Robert Thain violin, Auckland, 1963

Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1880, Robert Thain emigrated to New Zealand in his late 30s, establishing himself as a violin maker in Auckland from 1925 onward. This example, inspired by Guarneri del Gesu, is one of his later instruments. It is very playable, with a fast, easy response, and has a characterful, dark, almost earthy tonal quality. It is softer under the ear than many violins we encounter, which will please a player looking for a less aggressive sound. Conversely, it may encourage a more reticent violinist to dig deeper into the string without the fear of being deafened.