WANT

[sylvansafekeepe]

http://www.luisandclark.com/

This is, like, the coolest thing ever.

The only problem is that the violins cost $4900, so I don't really see myself purchasing one in the near future.

Comments

[playfulfordian]

I dunno about these... have a hard time imagining that carbon fiber could ever really emulate the wonderful vibrating/sound-producing properties of wood...
Have you met Clare's carbon fiber 5-string cello yet? I have only once and it was in a sort of loud setting and I was otherwise distracted so didn't get to pay much attention.

[sylvansafekeepe]

I haven't met Clare's cello yet.

Reviews of the Luis & Clark carbon fiber instruments have been rather good, from what I can find on message boards. No one's claiming that they're the equivalent of top-quality wood instruments, but that's not what they're designed to compete with. The general opinion is that they compare pretty favorably with instruments in the "Under $20k" price range; in other words, they're a good choice as a back-up/outdoor instrument for a professional musician, or as a primary instrument for someone who doesn't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money.

[playfulfordian]

Yeah, but what are people saying about, say, incredibows

[sylvansafekeepe]

Re: incredibows, different audiences. :-P (I haven't found any fiddlers reviewing these instruments yet, and I've seen very few classical violinists talking about Incredibows. Then again, classical musicians as a whole tend to be more conservative and hidebound than fiddlers