Athletes use the best gear they can afford in order to enhance their performance. In the same way, professional musicians use the best instruments money can buy. If you're serious about becoming a violinist or cellist, you may want to invest in an instrument made by master luthier Scott Cao.
A luthier repairs or makes lutes, guitars, violins, cellos, violas and other stringed instruments. It's a highly specialized skill and becoming a master luthier requires years of study, apprenticeship and practice. For this reason, many luthiers decide to focus either on plucked instruments like guitars or on bowed instruments like violins, violas and cellos.
Cao is originally from China. Years ago he was a farm worker but when a visiting teacher gave him the opportunity to learn violin-making, he decided to take the plunge even though the Cultural Revolution was still going strong. He relocated to the United States in 1985 and took up further apprenticeships with several highly regarded luthiers.
By the end of the decade he could start his own company and return to his homeland. Not only does the company now have a workshop in GuangZhou in China, but there's one in Campbell, California too. Award-winning luthiers work here to create top-of-the-range instruments. In addition, there's a factory in GuangZhou for producing more basic models but these are entirely handcrafted too.
Cao is renowned for his copies of some famous violins made by the legendary Antonio Stradivari in the Eighteenth Century. Among these are instruments played by the likes of Anne-Sophie Mutter, Itzhak Perlman, Joseph Joachim and David Oistrakh. Copies of a Stradivarius cello and viola are available too.
Other highly recommended models are copies of Guarneri instruments. Bartolomeu Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesu came from a family of eminent Italian luthiers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many regard him as an even greater violin maker than Stradivari. Cao's work include copies of instruments played by Nicolas Paganini, Fritz Kreisler, Isaac Stern, Henry Szeryng, Aaron Rosand and Jascha Heifetz.
Cao's violins are popular with everyone from students to professionals. Even collectors of stringed instruments are extremely happy when they get their hands on one of his creations. The instruments not only produce great quality sound but are also beautiful to look at. Some of the most famous players of his instruments are soloist Nigel Kennedy and Bin Hwang. Concert masters and conductors like Mark Volkert also love these violins. Itzhak Perlman has called the master luthier one of the best violin-makers he had ever met. The instruments regularly win international awards, especially for their tonal quality.
All across the United States there are some select dealers who sell Scott Cao violins, violas and cellos. You can find the instruments at certain dealers in Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, Canada, Guatemala, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and New Zealand too. If you prefer a tailor-made instrument, you may have to contact the workshop in either Campbell or GuangZhou. For a second-hand instrument, simply browse through the advertisements on musicians' forums or check out auction websites.
A luthier repairs or makes lutes, guitars, violins, cellos, violas and other stringed instruments. It's a highly specialized skill and becoming a master luthier requires years of study, apprenticeship and practice. For this reason, many luthiers decide to focus either on plucked instruments like guitars or on bowed instruments like violins, violas and cellos.
Cao is originally from China. Years ago he was a farm worker but when a visiting teacher gave him the opportunity to learn violin-making, he decided to take the plunge even though the Cultural Revolution was still going strong. He relocated to the United States in 1985 and took up further apprenticeships with several highly regarded luthiers.
By the end of the decade he could start his own company and return to his homeland. Not only does the company now have a workshop in GuangZhou in China, but there's one in Campbell, California too. Award-winning luthiers work here to create top-of-the-range instruments. In addition, there's a factory in GuangZhou for producing more basic models but these are entirely handcrafted too.
Cao is renowned for his copies of some famous violins made by the legendary Antonio Stradivari in the Eighteenth Century. Among these are instruments played by the likes of Anne-Sophie Mutter, Itzhak Perlman, Joseph Joachim and David Oistrakh. Copies of a Stradivarius cello and viola are available too.
Other highly recommended models are copies of Guarneri instruments. Bartolomeu Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesu came from a family of eminent Italian luthiers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many regard him as an even greater violin maker than Stradivari. Cao's work include copies of instruments played by Nicolas Paganini, Fritz Kreisler, Isaac Stern, Henry Szeryng, Aaron Rosand and Jascha Heifetz.
Cao's violins are popular with everyone from students to professionals. Even collectors of stringed instruments are extremely happy when they get their hands on one of his creations. The instruments not only produce great quality sound but are also beautiful to look at. Some of the most famous players of his instruments are soloist Nigel Kennedy and Bin Hwang. Concert masters and conductors like Mark Volkert also love these violins. Itzhak Perlman has called the master luthier one of the best violin-makers he had ever met. The instruments regularly win international awards, especially for their tonal quality.
All across the United States there are some select dealers who sell Scott Cao violins, violas and cellos. You can find the instruments at certain dealers in Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, Canada, Guatemala, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and New Zealand too. If you prefer a tailor-made instrument, you may have to contact the workshop in either Campbell or GuangZhou. For a second-hand instrument, simply browse through the advertisements on musicians' forums or check out auction websites.
About the Author:
For products with the Scott Cao name, look at the catalog at sgfiddles.com today. More images and specifications can be seen at http://sgfiddles.com now.
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