Introducing the Joseph Curtin Ultralight

An ultralight weighs less than a traditional instrument for the same reason a Formula 1 car weighs less than your car: performance. Low-density woods and state-of-the-art acoustical design give the Ultralight a malleable voice of operatic intensity. Play one and you will be heard.

Need to blend in?

A set of magnetically attachable micro-mutes allow you to incrementally mellow the timbre to best fit a particular ensemble, or a particular piece of music, or to simply avoid tiring your ear during long hours of practice.

Player adjustable

You can change the string-heights above the fingerboard in seconds by inserting a key into the base of the neck. You can just as equally change the centering of the fingerboard beneath the strings. These and other innovations let you keep your Ultralight in optimal adjustment even when you’re a continent away from the nearest violin shop.

Ergonomic design

The treble side of the Ultralight’s fingerboard is subtly widened and recurved along its upper reaches, giving you unprecedented security in high positions. The integrated chinrest is custom built to your specifications and can be as low or as high as you like. The sheer lightness of the instrument makes it a joy to pick up.

Ultra-low maintenance

The Ultralight is built to resist the kind of damage that is almost inevitable with traditional instruments. The bridge will not warp. The fingerboard has a spruce core covered with an abrasion resistant surface that will never need scraping.  The chinrest assembly does away with the metal clamps that so often damage the top and ribs of a traditional instrument. Strategically placed veneers prevent the soundpost and bridge from digging into (and eventually cracking) the top. A host of less obvious innovations ensure long-term structural and tonal stability.

Now available on commission

Ultralights are available on commission for introductory prices starting at $36,000. If you are interested in giving one a try, please contact us.