It has a character of its own. Warm at the core, carrying in the upper register, with a response that is there immediately. In 2015 an independent jury assessed our violin blind, with no knowledge of maker or material, and gave it the German Musical Instrument Award.

Our video page has direct comparisons with classical instruments, some of them with seamless cuts.

Yes, for the better. Like any string instrument, a carbon fiber instrument plays itself in; the tone opens up and rounds out over the months. Carbon fiber itself stays unaffected by humidity, temperature swings and dry stage air.

The body is entirely carbon fiber, produced by vacuum infusion. Fingerboards and chin rests are CITES-free composite. A body in one piece, with no glue seams.

No. The fiber layers are cut and laid up by hand, then saturated with resin by vacuum infusion. Under negative pressure the resin is drawn through every layer, leaving no air pockets and no excess material.

The reason lies in the fiber. What makes a wooden instrument sound is the continuous grain in the spruce of the top. It carries the vibration across the whole surface. Carbon fiber does the same when it is laid up continuously, and it carries the vibration with less damping.

In 3D printing the part is built path by path. There are no continuous fibers.

How much work goes into the right fiber layup is shown by our 2021 research project: around 200 different violin tops were built, measured physically and compared.

mf | pure is polished raw carbon without lacquer. mf | core is lacquered twice with sanding in between and is fully configurable. mf | solo is acoustically selected, only about one body in twenty qualifies, and receives individual voicing by our head instrument maker.

A full side-by-side view is on our comparison page.

Our pickup system, built into the bridge. It is piezoelectric, but it uses a proprietary treated crystal from a German ceramics technology company. The sensor registers pressure changes in the bridge only.

The result is a natural tone without the hardness of conventional piezo systems, a frequency response from 10 Hz to 80 kHz and low feedback sensitivity. The pickup rotates in the bridge and can be tuned tonally in 45 degree steps, with no tools and no equalizer.

Instruments in stock ship immediately. Standard instruments from current production take about two weeks, instruments with Orchestra Finish up to four weeks.

The shop does not show whether your instrument is in stock. Send us a short message and we will give you the actual date.

Yes. Our instruments are delivered to more than 50 countries.

To countries outside the EU, shipping is 65 euros for violin and viola and 165 euros for cellos. For Germany and the EU, the rates shown at checkout apply.

For deliveries outside the EU we charge the net price only, without any tax. Customs duty and import VAT are levied when the instrument enters your country and are payable by you. The amount depends on the rules in force there.

At checkout you have the usual payment methods, including credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Instalment payment is not available at present.

Yes, if you buy a higher-value instrument from us at the same time and the instrument you are trading in is a carbon fiber instrument bought from us.

The best way is at one of our dealers. The dealer list is sorted by country.

Within Germany we also send trial instruments to your home on request.

Within the EU the statutory right of withdrawal applies to standard instruments. The details are in our withdrawal policy.

Individually configured instruments, for example with Orchestra Finish, are excluded, because they are made to your specification.

To countries outside the EU we deliver without a return option. Export, import and re-import formalities create costs and delays that are out of all proportion. That is why buying through a dealer near you is worth considering.

Five years on the body. Wearing parts such as strings and pads are excluded.

Almost not at all. There is no lacquer that needs treatment and no humidity to regulate. The humidifier can stay in the cupboard.

Surface scratches disappear with ordinary glass cleaner. For deeper scratches, car polish from any hardware store does the job.

Rarely. The sound post stays where it is, the body stays sealed, and a dry hotel room leaves no trace.

You mainly need a workshop when a new bridge has to be cut, or for a change of strings if you would rather not do it yourself.