Recently, a good friend of many years suggested I visit to play some instruments

• Three stadivari

• Two Guarneri del Gesu

• and an Amati

A glorious day with instruments doing exactly what you ask of them, with depth never felt before. The 1726 Stradivari in particular was simply out of this world. Sometimes there are benefits to being a busy bow dealer!

The later del Gesu of 1742 had the most amazing scroll, very similar to the Leduc that Szeryng played on throughout his career.