First, this instrument does NOT sound metalish and, considering, has a good tone quality - however, a Stradivarius it's not. He had several notable violinists around the St. Louis, MO area, play it and were amazed that it sounded so good - rich tone quality. Many years ago, my grandfather had this weird idea of making his own violin. As years went by, he tried a little bit of everything - nut shells, plywood, Masonite, thin plastics, (you get the idea) Being a sheet metal worker for many years, heating and A/C ducts, etc, he started playing with various kinds of sheet metal. Low and behold, he finally had a prototype - but - he didn't like the sound it made. So he started playing with - none other than - stainless steal. Everything dealing with the strings, it was wood. However, astonishingly enough, using the vast arsenal of sheet metal tools, he made an honest to God - a - stainless - steel - violin. He even tried to get a patent on it - however, they came back and said, you can't get a patent on a "process" meaning made from stainless steal. But if he would have made a "new" instrument they would have patented it. It is proudly displayed in my extended family's hardware store of 100+ years' Hechler Hardware Troy, MO USA -- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding Reed Organ Society Member Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 dahechler at att.net www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com -- Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years
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