We could talk about this section all day. Spruce wood is used for the top of the instrument, maple for the back, sides and neck, and natural ebony fittings are the most common materials for the Antonio Strad violin family of instruments. Many instruments on the market are NOT made with these special woods and are nothing more than violin imitations. Even with the right kinds of wood, a real violin can be only be made by a highly-trained maker, a luthier, who possesses special knowledge and skills. The surface of the fingerboard, the height of both bridge/nut and the arch of the bridge are all crucial in the construction of a quality instrument. And again, a fine quality instrument can improve your playing significantly.
Higher quality instruments are being made in-house today by skilled artisans, exhibiting unique craftsmanship in the art of making quality string instruments. These superb artists and craftsmen pay careful attention to every detail, requiring hundreds of hours to create a single instrument. They put their names on the labels inside violins. Instruments like these can be quite expensive.
Here at Antonio Strad Violin, you will find both new and used, quality instruments from the best workshops in Europe and China. Internationally Gold-medal winning Chinese makers are producing string instruments exclusively for us. We also carry contemporary and older fine instruments from around the world, which are standard for competitions, scholarship auditions and professional performances.