This was a confusing week regarding violins! Despite playing on several fine Stradivari violins over the years my feet are firmly in the Guarneri camp, for me, an ideal sound world. In the last few weeks I have played on one of the top ten late Guarneri violins, a Pressenda model semi-modern Italian violin and an inexpensive but fine Guarneri copy by one of the leading violin shops in U.S.A.
The finest Guarneri was played in my favourite hall in the UK, Syphony Hall, Birmingham, so with that sound world still in my ears I then played a Guarneri copy made in 2021, imagine my shock when I realised they shared many of the same qualities, one being about eight million euros more to buy than the other! I then spent the week on stage and on the pit playing either Wagner, John Williams or a contemporary musical on either a semi- modern Italian or the new Guarneri antiqued copy. Add to that using the new instrument in ensembles as a soloist in the four seasons and teaching. Here is the most important news NOBODY NOTICED!
This is very important news for violinists, they don’t need to spend a fortune on a violin, technology has moved so far through careful study that these very fine new copies are every bit as enjoyable to play on. I say this as someone who has spent thirty years as a professional player carefully saving up and trading up in instruments!
To me the biggest shock was just how similar the copy Guarneri was to the original, in a blind test I would have struggled to tell the difference!
I am still shocked by all these situations and I am trying to process exactly what it means, I am aware some will think I have lost my marbles!
Here is a photo of the copy Guarneri, I feel very proud to own it! And yet, a few years ago I owner an original! The price difference certainly does not reflect the sound quality difference, that was much much closer!
Note below the charming copy of the ‘il cannone’ violin scroll, this is from another copy violin in stock, this is a copy of the J.B. Vuillaume Guarneri copy of Paganini’s Guarneri violin.
Below is a beautiful copy of the Ole Bull 1744 Guarneri, Stradivari, and Balastieri copies are available to buy at £3,200. Stock is very limited for these superb violins.
