Where's Your Harp-E?

The Harp-E isn't just an instrument; it's a philosophy. The "E" stands for "everywhere," embodying the spirit of boundless musical exploration.  With the Harp-E, the world truly becomes your stage.

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Oren Kronick
Clip-On Tuners: Your Key to a More Melodious Practice

Discover the convenience and precision of clip-on tuners at Vermont Violins, where we've honed our craft for generations. From enhancing your practice sessions with accurate tuning to aiding in developing your musical ear, our range of quality clip-on tuners ensures your instrument sings its truest notes in any setting.

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Oren Kronick
Why the Price Tag: Decoding the Cost of Bridges in Violin Making

Bridges in violin making are not just pieces of wood; they are meticulously carved to exact dimensions, with varying levels of quality affecting their resonance and tone transmission. Each bridge is a testament to the artistry and precision of luthiers, reflecting hours of craftsmanship to ensure every violin sings in its finest voice.

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Oren Kronick
Knowing Your Bow….Understanding Wood Registry Systems

With the new limitations on Pernambuco import/export, bow owners must take extra precautions to ensure that their bow is both legally and ethically made.  Pernambuco, an endangered wood species, is the most frequently used wood in bow making . The high prices this wood earns for this niche manufacturing and artisanal craft is largely responsible for the woods current significant decline in its natural habitat, Brazil. -It’s a little more complicated, yes, it is hard to plant elsewhere, but the Brazilian government does not allow the export of Pernambuco seeds/saplings either.

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Oren Kronick
What’s All This About “RENTAL EQUITY?”

One of the hallmarks of the Vermont Violins Rental Program, is the equity accrual terms.   With our rentals, you are not only renting a fine instrument, but actually building an equity pool for yourself with which to purchase one when you are ready to move past rental into ownership.

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Vermont Violins
What makes a rental program valuable and effective?

You’ve decided to play the violin or your child has announced his or her intention to play the cello and you are faced with the perplexing situation of trying to find one to rent. A quick search of the internet and you’ve discovered that there are plenty of shops around that offer rental programs for these instruments. Your challenge is to figure out which program makes the most sense for you! Which program will optimize your experience!

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Impact Of Glue

All About Glue

Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about glue. However, luthiers think about glue a lot, and it’s a much more interesting topic than you would think! The type of glue one uses on a violin can impact its longevity and our ability to repair the instrument, which means it’s important for us to make sure we’re using the best glue possible. But which glue is the best kind of glue for violin making?

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Career In Lutherie

So…You Want To Be a Luthier?

Vermont Violins is almost always looking for more luthiers to join our team – we thought we might offer a few thoughts on what we look for in new team members and how you can launch a career in violin making, repair and restoration.

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Vermont Violins
Impact Of Weather On Your Instrument

Instrument Humidification

The weather in New England can fluctuate very rapidly. Both temperature and humidity can change on a dime. As bad as these changes can sometimes be for us, it can be even worse for stringed instruments. Violins, violas, ‘celli and basses are incredibly sensitive to humidity changes, more so than temperature. You know how the doors of your house swell in the summer and creak and crack in the winter? The same thing is happening to your instrument. Since your instrument is constantly under tension from the strings, getting too dry can lead to extreme (and expensive) damage.

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Swiss Wood Solutions

Sonowood and the Search for Ebony Alternatives!

Sonowood is a wonderful alternative to the rare ebony in use on fingerboards, nuts and saddles. We are proud to be the North American importer of this fine material. It is at least as strong as ebony, visually beautiful and easy to work with. Ebony is a rare natural resource that needs to be protected. Finding natural alternatives, like Sonowood, should be a priority for violin makers and luthiers.

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Violin Vs Viola Case

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Violin or Viola Case

Looking for a new case for your instrument can be overwhelming. There are so many styles, brands, accessories, protection levels, and color choices that you might not know what you’re looking for. Gone are the days of the standard thermoplastic cases. Today’s string instrument cases are stylish, protective, and more affordable than ever!

When looking for a new case, we recommend planning ahead and deciding exactly what you need based on the following 5 factors.

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GuidesVermont Violins
Modern Bow Materials

Why Carbon-Fiber?

“Why should I choose a carbon-fiber bow?”

“Isn’t a wood bow the standard, especially for a wooden instrument?”

Whereas wooden bows have been used on strings instruments as early as the Islamic civilization in the 10th century, carbon-fiber bows only began to appear a few decades after high-tensile strength carbon-fiber was invented. CodaBow founder Stan Prosen had developed some of the earliest carbon-fiber parts with inventor Dr. Roger Bacon and had found in his early research a profound resonance in the new material. After years of testing and creating prototypes, early CodaBow bows had entered the market, and other music companies had begun developing their own versions to compete. Today, dozens of companies produce carbon-fiber bows in a large range of styles, price ranges, and instruments. With so many options on the market…

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