The fiddle reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
215 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Krutz (Bought Online, but tested it at St. Louis Strings)
Year Purchased: 2024
Price Paid: 3300 ($US)
The only violins at the store that beat its rich, layered tone were in the $12K-$15K range. Krutz advertises the Artisan 700's interior carving is done by their luthiers in Kansas City. Apparently, this kind of craftsmanship produces a voice with a much "richer", "refined", i.e, broader, tonal range. Instead of a tonal arch with a loud but narrow middle range, this violin is more like a bell: extending beyond the arch to produce sweet highs, warm mids, and earthy lows.
Sound Rating: 9
Very responsive and easy to play, so much so you'll want to practice more to eliminate technique imperfections. All the strings are equally balanced in volume and timbre. The voice is intimate and can be projected well. Mine came with D'Addario Kaplan Amo strings ($75), which are deep and warm. I replaced these with Helicores. Also, I ask Krutz to add geared tuners.
Setup Rating: 9
Noticeably refined: The varnish is a hand-painted whiskey color, which produces a soft and lustrous semi-gloss. The top grain and side/back/neck/scroll flames are clear, but not overpowering. If you look closely, you'll notice distinguishing touches like the center arch shape and slight scooping at the f-holes and purfling. This modern violin looks like it's from a much older, European tradition.
Appearance Rating: 9
Very light and tight construction.
Reliability Rating: not rated
The sales folks from the website were friendly and professional. The store sales staff laid out ten fiddles for me to try based on listening to me play. They knew the voices of all of them.
Customer Service: 9
The tone is really exceptional for the price. The sales folks at the store laid out about 10 violins for me from $1200 - $3000. Everything sounded the same with little distinction until I tried this one. I asked how it compares to concert (solo) violins. They brought in a $12K violin and a $15K violin and played them next to this one. I was pretty shocked at how close it sounded to the $12K.
Components Rating: 9
The only reason I did not give it a 10 is because I've heard instruments of that caliber in the $12K+ range that have the tonal performance made for concert halls. But, surprisingly, this is pretty close.
I intend to use it for fiddling jams and smaller venue performances, but, for you, this might be the fiddle that wins a competition, impresses the professors at the juried performance final, or clinches a place in the touring string/folk band.
Overall Rating: 9
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