Violins

Sofia Violins and Violas
a Georgia Exclusive

Sofia string instruments are individually made by a global group of luthiers in the time-honored tradition of crafting fine handmade violins, violas, and cellos. Because they make their own instruments, they have complete control over all aspects of quality down to the selection of the actual trees that will provide the premium wood for future years.

Many Sofia instruments are owned by professional players - even in major orchestras - including concertmasters who have purchased a Sofia instrument as their primary or alternate instrument. Sofia violins, violas and cellos are also in the hands of talented students and serious players devoted to music as an avocation. All Sofia instruments illustrate a strong commitment to hand crafted quality - something increasingly hard to find in our century.

Every Sofia instrument is individually made by the violin-maker whose name appears on its label. Most of the Sofia luthiers work in an Eastern Europe atelier, but some prefer to work at home. Once a month their instruments are flown to the United States where American luthiers carefully check, enhance, and finish each instrument.

The quality and age of the wood, the graduated plate thicknesses, and the precise placement of components such as the bass bar are critical to the tonal beauty of the instrument. All are interconnected and generate the superior sound, balance and response characteristics of a fine string instrument.

In this tradition of fine violin making, the top and back plates for each Sofia instrument are individually graduated to varying interior thicknesses. Specifications are not enough. Every piece of wood, even from the same tree, has different characteristics than can only be understood by feeling the flexibility of the carved plate. This is the art of a master, and this is the way Sofia instruments are made.

Sofia instruments are made from the worldís finest European acoustic wood - the preferred material of makers going back to the time of Amati and Stradivari. Every year, their own wood is selected in the Southern Balkan and Rodopi mountains. The wood is then aged for years before being used.

The distinctive antiqued oil varnish finish that first draws oneís attention to a Sofia instrument is the work of a noted artist, Todd Matus. Matus has evolved a multi-layered formula of hand applied pigments and varnish which are then artistically removed to emulate the natural patina of an older instrument. Sofia instruments combine the deep beauty of an aged instrument with the good health of a fine new handmade masterwork.

Although Sofia instruments are divided into different price levels, no two instruments are exactly alike. Each will be subtly distinctive in tone character, and in such fine details as the carving of its scroll and its antiqued, hand-applied varnish. Every instrument is literally sculpted by its maker, working with chisels, miniature wood planes and metal scrapers.

Only a limited number of Sofia Violins can be handmade each year. Thus, these instruments are only available through a small global network of highly qualified Sofia Violin dealers who are experts in maintaining fine string instruments. These instruments can be set up for individual preference regarding pegs, strings, bridges, fine tuners, and tailpieces.