Laura Vigato- Brescia 2001 Violin

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Laura Vigato was born in Brescia, Italy on February 8, 1958. In 1980 she graduated from the International Violinmaking School in Cremona under the guidance of various masters. In the same year she opened her own workshop in Brescia, the hometown of Gaspare da Salò and Maggini. In Brescia she began dedicating herself to acoustic research following the classical canons of Cremonese and Brescian violinmaking. Her instruments have been sold to promising players and important buyers from Europe, Japan, and the United States. Over the last decade Laura has spent a lot of time on varnish research. The wood used for her instruments is chosen personally and with extreme care. The violin comes with the maker’s certificate and a picture of her holding the violin when it was completed.

The violin has a one-piece highly flamed maple back. The flame is medium-width curl and descends from left to right. The ribs, neck, and scroll all match in the degree of the flame. The top plate is two-piece spruce with a medium-to-fine-width grain. The fittings are in English boxwood and the pegs are the Pegheds brand: boxwood heads with engineered pegs. The violin is in great condition and has been played at a high level in a professional symphony. The varnish, all drawn by brush, is a golden amber/brown oil varnish on a golden ground. The varnish is consistent throughout the entire violin.

Corpus 355.0 mm., Major Width 202.0 mm., Minor Width 164.0 mm., Rib Height 30.0 mm.

The sound is excellent, warm, responsive, and expresses a smooth texture in its color. The instrument has power and carries through the register. The notes are crisp, and I could truly lay into the violin. The instrument can handle it. It is a versatile instrument equally qualified to be in the classical realm on stage but also could be a great instrument for the first violinist in an opera orchestra. I also know that this instrument has been involved in some high-level American fiddling concerts up and down the east coast. Steeped in traditional making with attention to the details, the violin produces a sound that is not edgy but refined and sweet to the ear. A fantastic instrument to trial for the career professional violinist.