3 new 5-string violins

I’ve been playing a truly amazing new 5-string violin built by the amazing builder Nathaniel Rowan. Over the 3 weeks I’ve been playing this instrument, it just keeps getting better, and louder, and sweeter, and better, and louder, and softer, and better...
On top of that, it’s a totally original design filled with beauty and humor. This guy is really something special. I have played a few of his 4 string violins, and always marvelled at their brilliance and power, but it wasn’t my sound. I told Nat that if he could make a 5-string that had “my” sound sort of more a mocha flavor, I would gladly play it. So he built one that is actually the sound Chocolate, coffee and Chili... wow! And it is such a fun, whimsical piece of contemporary art. If it didn’t sound so good, it should be in MOMA. He calls it The Blue Snipper, because of the wild scissors image stencilled on the back. Don’t ask me why, but this violin does cut through, yet has so much richness, it’s almost scary.
Nat’s instruments are not cheap, but they sound like instruments that sell for 5 times the price.
http://www.nrviolins.com/

Also received a terrific inexpensive 5-string to try, the DuShane acoustic/electric, from Gary Bartig, creator of the Dahlia 5-string, previously reviewed here. This is a more conventional instrument, made in China, even less expensive, but very even-sounding and easy to play. The one I got had a really nice built-in pickup attached to the bass bar on the inside, and felt so good. At just over a grand, there’s not much reason any more why people couldn’t have a 5-string as a really good adjunct acoustic/electric. More about this later as I get more info. http://www.acousticelectricstrings.com/

Also played a truly awesome 5 -string violin from the virtuoso builder Jonathan Cooper. Jon is building both 5-string violas and violin now, and this new one takes the cake. Owned by the redoubtable up-and-coming player Lauren Rioux
(now a member of Republic Of Strings), this instrument is really stretching the possibilities of richness and power in a violin-size 5-string. And Jon’s impeccable craftsmanship and artistic finishes guarantee that these instruments will only increase in value. http://www.jcooperviolinmaker.com/

Also waiting on information about an excellent 5-string I looked at in Lawrence, Kansas, with an almost viola-size body.