Here are some of our favourite high-quality violins at this price range. These are by makers that we have worked with for years and selected by musicians for their playing qualities and distinctive tone.
"One can always find a better violin for £15,000"
This is a common saying in the stringed instrument world and we often see players with this budget endlessly looking for the next best instrument.
There is, of course, some truth to this as the selection at this price range is vast; but so is their quality.
The options available range from lower-end anonymous antiques in varying conditions, auctions, and contemporary instruments. It is our opinion that, for the majority of players, a new instrument by a reputable maker is by far the best way to maximise your investment, both in terms of the quality and potential future returns.
In order to get the most out of your budget however, there are 3 main criteria to consider when deciding what to try:
Very well crafted, this young maker is very up-and-coming and is already sought after. Its tone is very beautiful and is extremely well balanced. It also has a very powerful throughout the whole range of sound and projects very easily.
This violin would be ideally suited to someone who plays a lot of chamber music and would blend wonderfully in a section. It responds very quickly and projects extremely well. It has a rich and warm low register and a powerful high end.
Made entirely by hand in Lucas Fabro’s private workshop in Cremona, the violin was made using only the best, traditional and highly-acclaimed Cremonese techniques. This violin is sure to please the professional player at any level.
This violin is the Op. 66 from 2017 is inspired by Stradivari’s golden period. The back and sides are made from a carefully selected Bosnian bird’s eye maple and give the violin a wonderful character. Very easy to play on, it will respond extremely well to the violinist’s input. It has been played in concert halls and has very good projection throughout all registers.
This instrument is extremely well made and displays the full talent of its maker. A powerful violin, the ease of playing and good projection make it immediately a very attractive prospect. It is also extremely well crafted and the deep red varnish is very beautiful, reminiscent of a antique Italian instrument.
Ariel Lang is a Violinist and one of the Co-Founders of MyLuthier.co. He studied with Jack Liebeck at the Royal Academy of Music. As a freelance musician, he focuses on performing with small chamber ensembles such as the United Strings of Europe and O/Modernt.