Question on quality of instruments by a contemporary French Luthier

January 24, 2017 at 08:51 PM · I don't see how you can manufacture violins that cheap in France with French labour rates, even if mass produced, so I'm going to assume he imports his violins from China or Romania and merely puts on some finishing touches in France, Sort of like Scott Cao has violins made in China then markets them from America.

January 25, 2017 at 03:59 AM · I'm confused. Lyndon, you previosly said the same of a 3000 $ proce in Germany, at which point I mentioned that that is a good amount more than monthly living expenses.

January 25, 2017 at 04:04 AM · All the cheap European violins are only finished if even that in (Western) Europe, I patiently tried to explain how it is not possible to produce a violin In Europe for that price and you still didn't believe me, the violins we are talking about are selling for $1000-1500, if you want to believe they are made in France go ahead, in fact buy one if you're so impressed, but they are not "made in France" IMHO

January 25, 2017 at 04:11 AM · An amateur German violin maker could conceivably make a violin in his garage or kitchen for $3000 for a months work, but not a factory, what you don't seem to understand that this is a suggested retail price of $3000, meaning they are wholesaling for around $1500. add the overhead and expenses to run the factory, say $750, that leaves $750 to pay skilled German labourers to work for 200hrs, at 750/200 that's less than $4/hr for the workers, not it France, but yes in China that works out just fine because they work for $1/hr. Or Romania where $4/hr is a respectable wage.

January 25, 2017 at 04:21 AM · Apparently some are made in Romania, and some in France by Romanian luthiers. Wood used is sourced from Alps, Carpathians, Russia and elsewhere.