viola. It has also received our full shop adjustment after passing through our workshop. This includes a custom fit soundpost and French Aubert bridge and fingerboard planing for optimal scoop. Its boxwood pegs work smoothly and match the boxwood tailpiece and chinrest well.
All told, this intermediate to advanced viola has an excellent tone that matches many violas for sale of a much higher value. The Sandro Luciano from West Coast Strings is another great choice for an advancing player.
Eastman Strings Rudoulf Doetsch 16″ – $2,450
Eastman Strings is one of our favorite brands to carry at Dolce due to the excellent marriage of affordability and workmanship found in each of their products. This Rudoulf Doetsch model has everything that makes the brand excellent, and more. Rudoulf Doetsch violas are among our top picks for students due to their warm, resonant sound. They also possess a smooth playing response, particularly for the price range. Each top and back is finely tuned and graduated, meanwhile the bass is expertly-fitted, maximizing clarity and tone projection. The viola’s reddish-brown antique spirit varnish, applied by hand over a golden ground, presents an elegant, almost Markneukirchen look for an unbelievable price.
Eastman Strings Pietro Lombardi – $2,653
Another excellent offering from Eastman, the Pietro Lombardi is made from select, aged tonewoods. It offers a richly flamed maple back and select spruce top. Meanwhile, the amber spirit varnish brings a classic, aged aesthetic, calling to mind the Italian makers of old.
The Pietro Lombardi viola comes in 15″, 15.5″, 16″ sizes, and is available in both a Stradivarius pattern and a Tertis pattern. At Dolce, we’re particularly fond of the Tertis model, due to a dark, rich sound that manages to carry a wide range of warmth and tone. The Tertis model, as it is known today, was originally developed by viola virtuoso Lionel Tertis in cohort with the English luthier Arthur Richardson. For advancing players the Pietro Lombardi is another excellent choice out of the violas we have for sale.
Eastman Strings Wilhelm Klier (16”) – $2,685
Like all their products, Eastman Strings makes their Wilhelm Klier violas in the traditional style using the classic workshop-method. The Wilhelm Klier, in particular, harkens back to German tradition. This is an extremely affordable viola with the appearance of a much higher price bracket. The Wilhelm Klier is made from well aged wood and produces a rich, warm sound.
The maple for the back, neck, rib, and scroll is highly flamed and varnished with a deep color. It produces a classic, antique look. The sound quality is extremely round and lush. These violas are an excellent choice for an intermediate or advanced player.
