Ling Zhenhua 16” Viola – Stradivarius Model 2023

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Ling was a winner in both the 2014 and 2016 VSA competitions. In 1984 Ling landed a job as an electrical engineer in Shenzhen in southern China. Its proximity to Hong Kong helped get Ling into violin making. Ling wanted to be a famous violinist but was urged to go into violin making rather than play them. He spent 10 years playing and honing his making skills before returning to his home of Shanghai and in 1995 he set up his own workshop. His focus has been and remains making replicas of fine Italian violins. He studied Italian varnish from fragments and broken instruments from Europe, the only things he could afford from the European auction houses. He would then take them back to his workshop to arduously study the traits and ingredients that he could discover. His instruments have been purchased by Pinchas Zukerman and others in major orchestras. His wood selection and the drying process are very important to his creating and building instruments. Ling spent much time researching and traveling to Italy, even having huge logs cut and dried in Italy before having them transported back to Shanghai.

The craftsmanship is outstanding in this copy of a Stradivarius which is a well thought-out with a slightly wider major width bottom in this 16 inch viola. The spruce top has straight fine width grain pretty much throughout the plate. The grain does broaden towards flanks. The maple back has a small to medium-width flame. It is highly flamed with a slight descent from the center seam. The varnish work is beautiful, and the fittings are all carved in ebony.

• Corpus 401.0 mm.
• Major Width 252.0 mm.
• Minor Width 201.0 mm.
• Rib Height 37.0 mm.
• Vibrating String Length 368.0 mm.

This viola has it. Great sound, reediness, sustain, and response that will make a player take notice. The instrument just responds with depth and maturity all viola players look for. The C and G are powerful, giving life to the overtones. This viola could be a solo instrument and a standout in any orchestra. The instrument is alive when it is struck with a bow and can handle any level of dynamic. The tone is big and beautiful. The violist will also enjoy the brilliance and sweetness of the treble side. A professional sound through and through the entire viola.