Viola Bow Prices – Quality & Cost Considerations
Moses Sedler
24.10.2022
You’ve committed so much attention to the purchase of the right viola and now you have to make a decision on a suitable bow to
What is a Workshop Instrument?
What is a Workshop Instrument?
Violin making is a highly complex process that requires different skillsets to complete an instrument.High-end violins are made by master makers, who create instruments from beginning to end. They choose the tonewood, construct the body, carve the neck and scroll, apply the varnish, and perfect the set up.
A master maker understands what makes for quality sound in an instrument, from knowing the right tonewood to select to thicknessing the top and back and fitting the bass bar.
This process is extremely laborious and requires many years of study and experience. Because of the luthier’s extensive training and the opportunity for personalization, a violin from a master maker carries a high price tag.
For the beginning or amateur player, a workshop violin offers an excellent, affordable alternative to the master maker.
How are workshop violins made?
The term “workshop violin” has been used for centuries to describe instruments that are made by multiple skilled workers, who each learn how to do one or two of the steps of making a violin, such as carving the scroll or varnishing.
With repetition and training, workers quickly become very good at performing their particular part of the making process. Workers in this setting are not master luthiers; however, they are experts in their specific skill.
Many of the best instruments of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were produced in the workshops of Mirecourt, Mittenwald, and Markneukirchen. These violins remain highly desirable for professionals and amateurs alike and come from prestigious brands such as Ernest Heinrich Roth, Neuner and Hornsteiner, and Laberte Humbert.
All student instruments made today are produced in this manner in the workshops of China.
While they are not as exclusive as a master maker’s instrument, many workshop violins can still be of a very high quality.
German Violins at Dolce Violins
Dolce Violins carries a wide selection of antique German violins from legendary Marknuekirchen and Mittenwald violin making workshops like Ernst Heinrich Roth and Neuner and Hornsteiner.
French Violins At Dolce Violins
Dolce Violins carries a selection of outstanding violins from the best workshops in Mirecourt and other parts of France.
What Makes an Instrument Sound Good?
There are multiple factors that affect how a violin sounds, including the quality of the tonewood, the outline and proportions of the instrument, the arching of the top and back, the thicknessing of the top and back, and the fitting of the bass bar.
The best modern workshops, such as Snow Violins and Eastman Strings, take all of these factors into account, and, as such, they are able to craft instruments with a rich tone quality and easy playability.
Is a Workshop Violin the Right Choice for Me?
As we’ve seen, workshops can produce high quality instruments. While most professionals still prefer antique violins from individual makers or personalized instruments from modern master luthiers, these expensive options are not the ideal solution for every skill level, goal, or budget.
A workshop violin can be the ideal choice for a wide variety of players. You can may want to consider a workshop violin if you are:
- A beginner of any age
- An amateur playing for your own enrichment
- A member of a community orchestra
Dolce Violins is dedicated to finding the right instrument for your needs. Give us a call at 415-453-1517 or schedule a meeting with Moses to explore your options.
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