I've had her for ten days now and can't put her down. The sound is developing already and to me she sounds lovely and nutty, especially round the D string with the E string end sounding really sweet. My teacher says the sound will improve still over the next year.
I never thought I'd be able to afford a hand-made violin but it might be worth tracking down local luthiers because she wasn't as expensive as you'd think! I'm going to Mr Duthie's workshop next week to see how he makes them which will be fascinating. Oh and I forgto to say her pegs, tailpiece and chinrest are all rosewood... so pretty.
Apparently her unusual 'f' hole shape is based on a Magginni pattern and I'll find out about her other models next week.
For my fingers the only problem is the strings are slightly too far apart at the nut (only by a fraction) so he might be able to cut a new nut for me to make it easier for me to bridge two strings with one finger.
Other than that the effect on me is delightful; I can't stop playing her and my intonation is suddenly so much better too!!
(Off to practise..... the Bach Double and some SCALES!!!!)
(But please, don't post too many pics of yourself - my owner is far too easily led astray 
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How nice!
xD
My teacher told me the Bach Double is about Grade 6 which nearly scared me back into the woodwork! I'm only doing Grade 3 in March! I'm playing the first movement quite fluently although the three bits in third and second position I can only do slowly. And I've just started the second and third movements really slowly. But it's one of my favourite pieces for violin and I'm thrilled to bits to be playing it.
