Hello there, I am new,
What are the violins and violas like from Luis and Clark? Could owners or people who have heard or have knowledge on them please tell me?
Thanks!

I recently played one of their cellos and it was magnificent. I took my teacher with me who played it too and said it played like an italian masterwork cello. Considering they are only around 6K for a cello (less for a violin) and they sound like instruments valued in the hundreds of thousands - I think you'd find it hard to go wrong.

I've ordered one. I ordered black because I felt wood grain would be cheating (if you're going to have a carbon instrument blaze a trail, is what I say!)

Of course, foolish snobs who thoughtlessly trot out the same nonsense their teachers told them will tell you that wood is better (it's not... wooden instruments are GREATLY inferior and HUGELY more expensive) I say let the snobs think what they want, the longer the carbon fibre instrument remains an instrument for those willing to step away from the sheep, the better.

Allan

EDIT: I should point out that I've only tried a cello. I've heard the violin and viola, though and although I love the violin, the viola just left me a bit cold - I suspect it's something to do with the ribs not being deep enough to give the viola the inner air it needs to sing properly - it just looks like a big violin)

Thanks, but how did they sound? Mellow? Warm, with a brighter high end?

Thanks for the reply rosfrog!

Hey again - well, first and foremost they are very loud... the sound is very projecting. I would describe it as warm in the bass with a brilliant top end and a really good balanced rich sound right across all four strings. When my teacher was playing in sillieth position, it sounded amazing right up to the top end of the fingerboard, even when playing on the lower strings. I didn't notice a wolf, either.

To play devil's advocate, they are what they are looks wise, they look and feel plasticky and the fingerboard was a strange sensation at first because you're aware that it isn't wood. On the upside, it will never wear and you can leave your cello outside in the rain if you like without any damage coming to it... bonus!

Thanks for the reply! I was told in another forum you were very knowledgable on these instruments, it shows! I just hope they don't feel cheap, but they are light, a bonus!

EDIT: I just found another Carbon Fibre violin maker, called Quintus.
www.qstrings.com

Please post your opinions! It is now between Quintus and Luis and Clark.

I can't seem to find Quintus soundfiles on their site...

I listened to the L&C soundfiles a while ago and was impressed: for me the cello sounded the best, I wasn't nearly so keen on the sound from the smaller instruments.

PS - should add, my speakers are rubbish, so that might account for how I dislike the violin/viola sound..

My speakers are great lol, but the LC violin files aren't good. I don't think the Quintus violins are as good. But anyone who has heard these, do they have that horrible fog horn tone?

EDIT: I just had a look on their site (Quintus), it turns out they are only sold in the US, and most of the companies that sold their instruments have now gone bust, don't exist, or have stopped selling their instruments. They are not so good then!

I think essentially most of the advantages that you get with the LC instruments (one piece construction, no bouts etc) are not found in the quintus - essentially LC create instruments which are proud to be made in carbon fibre - they are one piece moulded and every one is the same high quality. Quintus essentially tried to use carbon fibre as a substitute to wood, creating each instrument by hand and gluing them together like traditional instruments - this means that all the disadvantages of wood which disappear with LC instruments are painfully present in quintus ones. They also used to paint them to look like wood, which may have an adverse affect on tone and just looks a bit fake, to be honest.

The LC also has advantages in comfort, there are no sharp pointy bits to stick in your chest as the back is slightly rounded on the contact points and there are no c bouts to stick in your knees - this makes it more comfortable.

To sum up

LC = the sound of a fine wooden cello 20 times the price, consistent sound quality, increased comfort, easier playing, no temperature sensitivity, no wear and tear and great balance on the strings.

Quintus = the sound of (possibly) a good cello, inconsistent sound quality owing to human meddling, no increased comfort, playing just as problematic as on a wooden cello, wear and tear and opening seams just as likely as with a wooden one and balance depends on the person who glued it together and the setup.

You would have to be so careful with a quintus that I don't really see the point, a LC could be flung without a case into an airline hold and would be fine at the other end (although you might lose a string...)

I know which one is better!
Hope this helps.

Allan

Thanks! One last question, I mentioned that fog horn sound, but didn't explain it. It sounds a bit like a trumpet sound, does the LC sound like that, and can I test these violins in the UK?
Thanks!

I have no idea if you can test them in the UK as I don't live there, but I do know that none of the instruments has that cheap metalic sound you're describing (I suppose that's what you mean by foghorn - on overly bright, powerful, metalic sound). The only sound fault really was on the viola, and that was just a lack of depth and darkness owing to the shallow ribs (my luthier, with whom I work on Saturdays in the hope of learning a bit of the trade, explained that the whole thing about a viola needing a 21 inch length is down to dodgy maths - it's the proportions of the instrument that count, not the length, if you can create a balanced airspace that is the right amount of times bigger than a violin, then you'll get a perfect sound with around 17 inches - hence deeper ribs giving more air space and hence the LC viola lacking something).

Good luck!

Allan

well, the foghorn thing I meant it soundimng like a trumpet, on the lower end, like very cheap violins (Stentor Arcadia).

No, I can safely assure that the LC violin sounds about as far away from ANY instrument in the stentor range as it is possible to get. It has a mellow low range, a bright high range and sounds a lot better than my own violin (a gliga gama superior) which I already think sounds beautiful. It's a professional sounding instrument without the huge price tag.