PREMIUM VIOLINS & VIOLAS
GIVE YOUR BEST PERFORMANCE ON THE RUDOULF DOETSCH!
A national best-seller, the R. Doetsch gives advanced students a distinct advantage — in performance, auditions, and solo recitals. Built in Germany from all European woods and varnished with a multi-layer spirit varnish that both looks and sounds great.
Part of the Eastman Strings Professional series, this exceptional German tonewood instrument is one of the world’s most popular instruments in its class. With a deep resonant sound that responds with fluid harmonies and perfect balance across the strings, this instrument performs for auditions, advanced study, and professional performance. Multi-layered spirit varnish expresses old-world antique charm to match the old-world wood and craft behind it.
Why Should You Choose Rudoulf Doetsch?
Exceptionally Set Up
Finished in a multi-layer spirit varnish, antiqued
Ebony fittings: pegs, fingerboard, chinrest, nut, and saddle
Wittner Tailpiece with integrated tuners
All European tonewood
Set up with Dominant or Evah strings
Despiau or Aubert French Bridges
Performance instruments at affordable prices
If you are looking for options in premier-level instruments, do try out our exclusive Built-in Vermont violins and violas:
V. RICHELIEU™ by Vermont Violins
Performance Instruments for Aspiring Soloists
Fine Instruments build from tonewoods sourced from our favorite foresters of Europe. Swiss and Italian Spruce, Bosnian Maple. Each V. RICHELIEU™ instrument is uniquely crafted to make each piece of wood sing in full voice.
The instruments are built-in Vermont to combine over 80 years of experience with unique hand-graduations and a beautiful hand-painted oil varnish of our own proprietary formulation.
The instruments are built by the luthiers in our workshops. Each plate is graduated relative to the stiffness and flexibility of the tonewood. The oil varnish is made and hand-applied by our head luthier. The luthiers building was trained at the Chicago School of Violin Making and the North Benett Street School.
Why Should You Choose V. Richelieu?
Specialized Set-Ups and 100 % Made In Vermont
Rich finish by our own proprietary oil-based varnish
Sustainable alternative options available to ebony - Sonowood fingerboards
Wittner Tailpiece with integrated tuners
Individually carved to bring out the best tone
Set up with Dominant or Evah strings
Fine craft at an affordable price
Performance instruments at an affordable price and added value
These instruments are available for rent or purchase.
V. Richelieu violins are 100% made in Vermont. Hand-split spruce tonewood is imported from Italy and Switzerland; maple comes to us from Bosnia. Together, these woods form a violin of unique distinction offering fine instrument quality at very affordable prices.
Each instrument is hand-graduated by our senior luthiers. The oil-based varnish is hand painted by an accomplished oil portrait artist. Each instrument is unique, but each offers a tonal quality perfect for the advancing student, conservatory student or professional player.
Rudoulf Doetsch instruments are handcrafted by our master luthiers and are hailed by teachers and performers as some of America's best German tonewood instruments. They feature a highly select spruce top with maple back, sides, and scrolls, and a hand-applied antique-style, multi-layer spirit varnish. The result is an instrument that is professional in both appearance and sound.
We are thrilled to announce our exciting collaboration with the Coquille Indian Nation, a certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) manager, demonstrating a distinctive dedication to the enduring link between their forest and heritage. Aligned with our vision for sustainable violin making, the Coquille Nation's thoughtful, long-term harvesting practices reflect our shared commitment. We recognize their forests as a dual legacy and vital income source supporting community services. Join us in embracing a harmonious approach, seamlessly blending cherished materials with more abundant alternatives for sustainable violin crafting.
Top quality, perfectly dried, maple tonewood is currently available for sale to luthiers and violin makers through this website. Coquille Nation maple is highly flamed big-leaf maple offering stunning sound and beautiful presentation.
V. Richelieu viola are 100% made in Vermont. Hand-split spruce tonewood is imported from Italy and Switzerland; maple comes to us from Bosnia. Together, these woods form a viola of unique distinction offering fine instrument quality at very affordable prices.
Our child-sized violas are true violas: modeled after a 16” model, scaled down for children. Finally, a fractional viola that actually sounds like a viola! Most small violas are modeled after violins, and the resulting instruments never perform…our V. Richelieu violas sing with the resonance a viola is meant to have: from the soaring highs of the A string to the haunting lows of the C.
Each instrument is hand-graduated by our senior luthiers. The oil-based varnish is hand painted by an accomplished oil portrait artist. Each instrument is unique, but each offers a tonal quality perfect for the advancing student, conservatory student or professional player.
V. RICHELIEU BY VERMONT VIOLINS
Our exclusive brand V. RICHELIEU™ by Vermont Violins offers handcrafted Violins & Violas made in Vermont by expert luthiers combining over 80 years of experience. Options available for Rent or Purchase.
EASTMAN STRINGS OUTFITS
The Eastman 200 is our Prelude Level Rental
The Eastman 305 is our Concert Level Rental
The R. Doetsch is part of our Premier Level Rental
WHY STEP-UP?
Step-up instruments provide a more dynamic range, allowing developing musicians to expand their intonation, while still providing them with the quality to learn new positions and explore further enhanced sounds.