My Aim

I strive to make instruments of concert quality in the spirit of Golden Period Italian violin making of 17th and 18th Century with enduring tone and beauty, using best possible material and acoustical principle.

Concert Quality Tone

Although tone of any instrument is perceived to be extremely subjective and individual, there are main factors that must be present to a degree in any good instrument.

Power:

an engine driving the violin must be big enough to cast the sound far enough to be heard afar with sufficient presence, not necessarily under the ears.

Range:

at any given volume, piano or forte, there must be enough depth in quality to be molded and articulated by the player.

Overtones:

ideal presence of partial frequencies of each note gives violin tone more complexity and texture which is essential to pleasant musical tones.

Beauty

A violin is an art object as much as a musical instrument. It should be made with a far-reaching posterity in mind. It is my hope that it is enjoyed visually when its playing days are long over as well as here and now.

Wood:

a well-seasoned tone wood grown in an ideal climate with naturally beautiful flames and grain-structure must be used. I only use seasoned tone wood from European Alps.

Varnish:

the type of varnish used and the method of applying matter greatly both in appearance and tone. Brittle or hard varnish that dries too quickly should be avoided. The varnish of my own recipe is oil-based and takes up to 2 years before it is fully dry to the core during that time the violin continues to mature in tone.

Enduring quality

Maker's acoustical principles and experience play a major role in construction of violin --- arching, thickness, and model.

There are violins that sound good at first and deteriorate over time due to poor construction as a result of either ignorance or dishonesty. This often happens when an operator at a commercial establishment hollows out a violin without regard to its health over time. Check out Sohlip Violins page for further information on this subject.

My violins are made very much with a future in mind both in construction and varnish. If you like the way it sounds now you can imagine the picture 6 months, a year, and 10 years from now!