My last fiddle

Kurt Widenhouse is a superb violin maker in Belmont, NC. His instruments have won two Violin Society of America gold medals (1988, 1994) and they are played by some of the most distinguished musicians found anywhere, including classical virtuoso Aaron Rosand and Scottish fiddling champion Jamie Laval. Last summer, I visited Kurt's workshop and auditioned two of his instruments, one of which he had just finished and the other which was in for an adjustment. They both were simply amazing, quite the equal of the great Italian master instruments I've heard. I commissioned him to fashion one of Guarneri pattern for me, using pernambuco fittings. Although it will be expensive, I'll sell some other instruments to help finance this acquisition. Kurt will finish it at the end of the summer and I am awfully excited at the prospect of owning a truly world-class violin.