Choosing between an old violin and a new one is a rite of passage for professional players. It’s a bit like choosing between a vintage sports car and a brand-new performance model: one has history, stories, and maybe a few mysterious noises; the other promises reliability, customization, and fewer surprises from the repair shop. Both choices can lead to a successful career — and both can lead to regret if chosen for the wrong reasons. Myth vs. Reality: Does Older Automaticall

Every violin maker knows this phrase. Every violin maker has said it. Every violin maker has regretted it. “Just one more thing” usually happens late in the day, when the violin looks good, sounds good, and is absolutely begging to be left alone. But no. You notice something. A tiny thing. Something no audience will ever see. Something no musician asked for. Something that absolutely cannot be ignored. Just one more thing. You lightly adjust the bridge. Which means the soundp

A Perfectly Normal Day in the Life of a Violin Maker: The day starts like all serious violin making days should. Breakfast, followed immediately by a very serious espresso . I walk into the workshop and look at the violin I worked on yesterday. It looked perfect last night. This morning, however, I immediately discover at least twelve catastrophic mistakes  that somehow appeared overnight. Everything must be fixed. Immediately. After carefully correcting things that only anot