Master-Crafted Violins, Violas and Cellos by Hu Jia-Lai

Our Motto: Really good instruments at an affordable price !

Give us a call: +49 -(0)69- 75089737 (Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. CET Berlin)
Or inquire via email: >>> the.violinproject@yahoo.de <<<

proudly presents

Master-Crafted Violins, Violas & Cellos by Hu Jia-Lai

Master Hu Jia-Lai may just be 34 years old, and yet he is already looking back on a career of seventeen years of practicing and perfecting the art of making professional-level violins - his father was a luthier, too.

Hu Ji-Lai was trained in the luthier's art by an American violin maker living in Shanghai, who in turn had learned his craft in Germany (You can see a picture of his teacher below). Master Hu's excellent instruments have now been in great demand in Asia and the United States for years.

The violins of his that our shop offers are all individually master-crafted to European standards - these are violins on an extraordinary level of craftsmanship and artistry - but at a very reasonable price. We have shown some of Master Hu's violins to German luthiers who have assured us that the same level of instrment costs about three times as much, if not more, if made by a German or Italien luthier. What more could you ask for?

Naturally, we are offering his beautiful instruments at the most competitive price possible ...

Other re-sellers of Master Hu do not want the instruments be labeled with his name - Can you guess why?
Well, of course they want to sell them under a different, "non-Chinese" monicker. And that won't make these wonderful violins, violas and cellos any cheaper. Rather, it's the opposite ...

We of the violin project made it our business more than seven years ago not to indulge in that particular kind of violin "bed hopping", so to speak - there are too many vintage or modern instruments already with false labels.
Chinese high-grade string instruments need not fear the comparison to European ones - and neither should European sellers try to pass them off as something else to make more money. Well, they do. We don't.

Master Hu Jia-Lai is a true artist who often adapts, adopts and transforms traditional models so his new instruments possesss unique qualities. He is continually experimenting with shapes and materials - his particular varnish recipe has even aroused the interest of several European makers! He's got his own style, and he is very determined about what he does and why he does it. For example, he blankly refuses to make very dark-colored instruments as he says that the dark varnish destroys the beauty of the wood. And we respect that.

All of his instruments adhere to the basic shapes of famous historic models, be it the Del Gesù "Cannone" or "Lord Wilton", or the "Kreisler" - but he makes his own alterations where he thinks it is sonically advantageous or aesthetically pleasing. That's his personal touch. He tastefully antiques his violins, but not too much. The instruments should not look "showroom new", but neither, he argues, do well-kept old instruments look like they've been "kicked about in the campground". Again, his command is our wish.

Hu Jia-Lai's instruments are divided into two groups: The workshop instruments, where an assistant does the ground work and Master Hu finishes, varnishes and sets-up the violin (We wouldn't need to tell you that - most European makers/sellers don't - But we want to!) - and the "personal samples" which he makes and finishes on his own. While the former are suitable for advancing students and good hobby players, the latter are of professional orchestral level (although they're so every easy to play that, of course, students and amateurs would love them, too).

Tonally, his violins are distinguished by their brilliance, their extremely quick response (no more hard work in trying to get beautiful sounds out of an old violin), their richness of sound resulting from plenty of overtones (click for a wiki explanation) and great projection. As said before, they're suitable for advanced students, experienced amateur players and professional violinists.

Some of the Hu Jia-Lai violins we sold to German and international professional orchestral players, e.g. from the Wuppertal Symphony, Dortmund Philharmonic, the Rhenish Philharmonic, the Orquesta Castille y Léon in Valladolid and the State Theatre Orchestra at Cottbus.

Give us a call: +49 -(0)69- 75089737 (Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. CET Berlin)
Or inquire via email: >>> the.violinproject@yahoo.de <<<

What Our Customers Say about Hu Jia-Lai's Instruments

"We would like to thank you for the opportunity to test-play all these instruments at your
shop in Offenbach, and for your advice and guidance. Our daughters has been anxiously
awaiting her new instrument, and she enjoys playing on it very much. The sound is really beautiful."
Stefan A.*, near Stuttgart (08/26/09, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Workshop Violin Cannone")

"The violin is very easy under our son's fingers, and the sound is oustanding in our opinion.
It's just the right kind of violin we wanted for our son. And the violin teacher is thrilled, too."
Roland L.*, Karlsruhe (07/20/09, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin, Del Gesù 'Kreisler' model")

"My new violin has been improving splendidly!"
Susanne S.*, pro player, Koblenz (01/11/09, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin, Del Gesù 'Kreisler' model")

"I know that a new instrument takes about 100 hours of playing to be broken-in. So I played
for two hours today on my new instrument, and it was a love at first sight! A wonderful violin
(even when completely new) - and I can't wait to see how it will be improving even further!
And it looks lovely, too. Many thanks from Hannover."
Maik M.*, Hannover (09/08/08, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin, Nicolo Amati model")

"The Hu Jia-Lai master violin arrived here yesterday. Within a few minutes everybody in the room
was convinced of the beauty and tonal allure of the instrument. A violin playing friend of our
family congratulated us on our choice. Naturally, we were anxious to see how our violin teacher
would react when we showed her the instrument. She had been sceptical about buying a fiddle
on the internet, but when she played the violin she was deeply impressed and completely surprised
by the beauty of sound and craftsmanship. When we left the lessen she again said that we had
made a very good choice. She is looking forward to how the violin will be improving further with time."
Stefanie D.*, Fischbachau (06/26/08, über "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin, Nicolo Amati model")

"We purchased a master violin by Hu Jia-Lai and a Xu No.1 master bow
from you last year,and we're still very happy about both."

Patrice P.*, Luxembourg (03/16/08, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin, Nicolo Amati model")

"Our daughter has been playing her Hu Jia-Lai Guarneri copy for more than a year now.
She's completely satisfied with the violin and the bow we also bought from you."
Stefanie W.* (03/03/08, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin, Guarneri Del Gesù copy)

"All of us: the student, the parents and the teacher, are entirely thrilled with the instrument!"
Hildegard G*, Oppenheim (01/19/07, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Workshop Violin Stradivari model")

"Many thanks for sending us the instrument. The level of craftsmanship and the sound have
enthused both son and father!!! The playability is great, too, and even in the highest registers,
the sound is clear and beautiful. Thanks a bunch!"
Dietmar K.*, Mönchengladbach (01/18/07, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin Stradivari model")

"My colleague [= fellow violkin teacher] and myself are thrilled with the violin
that you sent to Family S. [his student]. Since then I have tipped off another student of mine
who's looking for a viola on your range of instruments."
Harald S.*, Mönchengladbach (11/22/06, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin Stradivari model")

"My wife is perfectly happy. She says it's the second-best violin she has ever played,
and the other one would have cost € 10,000! The Hu Jia-Lai workshop violin is better
than any other we've tested up to €4,000."
Dietmar B.* (09/18/06, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Workshop Violin Stradivari model")

"Im am pleased to inform you that the violin has arrived safely.
It is even more beautiful than on the pictures, and the sound is awesome.
You'll sense immediately that it will develop splendidly with time."
Wolfgang W.* (02/01/06, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Workshop Violin Guarneri model")

"Now that our Hu Jia-Lai Stradivari copy is broken in it possesses a truly beautiful sound,
it is very powerful and, naturally, great fun to play. I am totally pleased. Others have praised it, too.
Let me again thank you very much, and I wish you all the luck in your business."
Peter T.* (05/21/05, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin Stradivari model")

"As a talented amateur player I was immediately taken to my new instrument, a Stradivari copy.
And I'm noticing how the instrument is further improving as I'm playing. I hope your business
idea will be successful in the years to come. Once you overcome your natural scepticism towards
Chinese violins and forget about badly maintained old instruments that are being sold at
ridiculous prices, you'll find the new violins at your shop to be of excellent quality, with
a great sound volume you have to pay premium prices for elsewhere."
Ulrich G.* (08/15/05, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin Stradivari model")

"This Hu Jia-Lai violin is a keeper for sure. I am very happy about this very nice instrument."
Hans S.* (06/09/05, on a "Hu Jia-Lai Master Violin Del Gesù model")

Please note: When you play the sound samples, don't use the QuickTime player embedded in many browsers. Routinely,
this software delivers the worst audio performance imaginable. Better right-click on the link, download the sound file
and play it with Windows Media Player or VLC - or better yet, play them through your quality home stereo !!!

Also, please be aware that the colour temperature and level of brightness of the individual images on this page
can vary wildly due to different LCD/LED panels, graphics interfaces or even browsers. If you are unsure about the
exact colour or brightness of varnish of the instrument you require, please feel free to >>> contact us! <<<

Sound Sample (right-click to download)

You can also buy a fine violin bow and
case from our shop to complete your "master outfit"

But even if you don't need to buy a new case, you will receive a simple violin-shaped foam-shell case
for free(!) with your Bai instrument. We won't let your precious new violin get hurt. ;=)

for the violin project

>>> Fred Günther <<<
Frankfurt Municipal Opera Orchestra
*** artistic advisor to the violin project ***

* available master and workshop instruments by Hu Jia-Lai (made 2005-2009)* Please note that the sound samples can only give you a hint about the rough character the violin has. They're only meant as a pointer!
No.1
Master Violin, Guarneri Del Gesù ("mix" of Kreisler and Cannone models) PRICE: EUR 2,400,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) reddish brown oil/spirit varnish, mildly antiqued, strongly flamed two-piece back, narrowly and evenly textured top balanced, brilliant and bright sound - brighter than most any Guarneri models	weitere Photos Sound Sample (right-click to download) Hu Jia Lai "Guarneri"
No.2
Master Violin European Wood, Antonio Stradivari "ex-Viotti" model PRICE: EUR 2,600,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) bright orange-brown colored varnish, evenly flamed two-piece back boxwood parts - no antiquing! brilliant, very bright and direct sound with good color, easy response	weitere Photos Sound Sample (right-click to download) Hu Jia Lai "Stradivari"
No.3
* sold / verkauft *
No.4
Master Violin, Guarneri Del Gesù "Lord Wilton" model PRICE: EUR 2,500,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) expressive, shaded yellowish-to-red/brown oil & spirit varnish, string, narrow and even flame, rosewood parts Warm sound in the lower, soft but bright sound in the higher registers, extremely quick response and easy playability	weitere Photos Sound Sample (right-click to download) Hu Jia Lai "Lord Wilton"
No.5
Master Violin European Wood, Guarneri Del Gesù "Lord Wilton" model PRICE: EUR 2,600,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) even, lightly shaded red-brown oil & spirit varnish, broad flame, very moderate antiquing, rosewood parts powerful, colorful sound, brilliant e-string, extremely quick response and easy playability	weitere Photos Sound Sample (right-click to download) Hu Jia Lai "Lord Wilton"
Hu-VIOLA No.1
Master VIOLA European Wood 415mm (16 1/5") PRICE: EUR 3,000,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) This beautiful, broad-bellied viola by Hu Jia-Lai is different in that it not patterned after a classic model, but sprang from Master Hu's own inspiration, with some influence from contemporary Florentine makers. Even orange-brown varnish - no antiquing! lively flame, two piece back, boxwood parts lyrical, bright sound with a powerful sound in the upper registers	weitere Photos
Hu-VIOLA No.2
Master VIOLA after Antonio Stradivari 420mm (16.5") PRICE: EUR 2,900,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) Even, lightly shaded orange-brown varnish, mild antiquing, narrow and intense flame, rosewood parts Warm and evenly balanced sound	weitere Photos
Hu-VIOLA No.3
Master VIOLA after Antonio Stradivari 420mm (16.5") PRICE: EUR 2,900,- (instrument-only, plus shipping & handling) Even, lightly shaded yellowish-orange/brown varnish, mild antiquing, narrow and intense flame, rosewood parts Warm and evenly balanced sound	weitere Photos
Hu-CELLO No.1
Hu Jia-Lai Workshop Cello after Antonio Stradivari PRICE: EUR 4,600,- (instrument-only, no shipping! - you have to pick it up!) golden brown oil & spirit varnish, narrowly and evenly flamed back mild antiquing, 4-finetuners tailpiece, rosewood pegs Relatively bright, lyrical sound - smooth and well-balanced very quick response and easy playability	weitere Photos
Hu-CELLO, Exemplar 2
Hu Jia-Lai Workshop Cello after Antonio Stradivari PRICE: EUR 4,600,- (instrument-only, no shipping! - you have to pick it up!) yellowish brown oil & spirit varnish, narrowly and evenly flamed back mild antiquing, 4-finetuners tailpiece, rosewood pegs Relatively bright, lyrical sound - smooth and well-balanced very quick response and easy playability	weitere Photos
Sold instruments made by the Hu Jia-Lai (selection)