Eastman Model 305 Violas

Players and teachers recognize the Eastman Model 305 as an instrument with a strong tonal and visual personality. These are the qualities that make it one of our most popular instruments.

The Eastman Model 305 Viola is hand-crafted entirely from solid tonewoods; the top is select spruce and the ribs, scroll, and neck are of maple specie. The backs are made of a select Canadian poplar, creating a lightweight instrument with a powerful sound. An antique-style spirit varnish is hand-applied, and the instrument is fitted with boxwood pegs, tailpiece, and chinrest with ebony trim.

Each Model 305 viola is fitted with a French Aubert or Despiau maple bridge and Helicore strings.

Available in sizes 12 to 17 inches, with Tertis models and poplar backs being available from 15 to 17 inches.

Price: $1,250

Martin Beck

A beautifully made Romanian viola. Two-piece maple back with a medium width flame. Two-piece spruce top with a fine to medium width grain. The orange brown varnish is distressed to make the instrument look older. Fitted in ebony with pearwood pins and collars, Helicore strings and a Jarger A string. This is an excellent intermediate viola.

Available in sizes from 15.5 to 16.5 inches.

Price: $1,400

Paolo Angelotti

Handmade in China, 2006. Two-piece maple back, highly flamed with matching ribs and neck. The spruce top has a medium to fine grain width. Contains Parisian eye boxwood fittings and Helicore strings.

Available in 16.5 inches.

Price: $1,500

Ivan Dunov Superior Violas

Old-world craftsmanship and materials come together in our Ivan Dunov instruments. Crafted in a traditional workshop in Romania from superb Carpathian tone woods, these instruments provide excellent sound and playability.

The Ivan Dunov Superior has a solid spruce top and maple back, ribs, and scroll. The instrument is finished by hand in the United States with an antique-style varnish. The Ivan Dunov Superior produces a colorful and complex tone.

Each Ivan Dunov Superior viola is fitted with a French Aubert or Despiau maple bridge and Helicore strings.

Available in sizes from 15 to 16.5 inches.

Price: $1,550

Richard Henson

Hong Kong, 2006. From the workshop of Richard Henson, Luthier. Two-piece maple back with a wide width flame. The spruce top has a very pronounced medium to wide width grain. The varnish is reddish orange-brown on a golden ground with simulated wear patterns and patina marks throughout. The viola is fitted in ebony with Helicore strings.

Available in 16 3/8 inches.

Price: $1,800

Andreas Eastman Model 605 Viola

This viola is created on the lira di braccio pattern (cut away pattern), which lends itself to more comfortable reach of the higher positions. The woods in this viola are awesome. The highly flamed back is two-piece maple with wide width flame. The spruce table contains a medium width grain. The viola is antiqued with patina marks and has an orange brown varnish on a golden ground. Boxwood fittings.

Available in 16.5 inches.

Price: $1,900

Rudoulf Doetsch Violas

Rudoulf Doetsch instruments are crafted in Germany from select European tone woods. The fingerboard is made of high quality African ebony, and the instrument comes with ebony fittings and a French Aubert or Despiau maple bridge.

Antique-style varnish is applied and tonal adjustments are made in the United States for a professional appearance and sound. Rudoulf Doetsch violas are fitted with Helicore strings.

Available in sizes from 14 to 16.5 inches.

Price: $1,990

Benjamin Lee Violas

Created in the Benjamin Lee Workshop, the Benjamin Lee violas feature seasoned, flamed maple and select spruce. They are finished with an antiqued dark brown oil varnish.

Each Benjamin Lee viola is fitted with a French Aubert or Despiau maple bridge, rosewood fittings, and Helicore strings.

Available in 15.5, 15.75 and 16 inch sizes.

Price: $2,000

Andreas Eastman Model 905

Two piece highly flamed maple back with matching ribs, neck and scroll. Two piece spruce top with a straight medium width grain. Fitted in English boxwood. The finish is a hand-applied golden brown antique-style spirit varnish.

This instrument was crafted by the most accomplished and experienced makers at Eastman Strings.

Available in 16 inches.

Price: $2,400

Ernst Heinrich Roth

Labeled:

Ernst Heinrich Roth
Bubenreuth/Erlangen
anno 1986

Branded: E6 0460

This viola was made in Erlangen, Germany and is in excellent condition. One piece highly flamed gorgeous maple back. Matching ribs, neck and scroll. The top plate contains a very fine width grain. The orange brown varnish is consistent throughout. Fitted in ebony and Thomastik Dominant strings with a Jargar A.

This viola is an excellent example of German workmanship by a family of makers that have been around for generations.

Available in 16 inches.

Price: $2,400

Labeled "Gunther Prager"

This viola bears the label:

Gunther Prager, Copy of Andreas Amati, Erlangen Germany, Anno 2006.

Two piece maple back with medium width flame. Two piece spruce top with straight, medium width grain. The varnish is a medium to dark orange-brown over a light golden orange ground. The varnish contains much patina and antiquing and simulated wear. The instrument has ebony fittings and projects a clear, strong sound.

Available in 16 and 16.5 inch sizes.

Price: $2,500

Erich Werner

Bubenreuth, Germany, 1984. The viola is branded on the back below the heel "E. Werner." It has an amber-brown spirit varnish and is fitted in ebony.

Available in 16.5 inches.

Price: $2,500

Andreas Eastman Model 906

Two piece maple back with matching ribs, neck and scroll. Two piece spruce top which contains a medium width grain. A special antique-style oil varnish gives this viola lots of character. It also has a remarkable, projecting "old" sound.

This instrument was made under direct supervision of a master luthier at the Eastman Strings Company.

Available in 16 inches.

Price: $2,900

Lionel Tertis Model Viola

Handmade in China with exceptional woods and workmanship. One piece highly flamed maple back with matching ribs, neck and scroll. Amber-orange varnish on a golden ground consistent throughout. Fitted in ebony.

Available in 16 inches.

Price: $2,995