Alain Pignoux has been servicing the stringed instrument community from his workshop in Tours for over 30 years, offering a variety of services including high quality repairs and masterful contemporary making which demonstrates both knowledge of the French traditions and the artisanal quality common to graduates of the Cremona School of Violin Making, where he studied. This Pignoux violin from 2009 presents in mint condition and offers a delicately shaded and lightly antiqued aesthetic with a softer quality to the edgework that serves to balance precision and clean lines. Its brilliant voice is already mellowed by consistent use and offers the resistance and flexibility one would expect from a professional quality violin, delivering a bright, punchy attack and easily accessible tonal pallet. As a final note, absolutely gorgeous selection of premium tone woods.