Our Vision
Honoring Five Centuries of Tradition
By the time an Eastman instrument reaches the player, dozens of expert craftspeople have had a hand in bringing it to the peak of its sound, playability, and beauty.
The Eastman workshop operates in precisely the same manner as late 19th century European workshops. Chisels, knives, and scrapers, in the hands of outstandingly gifted craftspeople, are the primary tools used to create these modern instruments.
These techniques impart each model with a beautiful voice and appearance that can only be achieved by hand. As in the shops of master luthiers for the past five hundred years, Eastman honors this tradition everyday.
In this system, young luthiers enter an apprenticeship program, taking on simple workshop tasks such as cleaning, tool maintenance, and simple carving.
I would load up my car with instruments and drive from city to city selling them to violin shops and music stores. Through this experience and my education, I knew a different approach was needed: to establish a master workshop like centuries past.
Qian Ni, Founder