Hand-Built Violins for Serious Musicians
Crafted for projection, color, and a voice that lasts a lifetime.
D. Coons Violins are built one at a time for dedicated players, advancing students, and professionals who need a truly expressive instrument—without the distortion of the antique market.
Each violin, viola, or cello is voiced for quick attack, a wide color palette, and reliable projection in real halls and auditions.
RECOGNIZED BY MUSICIANS AND MAKERS
Violin Society of America — Tone Award
Professional orchestral players
University & conservatory studios
Advancing students preparing major auditions
Featured Instruments
A small, focused collection of concert-capable modern instruments. Each one is carved, voiced, and refined to carry in real halls—so you can trust it on stage, in orchestra, and at auditions.
Violin, 2024
The Bluegrass Soloist
A Strad-inspired violin with quick, responsive attack and a bright, carrying upper range sitting on a warm, singing core.
Balkan Mountain Maple
Italian oil varnish, hand-padded
Voiced for solo clarity & projection
Violin, 2024
The Cumberlands
Rich low end, even response across registers, and clarity that speaks easily in ensembles.
Violin, 2023
The Appalachian Guarneri
Powerful core, broad color palette, and projection ideal for advanced students and professionals preparing auditions.
Cello, 2024
The Kentucky Resonance
Focused resonance, fast articulation, and a singing upper register for expressive performance.
Hear the Difference
Short recordings tell you more than a thousand adjectives. Compare solo Bach, orchestral excerpts, and concerto passages across multiple D. Coons instruments.
Solo Bach – clarity, purity, sustain
Orchestral excerpts – projection in real repertoire
Concerto with piano – color and power at full voice
Concerto with piano – color and power at full voice
Meet Dereck Coons
One maker, one bench, one instrument at a time.
I’ve spent more than 35 years working with violins, violas, and cellos—building, restoring, andchasing the elusive balance between power, color, and ease of playing.
Every instrument in my workshop is carved, tuned, and finished by my own hands in Kentucky.
I build only a handful each year, shaping each one in conversation with the musicians who playthem.
What Musicians Say
The violin Dereck built for me has become my voice—responsive, colorful, and reliable in every hall I’ve played.
— Professional Violinist
One of my top students chose a Coons violin over a much more expensive antique. That tells you everything.”
— University Violin Professor
It’s the first violin I’ve tried that felt like it understood the way I play.
— Advanced Student
Why Choose a Modern Handmade Violin?
Serious musicians are often told they must chase old Italian instruments to be competitive. That story leaves out an important truth: a well-made modern violin can deliver the projection, color, and reliability you need—without six-figure prices or antique-market risk.
Concert-level projection without six-figure pricing
A voice tailored to your playing
Direct access to the maker for long-term care
Ethical materials and honest pricing
A living instrument that grows with you
Try a Violin, Feel the Fit
The best way to choose an instrument is to live with it.
You can’t judge a violin in 10 minutes. My trial process is built around giving you time, space, and a real musical environment to explore the instrument.
7–14 day home or studio trial
Easy, insured shipping
Setup optimization before shipment
Optional video call to discuss what you’re looking for
Simple feedback form or QR code for tone notes
Every instrument passes through the same bench, the same hands, and the same obsessiveattention to detail—no outsourcing, no shortcuts.
