Featured viola

Body length: 17 1/8 in. / 43.5 cm

String length: 39 cm

This is one of the larger violas, which at 17 1/8 in. is particularly associated with the darker tenor timbre. It has a magnificent rich bass side that is well balanced with the expressive upper strings.

This instrument is part of a wider group of violas that I have developed as an exclusive workshop pattern. The original design concept, for an empathetic group of instruments, aims to recognize the individual characteristic voice of each size of viola.

For further details of this, or other instruments, please contact me.

This viola has subsequently been fitted with an oblique tailpiece, similar to the one illustrated below. Apart from determining a better harmonic balance between the string sections above and below the bridge, its application in this instance effectively reduced the overall length of the thinner upper strings, which may become ‘over stretched’ when used at the longer string lengths associated with larger instruments. Although certain string manufacturers do produce strings intended for use with specific string lengths, the use of a tailpiece such as this can dramatically improve the harmonic response of ‘standard length’ strings in this situation.