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Celebrate three centuries of violin making
The original "The Dancla" violin occupies a remarkable place in the history of string instruments. Believed to have been built in 1726 or 1727 in the Guarneri family workshop in Cremona, it reaches its tercentenary this year. Although its original label no longer survives, extensive scholarship has dated the instrument to this important period of Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù's early career, when he was still working alongside his father while beginning to develop the distinctive style that would later define some of the world's most sought-after violins.
For this anniversary, just ten faithful replicas of the instrument have been commissioned. Each has been handcrafted by respected Beijing luthier Xue Ping Hu, allowing players to experience an interpretation of this historic violin while celebrating one of the defining names in Cremonese violin making.
Inspired by a remarkable musical journey
The violin takes its name from the celebrated French violinist and composer Charles Dancla, who acquired the original instrument in 1847. It later passed through several private collections before being purchased by John Wells in 1978. Its importance continued to grow, eventually becoming the opening instrument in the Metropolitan Museum's landmark 1994 exhibition, The Violin Masterpieces of Guarneri del Gesù.
This heritage gives the replica a story that extends well beyond its construction. It represents an instrument that has travelled through generations of performers, collectors, and historians while helping shape the reputation of Guarneri del Gesù. Today, his violins are regarded alongside the finest instruments ever created, admired by leading soloists throughout the world for both their craftsmanship and their musical character.
Built with carefully selected traditional materials
Every detail of the violin reflects the original model. The body follows the proportions of the 1726 "The Dancla", pairing a selected narrow-grain spruce top with a striking one-piece maple back featuring medium flame. Matching maple is used for the ribs, neck, and scroll to create a consistent appearance throughout the instrument, while the hand-applied antiqued spirit varnish gives the finish the look of a well-preserved historical violin.
The setup continues with an ebony fingerboard and nut, decorative boxwood heart-pattern pegs, a French-style boxwood tailpiece, and a Guarneri-pattern boxwood chinrest. This full-size violin balances historical accuracy with dependable modern construction for players seeking an instrument rooted in one of violin making's most influential traditions.
A premium outfit ready to perform
This limited edition outfit includes carefully selected accessories that complement the instrument. The BAM Stylus Oblong Luthier violin case combines a Cordura exterior with ABS reinforcement for dependable protection while remaining lightweight at just 2.9 kg. Two bow holders, a removable accessory pouch, and comfortable neoprene backpack straps make it practical whether you're travelling to rehearsals, lessons, or performances.
The included Musing C3 bow features an ebony frog, fine natural hair, stainless steel fittings and winding, plus an embossed cowhide thumb grip for a comfortable hold. Completing the outfit is a set of Larsen Il Cannone Soloist strings, pairing a carbon steel E string with synthetic-core A, D, and G strings wound in aluminium and pure silver to provide a responsive playing feel. Together with the certificate of authenticity, the violin arrives professionally set up, allowing you to start playing as soon as it arrives.
Accessories
Violin Specifications
General
- Size: 4/4
- Product Code: VF412-4/4
Construction
- Body: Copy of “The Dancla” Guarneri del Gesù violin 1726
- Top: Selected Spruce of narrow grain broadening towards the flanks
- Back: One piece back in highly figured Maple of medium flame
- Side, Ribs, Scroll & Neck: Matching Maple to the back
- Finish: Hand applied spirt varnish of antiqued aspect
- Back Length: 354 mm
- Fingerboard: Selected Ebony
- Tuning Pegs: Boxwood Decorated Heart Model
- Tailpiece: Boxwood Decorated French Model
- Top Nut: Ebony
- Chinrest: Boxwood Guarneri Model
Bow Specifications
- Fittings: Stainless Steel
- Winding: Stainless Steel
- Thumb Piece: Embossed Cowhide
- Hair: Fine Natural Hair
- Frog: Ebony
- Weight: 54 g
- Product Code: VB152-4/4
Case Specifications
General
- Colour: Black
- Cover Material: Cordura
- Reinforcement Material: ABS
- Accessory Pouch: Removeable
- Bow Holders: 2
- Bacpack Strap Material: Neoprene
- Product Code: ZLUTH5001SN
Weight & Dimensions
- Interior Body Length: 61 cm
- Interior Upper Bout: 17 cm
- Interior Lower Bout: 21 cm
- Exterior Body Length: 80 cm
- Exterior Upper Bout: 26 cm
- Exterior Lower Bout: 15 cm
- Weight: 2.9 kg
String Specifications
- Core:
- E: Carbon Steel
- A, G & D: Synthetic Multi-Filament
- Winding:
- E: None
- A: Aluminium
- D & G: Pure Silver
- Tension: Soloist
- E: 8.4 kg
- A: 6.0 kg
- D: 5.1 kg
- G: 4.9 kg
- End Type: Ball
- Product Code: L226-918