I went “viola tasting” yesterday. I wanted to trade up my Eastman 101 outfit, plus, I was pretty sure my 16” was too large. It was very interesting.

First, the 15 1/2” violas sounded just as full as the Eastman 16”, granted it was not a super high quality, but is a quality violin. The luthier brought out an assortment of 15” and 15 1/2” up to the price range I emailed them about when setting up my appointment. The 15 1/2” is very comfortable. Amazing what that 1/2” difference from the 16” made.

The very first 15 1/2” viola I tried was glorious! So mellow. Such a deep sound and so full. Loved it. I purposely did not look at the price or the label. I had an idea of one I was interested in based on the brand and did not want to be swayed. I set it aside and tried another. Not so much, very bright and not very full. I tried a 15” and it was not as full sounding, as expected. It was also not as comfortable in my hands as the first one I tried.

The Luthier brought in another. It was $900 over my price point. He warned me and just said to try it. I looked at it. It was lovely. The one I fell in love with was my tip top point I emailed them with. I could see the difference. The varnish was lovely. The color was beautiful. I looked at my husband and said, “This is nice! I hope I don’t like it.” LOL I always set my price point a bit low, but I did not want to go higher if I could help it.

I tried the viola. It was too bright. The nice soulful mellowness that I like for the type of songs I love was missing. THANK GOODNESS, seriously. My husband would have gone for it, if I liked it, but I really did not want to. I set it back on the table and played viola number one again and still, I loved it. Tried the upper end viola again, still not so much. I played the low strings, the high strings. Reached up to where high notes would be and I could reach and touch the strings and bow them. No intonation there because I have no idea about fingering at that end by the body, but wanted to make sure I could reach all strings there. Viola number won out on all tests.

So I chose viola number 1. Well, I had searched the violin shop’s website before hand to see what was available in my price range and size. This happened to be one I was interested in based on the description, which really is not 100% ever for describing sounds of instruments, but terms like bright, warm, etc give clues. I looked at the viola number one label, it said it was the Rudoulf Doetsch, that is my lovely violin brand that I absolutely love for its tone, too! That was the one I was thinking I wanted. The one I did not want? It was a Jay Haide that I have heard and read so much about. That was interesting to me.

It had to have been the Maggini style Jay Haide because the site has said the Stradivarius model has been out on trial for the last two weeks and is not available. I actually wanted to try the Maggini model, but it was more than what I was willing to pay, so brushed it off in my mind. It was neat to give it a try. I still love the look and feel of it, the sound, not so much. I know strings and setup could change it, but I knew the Rudoulf was what I was looking for. The brightness of it just turned me off. It actually made me not be able to play it very well. I am very sensitive to what sounds I want in an instrument. It is very annoying. I annoy myself a LOT. my husband must really be annoyed at times!

I bought my Rudoulf Doetsch violin there, so they knew I had that. They were surprised I selected the Rudoulf Doetsch viola. 

I said that there is something about those Rudoulf Doetsch I like, I guess. I love the feel of the necks, the weight, the sound. So weird. Something about their aged European wood for the mellow sound? Have no idea. 

They said they have a Rudoulf Doetsch cello, if I am interested. I told them I had three cellos, my Andrew Schroetter 1983 German made, and two non-label ones, all set on cello. I love my Schroetter cello, and Rudoulf Doetsch violin and viola.

I am taking the viola in when the weather breaks again, yesterday was a calm between storms. I am going to get geared pegs installed. Love them on one of my cellos. So easy to tune.