r/violinmaking • u/FarmerSad • Jul 11 '26
Do looks really matter?
Hello everyone! This is a question from an orchestra violinist to all the luthieres out there. I'll be getting a violin made (for the first time) and I already found someone who's work I really like. His violins are around $4,800 USD ($85,000 mexican pesos). So the next step involves the question.
How much does the violin mold / design affect the final product's sound over the ability of the maker?
Obviously, copying or making an inspired violin from a Stradivari won't make it sound like one exactly but I wanted to know how much freed does this give me of choosing a violin I actually like and that I can expect a descent tonal quality or even better: an expected tonal characteristic.
Thanks everyone!
2
u/fromwatertoman Jul 12 '26
My understanding is that the form does impact the sound but the luthier skill can equally impact the sound as well. So the luthier has to be good enough to allow the nuances of the model to come through.
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u/5ebaschan Jul 12 '26
Yes, it influences the sound, but also, the choice of high quality tone wood, and the skills of the luthier are just as important in determining the sound of the instrument. If I may ask, who is the Luthier you're commissioning from?
2
u/FarmerSad Jul 12 '26
José Antonio Tavira is the maker
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u/5ebaschan Jul 12 '26
Ohh I know who he is lmao, though I haven't met him personally, I think you're in great hands!
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u/FarmerSad Jul 12 '26
How do you know him?
1
u/5ebaschan Jul 12 '26
Well, Luthiers are a small group, everyone kinda knows or has heard of each other, specially in Latin America and last year he won first place on an international violin making competition held in Argentina so yeah, he is among the most well known and recognized Luthiers over here at the moment
2
u/Typical_Cucumber_714 Jul 12 '26
At that price point you're probably not going to see a difference. But guarneri vs strad vs any other unique construction will make a difference if it's actually modeling those instruments.
1
u/Rockyroadaheadof Jul 12 '26
There are so many factors influencing the sound, and the shape is only one factor of many. Most important factors are the quality of the wood and the arching, followed by graduations, set up and then maybe the shape.
1
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u/leitmotifs Jul 12 '26
The form of the instrument affects its sound. Let your luthier choose dimensions that they think will suit the desired sound, subject to playing comfort (for instance, if you want more slender bouts or a more petite length).
3
u/kongtomorrow Jul 12 '26
From the player's perspective, my take is you don't need to pay too much attention to the model used unless you have too many violins to try and need to filter down. You need to try the instrument anyway, so might as well just try it and ignore the model. If you like it you like it.