5 Octave Grande Concertmaster #872

Sorry about any confusion ... this instrument did sell way back when!  I've just been leaving it up on the site so you can see it.

This instrument has a Variable Gradient Density© Soundboard (Mahogany "up").  This "idea" I came up with about 9 years ago helps insure the smoothest possible tonal transition from the lowest note (A1) all the way up the highest note (A6).  It also greatly increases tuning stability which is particularly important for an instrument of this range.

This particular instrument also features beautiful Macassar Ebony laminated rails and corner scrolls.  The double rosettes are Ziricote (outer) and Brazilian Tulipwood (inner).  Curly Maple and Purpleheart edge binding accents the transition between the soundboard and rails.  The frame features my "double-spline finger joints" in the corners.  

My damper system is a cable drive, linear bearing design with a "piano style" action foot pedal.   The damper bars are African Wenge.  I've designed my dampers to be completely removed from the instrument in less than a minute for storage and transport in their own custom case.  The dampers are "adjustable" with barrel adjusters at the foot pedal and rod adjustment screws at both ends of each damper bar.

The double-arched VGD© soundboard is stained a Dark Cherry Rosewood.  The back is solid Tulip Poplar.  This instrument weighs in at exactly 18 lbs. 13 ounces which, although extremely light for an instrument of this range, is actually close to the upper end of my weight spectrum because of the density of some of the woods.

The instrument is finished both "inside and out" to inhibit atmospheric influence on tuning stability.  The bridges are East Indian Rosewood with Curly Maple and Purpleheart inlaid position markers.  As, perhaps, you can see in this picture (below) ... they are coved, scalloped, tapered and beveled ... all with the intention of transferring and dispersing the string's tonal vibration accurately to the soundboard.

The sale price of this instrument ... which included ... 5 Octave Grande Concertmaster, case and damper system w/case was $5395.00 complete.