“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.”
