In every violin maker’s workshop there is a hidden archive. Not in drawers or filing cabinets —but on shelves, in corners, stacked carefully one against another. These are violin bellies that never made it into a finished instrument. They were carved. Graduated. Tapped. Measured. Listened to. And then… rejected. Not because they were bad. But because they were not good enough. The Myth of the Perfect First Attempt From the outside, violin making looks wonderfully romantic. A

(For Musicians Who Are About to Spend Serious Money and Would Like to Sleep at Night) Choosing a professional violin is one of the most exciting — and quietly terrifying — moments in a musician’s life. You are about to spend the kind of money normally associated with used cars, kitchen renovations, or minor existential crises. And yet someone will confidently say: “Just go with your gut.” Excellent advice.If your gut has a PhD in acoustics and 20 years of concert experience.

(And Why This Is Extremely Uncomfortable for Everyone Involved) There is a quiet assumption in the violin world that deserves to be questioned politely, respectfully, and then pushed down the stairs. It goes like this: “If a violin costs £50,000, it must be extraordinary.” It might be. But it might also be… disappointing. Yes — even at this price. Let’s talk about why. 1. Price Is Not a Tone Control Knob This is the first illusion. People subconsciously imagine a direct relat

(And Why That’s Exactly What Makes Finding a Great One So Difficult) Every violin maker has heard this sentence at least once: “Can you make me another one exactly like this?” Of course. I can use the same model. The same measurements. The same tools. The same wood supplier. The same varnish recipe. And I can promise you one thing with absolute certainty: It still won’t sound the same. Not because I’m being difficult. Not because I enjoy mystery. But because nature, physics,

Spending more than £20,000 on a violin is a special moment in a musician’s life. It usually comes after years of study, many concerts, countless scales, and a quiet realisation that your current instrument is no longer keeping up with you. It is also the moment when rational thought becomes… optional. Before emotion takes full control of your credit card, here are a few things every serious musician should know. 1. You Are Not Buying Wood. You Are Buying Possibility. At this