It’s a conundrum: can a small violist be satisfied with the sound of a small viola? It is just a tall order to get the kind of presence found in larger violas when you are only working with a 15-1/2″ body length instrument, but it is a challenge that interests me greatly. The success of my last violin, patterned off of Guarneri’s “Il Cannone,” got me thinking: what if “del Gesu” Guarneri had built violas? He is not known to have made any. Would they have possessed that same powerful, thick, low-end sound his violins are renowned and coveted for?
I found the concept intriguing, so I adapted, scaled, and morphed the basic measurements and outline of my “Il Cannone” to create my newest instrument — the 15-1/2″ viola pictured below. I will not claim that it can fill the room quite the way a 16 -3/8″ or larger viola can (never gonna happen), but I do call it a wonderful viola capable of charming a serious player looking for impressive sound combined with ease of play and comfort.
The C-string is lush and satisfying, the A sings, and the G and D-strings are warm and supple, and there’s lovely balance across the register. It plays easily with a ringing tone and open resonance all the way to the highest positions. Even in its infancy, it has the mature tone of a played-in instrument. It is light and very comfortable to play. The height of the ribs (sides) are only slightly taller than a violin further adding to the playing comfort.
The top is Engelmann spruce from Colorado. The back, neck, and sides are Bosnian maple. It is outfitted with rosewood pegs, chin-rest, and tailpiece (with integrated fine tuner) tied with a Kevlar tail-gut. Lately I have been starting with stock chin-rests and re-working them to make them lighter, more elegant, and reduce the footprint of the corked contact area on the top. The bridge is my own, designed to maximize power and response. The varnish is my oleo-resin recipe, applied, then French polished with a blend of Garnet and Kusmi shellacs. The string length is 367 mm (14.4”).
Available for Audition.
Update: This viola sold to the violist of the Bergamot Quartet. Ample confirmation that this is a small instrument with presence.
