EPOCH milestones

• THE EPOCH TEAM - 2005
• Our public debut to Suzuki in Adelaide
• Our first video
• Trials with a youth orchestra
• Appearances at festivals around the nation
• The night we went caroling with a Russian virtuoso
• A handful of fascinating stories about our evolving violin
• The Corporate entities Supercool Group and Newtons / Gondwana
• Some of our early press clippings

TESTIMONIALS

• The challenge to David Sugden, internationally recognised consulting engineer and inventor, was to bring the advantages of modern knowledge of dynamics, production methods and materials to the 400 year old design of the conventional violin, without destroying its wonderful musical qualities and aesthetics.

• He was urged on and critically advised by Dr Jan Sedivka, Master Musician in residence at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and a world renowned master violinist and teacher.

• The result of the cooperation of these masters in their two very different fields, is an instrument changed from the traditional design as profoundly as the change wrought by Vasco Da Salo over 400 years ago to the earlier Viola da gamba family from which the traditional violin quite suddenly emerged.

• Da Salo's brilliantly creative design was driven by the then growing need for instruments suitable for public performance, both solo and concert and which would match the growing virtuosity of the players of the day.

THE MOTIVATION

• During the intervening 400 years, not surprisingly, there have been great changes in the performance requirements of stringed instruments but virtually no changes to the instruments themselves.

• In the same period, the piano, for instance, has changed greatly in both flexibility and power.

• The violin and its relatives once again need redevelopment in response to the resurgence in interest in broader fields of performance – Irish, country, pop bands and in classical and home music ensemble playing.

• In the classical concert field the availability of instruments capable of responding to the performance levels of the top professional player is limited and at prices out of reach for most professional or amateur players in their early years. Most violins available to students are unsuitable for teaching at the top performance levels.

• The Epoch violin has been developed in response to these changes. It is designed specifically with the needs of the student in mind. It takes advantage of the 400 years of advance in the understanding of the physics involved and in the technologies of manufacture and materials. It has the playability and dynamic range to take the student to the highest grades of musical training. It is very robust and can be maintained by the student or teacher using interchangeable replacement parts. No expert fitting is required for the bridge or sound post. Modern materials and glues are used, making the instrument practically impervious to adverse climatic effects.

THE PRODUCT

• Aesthetically the Epoch Violin is very modern with clean lines and bright and attractive finishes.

• Their acoustic output and dynamic range is about twice that of the standard violin. Their increased resonance make them very easy to play and to “find the note”.

• The bridge comes ready cut and grooved for the strings. Three heights are available, differing by one millimetre so that the player can adjust the finger board clearance to suit soft or hard strings or to adjust finger pressure. The neck setting is always the same so that bowing and fingering can be practiced to the correct string spacing, finger board clearance and neck setting.

• A kit is available for fitting the violin for electronic amplification;.

• In short, the Epoch is a violin for the 21st century.

• The instruments are made in Australia and Australian materials are used, with minor exceptions. The design is patented and patents are pending.