Straight from our workshop (fiddlerdan’s workshop that is) is our specialty violin , now available for trial. If your looking for a new violin, thats not off the rack factory special please consider giving these a try.
The current range of Mayheux violins feature:
- 30-Year Aged Timbers: Ensuring a rich, settled voice that continues to improve with regular playing.
- Refined Aesthetics: Lightly raised spruce grain tops during finishing paired with medium-to-high flame maple backs.
- Traditional Hand Varnishing: Finished using a traditional Vettori family recipe from Venice, mixed and applied by hand in my workshop. I prefer lighter shades to let the natural figure of the wood shine through, finished with just a subtle hint of antiquing. The result is an elegant, distinct look, neither factory of heavyly faux aged.
Unlike mass-market instruments that rely on thick or fast-drying spray finishes, which can either oxidise into a white powder or deaden natural resonance, the traditional varnishing process preserves and enhances the instrument’s natural vibration through stiffness.
Components & Setup
- Strings: I typically select Larsen strings for their balanced, warm power and durability compared to brighter alternatives (either Il Cannone or Virtuoso are my favourites).
- Tailpiece: Fitted with lightweight German Wittner tailpiece with integrated fine tuners for easy tuning without compromising resonance through added weight.
- Bridge: Hand-fitted with Despiau Two-Tree French bridges to optimize string vibration transfer to the top plate without harshness.
Every instrument is individually named after its unique design or inspiration, such as the Normandy, styled after classic English violins, or the Sienna, finished in traditional Burnt Sienna pigment and french style finishing.
Why Choose Mayheux Violins?
Creating a fine violin completely from scratch takes hundreds of hours, which is why bespoke bench-made violins often start at $20,000. On the other end of the spectrum, mass-produced entry-level instruments vary wildly in quality and often require significant work to play comfortably.
The Mayheux Difference: The voice and playability of an instrument given a certain build quality come down to the final stages: finetuning the plates, varnishing, and precise setup. Because violins are sensitive to climate, especially in humid environments like Queensland, a factory setup often suffers, leaving instruments muffled or with improper string heights.
By hand-finishing and setting up each instrument locally, I bridge the gap between mass production and high-end master instruments.
- Price: $3,500
- Performance: Sound and playability that compare favorably with $5,000 instruments on the market.
- Customization: Available from current stock or custom-configured to your preferences on advance orders.
Coming Soon: The ‘Dirriji’ Violin
An upcoming special edition featuring natural resin harvested from the Australian grass tree. “Dirriji“ is the traditional Ngarigo name for the grass tree, paying tribute to the Snowy Mountains country (a heritage proud to be shared by my sons as non-Indigenous members of the mob).
Interested in trying a Mayheux violin?
If you are searching for a traditional-style instrument with a mature voice as unique as your playing, get in touch to arrange a trial.