Although I haven't seen one of Howard's violins in the flesh, his specs lead me to believe that he's making one of the lightest solid-body electrics available. Weighing in at 1 pound, 9.7 ounces, his use of basswood as the primary body material clearly pays off in the weight department.

The violins are similar in design to the Zeta Jazz models, but with a number of important differences: Because the Wolf doesn't have an on board preamp and uses such light wood, it's significantly lighter than the Zeta. Also, Howard uses the Barbera pickup, which is probably the best pickup available for electric violins. He also includes a case and bow, which is convenient, and can paint the violins in a variety of colors, depending on what's available.

I've talked with Howard a couple times on the phone, and he's certainly a nice guy who clearly enjoys what he's doing. He seems open to innovation as well, so you could probably get him to build your violin with additional features to make it unique.

Web/Email:

Email: fidlmker@jefnet.com

Pricing:

Violins:
4-string: $1350
5-string: $1450

All violins come with bow and case.

Contact Information

Phone: 920-262-0714