Why order a luthier's violin

Finding an exceptional violin is above all a way for the musician to reveal his or her potential. Even if a violin won't turn a bad violinist into a virtuoso, it will enable the player to express all the emotions he or she wishes to convey. In this quest for absolute sonority, there are two main ways of achieving what you're looking for: firstly, by appropriating an instrument that already exists, and secondly, by having one made to your own specifications. In this article, I'll explain why you should order a luthier's violin, even if it's more or less the same thing for violas and cellos, and above all what the advantages of this method are.

 

 

Why order a luthier's violin?

Why order a luthier's violin when there are so many of them already available elsewhere and in so many different ways? In fact, it's quite simple: creating is one of the sources of happiness. And we feel this happiness in a similar way when we create a remarkable object, or when we receive a special item that has been made just for us.

A luthier will take hundreds of hours to complete his work. More than that, it's an accumulation of hundreds, even thousands of hours of knowledge and practice that take shape. Nevertheless, it's a joint effort. Indeed, it's a good idea to get involved as a musician too, to make sure you get the most out of your creation. Determining what you want, talking, dreaming, listening and learning are the keys to successful cooperation.

Costly but affordable

The cost of a luthier's violin ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 euros for most professionals. This may seem prohibitive at first glance when compared with industrial violins. However, there is nothing comparable between mass-produced violins and a work of art from an art studio. However, it remains relatively modest compared to some of the older instruments mentioned above. While in terms of performance, they can be similar to, or even much better than, vintage instruments costing two, three or four times as much.

What frightens most musicians is that a contemporary instrument is impossible to resell. But in fact, it's an illusion to believe that you can buy a commodity and instantly resell it at its original price. In fact, it's not the value of the product that's lower, but the "painless" taxes that vanish into thin air. For example, if you take VAT into account, 20% of the value of your violin disappears after the transaction. So why would a potential buyer buy a second-hand violin at the same price as one made especially for him?

And that's why many musicians don't want to risk having their instrument made by a luthier. But let me ask you this: when you buy a car, do you think of it as an investment? At what price do you expect to resell it after a year? In fact, a car loses around 50% of its value during its first two years of use. What's more, if you consider that a car has a lifespan of 8 years, you'll have to change it again fairly quickly. The violin will never have these problems.

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Why is ordering a luthier's instrument cost-effective?

First of all, not every violin you can buy will be profitable. But there are advantages you may not have thought of, and I'll list a few here:

• Firstly, a custom-made instrument is bound to suit you. It's custom-made with enough research to meet all your needs at once. This way, you don't have to spend money to adapt the antique you've just bought to your needs as a musician.
• Unlike a standard consumer item, a violin has an enormous lifespan. If some examples have survived since the 16th century, that's a good sign of longevity.
• Secondly, owning an instrument will always create a special relationship with its manufacturer. It's certain that you'll benefit from exclusive advantages should you need its services or equipment in the future. There's no such thing as a small saving!
• Trusting a young luthier with an up-and-coming career is also a worthwhile investment. It's not unusual for instruments to sell very well. What's more, over the years, the increase in value can be much greater than for some older instruments. Take Samuel Zygmuntowicz, for example, who is breaking all auction records for his contemporary instruments.

Why order a violin from my workshop?

I'm also telling you that I'll be happy to build your instrument for you. I build my own violins, violas and cellos in my workshop. It's my passion, and I'm happy to share it with you.

Tell me about your plans now so that together we can create your musical companion.