Peter Seman says each violin is hand-made and has its own unique tone and sound.
(Credit: Regine Schlesinger)
(CBS) — Music floats through the air at Seman Violins in Skokie, reports WBBM’s Regine Schlesinger.
For 25 years, founder Peter Seman and his team of craftsmen have been making and repairing violins for clients around the world.
“There’s nothing better than to go to a concert and see someone playing your instrument,” he says. “Yeah, it’s really pretty nice.”
Seman says each violin is hand-made and has its own unique tone and sound.
“Each piece of wood is different. It’s grown under different growing conditions and has different densities. You have to really get a feel for the wood so the more instruments you make, you twist the plates and flex them and if you keep notes, you can get an idea of what sounds the best…Experience definitely matters.”
Seman says the violins he makes himself, sell for $20,000 each, a not insignificant amount.
“But not when you think of how much old, fine instruments cost. So if you can get a modern instrument that sounds as good as an old instrument, it’s less expensive. It’s more cost-effective.”
Seman Violins in Skokie, creating acoustic and electric violins, bows, violas and cellos, all Made in Chicago.
