V. Richelieu™ Special Edition Violins & Violas | Lumière Series
V. RICHELIEU NEWSROOM –
At V. Richelieu™, our team never stop experimenting. Each year, they test new shapes, new materials, and new ideas to push what a violin or viola can sound and look like. This year, that spirit of discovery led them somewhere unexpected: their own backyard.
We're proud to introduce our latest line of Special Edition Violins and Violas. In the world of master lutherie, each instrument carries its own voice, but our Special Edition series represents the true snowflakes of the workshop—instruments individually curated for their distinct stories, striking natural visual identities, and unmatched acoustic qualities.
A Story in Every Grain
Introducing the Lumière Series. Stunning to see. Striking in sound.
Every player who has ever stood in a shop, instrument in hand, has felt some version of the same pull. The sound that stops you mid-breath. The instrument you can't stop looking at. Rarely both — and rarely from a shop small enough to give each one the attention it deserves.
V. Richelieu™ is not a factory line. We are a boutique violin shop, and every instrument that leaves our hands is like a snowflake, a one-of-a-kind — no two alike in grain, in voice, or in the story they go on to live with the player who chooses them.
Our goal was simple to state, yet incredibly difficult to build: give serious players and advancing students access to instruments defined by a single, uncompromising pursuit — extraordinary sound and beauty, held in equal regard — without asking them to wait a decade or spend beyond what the moment calls for. Every choice in this series, from the sustainably sourced wood we select to the price we set, exists to serve that goal.
Swiss Alpine Spruce, Open Scrolls, and GaiaTone:
The top plates of the Special Edition collection are carved from FSC-certified Swiss Alpine Spruce, harvested from high-elevation forests in Switzerland one tree at a time. Featuring tight grain spacing and striking natural "bear-claw" curl, this tonewood provides an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio for fine graduation.
To ensure complete ergonomic comfort and sustainability:
Weight-Relieved Cut-Out Scrolls: Select models incorporate our signature open, hollowed scroll design, shaving crucial grams off the pegbox to reduce left-arm fatigue during long performances.
GaiaTone Fingerboards & Fittings: Made in Vermont from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and natural bio-resins, GaiaTone replaces endangered ebony with an ultra-dense, weather-proof material completely immune to fingerboard warping, pitting, and seasonal buzzes.
The back plate of our Special Edition violins and violas is mostly cut from myrtlewood sourced through the Coquille Indian Tribe, whose forest lands sit near Portland, Oregon. The tribe manages its own timber and hardwoods, much of which finds its way into instruments like this one.
Myrtlewood isn't a common choice for string instruments. It's found only in the Pacific Northwest, and its hardness and density sit close to traditional maple, which makes it a natural stand-in. What sets myrtle apart is its look: bold, dark streaks run through the wood, and when the light hits the back plate just right, it looks like a curtain drawn back on a stage. Because every log grows and grains differently, every instrument we cut from it is truly its own.
The Coquille Tribe's approach to forestry is part of what makes this wood special, too. Rather than buying and clear-cutting parcels of land, the tribe manages its forest as land it intends to keep and pass down for generations. Trees are harvested carefully, with the long-term health of the forest always in mind.
A Voice of Its Own
Beauty aside, myrtlewood earns its place on a viola through sound. It brings out a warm, rich low end on the C string, while still letting the A string ring out bright and clear on top. Players and listeners alike notice a fuller, more complex voice than what you'd expect from a traditional maple-backed instrument.
The model itself draws on an older design tradition, predating Stradivari's now-famous longer, flatter shape. Our luthiers built the Special Edition on a rounder, higher-arched pattern with larger f-holes, a design known for its bold, powerful projection. Paired with a cut-out scroll that trims extra weight, the result is a viola that's easier to hold and play, without giving up an ounce of volume or tone.
Historic Brescian & Cremonese Patterns
To provide musicians with diverse ergonomic and acoustic palettes, the Special Edition line also embraces classical Italian arching profiles:
The Da Salò Viola Pattern (15.5" & 16"): Modeled after Gasparo da Salò—the greatest master of the early Brescian school—these violas feature full, rounded bouts, higher archings, and wide, expressive F-holes. This geometry generates deep internal air resonance, allowing a comfortable 15.5-inch instrument to produce the dark, roaring alto power typically reserved for 16.5-inch and larger instruments without left-hand physical strain.
The Special Edition Violins: Utilizing refined Cremonese archings, these instruments deliver focused acoustic projection, rapid dynamic response, and brilliant upper-register clarity suited for soloists and chamber leaders alike.
Special Edition instruments carry a premium over our classic line, and for good reason: each is a genuinely singular object, built from tonewood that will never be replicated. For the violist or violinist seeking an instrument defined by character—acoustic and visual alike—we invite you to experience the Special Edition Collection in person.
Visit V. Richelieu™ in South Burlington, Vermont, or Lebanon, New Hampshire, to see and play the Special Edition Series for yourself.
Introducing our V. Richelieu Special Edition Instruments, meticulously crafted by our innovative luthiers who constantly push boundaries to bring you unique designs and exceptional quality.
Note: Available in sizes 11” - 14” on request - email us at info@vrichelieu.com
This article was released by V. Richelieu™ on September 2, 2026. For media inquiries, product information access, or scheduling availability regarding our imported instrument collections, contact us directly at info@vrichelieu.comor text us at 802 648 6371