A $30,000 Violin Like No Other

Описание: While violin-making has undergone many technical innovations over the last few hundred years, a violin’s appearance and functionality has remained largely unchanged. This is not surprising as the world of western classical music can be described as conservative and we still look up to the old masters as the pinnacle of craftsmanship and sound.

A violin, in the simplest terms, can be described as a wooden box with strings. A very beautiful, refined and deceptively complex box; but still a box nonetheless. Luthiers work at sub-millimeter level precision, and there are hundreds of variables that affect an instrument’s sound, playability and response. This is why when a player wants to adjust their precious instrument, they need to take it to a skilled luthier, even for the simplest modifications. This can be a problem if you are not happy with you violin, but are far away from the nearest respectable violin-maker.

Customisation therefore, hasn’t been a word associated with traditional violins, and players have been strongly encouraged not to alter their instruments themselves for hundreds of years - and for very good reasons.

This is where this Ultralight model violin by Curtin Studios comes in. With a solid worldwide reputation, no living maker has been innovating as much as US based Joseph Curtin.

An ultralight weighs less than a traditional instrument for the same reason a Formula 1 car weighs less than your car: performance. Low-density woods and state-of-the-art acoustical design give the Ultralight a malleable voice of operatic intensity. Play one and you will be heard.

Ultra-low maintenance: The Ultralight is built to resist the kind of damage that is almost inevitable with traditional instruments. The bridge will not warp, nor will the strings dig into their grooves. The fingerboard has an abrasion resistant surface that can be removed and replaced in case of eventual wear. The chinrest assembly does away with the metal clamps that so often damage the top and ribs. Strategically placed veneers prevent the soundpost and bridge from digging into (and eventually cracking) the top. A host of less obvious innovations ensure long-term structural and tonal stability.

It was also designed to give players control over some important aspects of setup and playability: the string-heights above the fingerboard can be changed by inserting a key into the base of the neck. The centering of the fingerboard beneath the strings can also be altered equally. These and other innovations ensure that your Ultralight is kept in optimal adjustment, even when located a continent away from the nearest violin shop.

Need to blend in? Different size micro-mutes allow you to incrementally mellow the timbre to best fit a particular ensemble, or a particular piece of music, or to simply avoid tiring your ear during long hours of practice.

In conclusion, this violin embodies the intersection of tradition and innovation. It takes the timeless elegance and functionality of the classical violin and enhances it with modern technology and design, effectively combining the best of both worlds.