Brands

Eastman Strings was founded in 1992, yet it is already an integral part of the long and glorious history of one of the most fascinating musical traditions the world has known. Through their violin and bow making activities, they are attached to a tradition nearly 500 years old, and strive to maintain a level of artistic and commercial achievement worthy of their predecessors.

In 1992, Qian Ni, who had come to the United States from China to study music, founded Eastman Strings. In the beginning, he and his two musician colleagues bought instruments from Western-trained violin makers from their home town in China, but before long, they saw that a different approach was needed. Mr. Ni hired a group of established master violinmakers, and with their help, he established a large master violin workshop devoted to the handcrafting of instruments—one of the first the world had known since the first half of the 20th century. In the short time since this workshop was founded, the reputation of Eastman Strings’ instruments for tonal quality and craftsmanship excellence has become a worldwide standard. After establishing the instrument making workshop, Qian Ni went on to found a bow making workshop based on the same principals. In both workshops, master makers train and oversee talented woodworkers to create some of the world’s finest student, step-up, and professional instruments and bows.

Today, the instrument and bow making workshops of Eastman Strings operate in precisely the same manner as late 19th century European workshops. They have virtually no power tools aside from the band saws used to cut out the necks and the outlines of the tops and backs of instruments. Chisels, knives, gouges, and scrapers, in the hands of outstandingly gifted craftspeople, are the primary tools used to create these modern instruments and bows, using methods centuries old. Thanks to Eastman Strings, string players today have advantages unknown to earlier generations: quality instruments, bows, and cases available world-wide at affordable prices.

Eastman 65:

The model 65 represents the height of quality in workmanship and materials. Simply put, these are the finest instruments coming from a very fine workshop. Their superior tonewoods allow the luthiers to achieve their best visual and tonal results, and the varnish compliments the excellent wood and craftsmanship. This instrument has a select aged spruce top, select aged maple neck and scroll, and highly flamed back and sides. It has an adjustable bridge and hand inlaid purfling. This bass is available with Violin corners, a Busetto pattern, or a French (Quenoil) pattern, in 3/4 size only.

Eastman 35:

The model 35 is regarded not merely as a step-up, but as a professional instrument. It is an entirely hand carved bass, with a select aged spruce top, a select aged maple neck and scroll, and flamed maple back and sides. It has hand inlaid purfling and solid brass tuning machines. It has an adjustable bridge and antique style hand applied spirit varnish. This bass is available with Gamba corners, Violin corners, a Busetto pattern, or a French (Quenoil) pattern, in 1/4 to 7/8 sizes.

Eastman 20:

The model 20 is beautifully hand carved from excellent quality seasoned spruce and flamed maple. It has an ebony fingerboard. The neck and scroll are hand carved maple and the purfling is hand inlaid. It has an adjustable bridge and solid brass tuning machines. It also features an attractive hand-applied amber-satin varnish. Its playability, tone, and appearance are superior to many other basses at this price point. This bass is available with Gamba corners, Violin corners, a Busetto pattern, or a French (Quenoil) pattern, in 1/4 to 7/8 sizes.

Also available to special order:

Wilhelm Klier 702

Paesold 593

Visit the official Eastman Strings website for more information.