Opus # 18 "Musica Incipiat"... (Let the music begin)
...This violin was completed 2/2004, and now has had two years of fine tuning and adjustment. It features a special varnish, after the Stradivari varnish used in the early 1700's. The preparation coat applied to the wood, followed by an isolation coat, the ultra violet (sun light) treatment, finally covered by eight coats of Propolis containing European varnish (which remains soft and flexible) give this violin a power, interest and tone. Recently several musicians played their Italian violins .(valued at $ 13,000 on up) along with my opus #18. Unless I am mistaken, this violin compared well to the two fine Italian violins.
...The top wood is one piece from a 300 year old Engleman spruce (which was standing dead for about 12 years before being cut down).
...The back is two piece and flamed French maple with well flamed maple ribs. The neck is plain maple.
...The tone is powerful and full bodied, easily capturing the listners attention.
...The neck is thinner than normal, designed for a player with small hands...
...One of my violin owners traded her former violin (Opus # 08) for this violin so it is officially sold now (09/2006).
All totaled, about 180 hours have gone into the construction of this fine concert violin.
...Recently this violin spent two months as my special violin 'speaker' where it 'played' classical music 24 hours per day in a sound reflective hardwood box. This simulated playing 3 hours per day for about one year and four months (to help the sound develop).