Octave Violins, 5-string Violas and Octave Violas

We can also make custom 4-string violas; however, there are many other “go to” sources for traditional orchestral violas. The way that things have played out, musicians generally only commission unique non-standard 5-string violas from us.

We make 5-string violas only on a completely custom basis, as there are so many possibilities for a 5-string viola, such as body length (15” to 17”), rib height (standard viola proportional or deep ribbed). Even scale length in proportion to the body length is variable according t player preference. Violas are NOT standardized in the same way that violins in modern (post Baroque) configuration. So, there are “short” and “long” scale instruments as well as “standard” contemporary proportion.