I have #16 the are wonderful instruments. I thought about selling mine recently, but it is very hard to let go of. They come with documentation that is signed by the luthier. When I was looking for a violin in my junior year in college, I had saved up money, was to sell my old instrument, and was going to take a out hefty loan ($20,000-$50,000) for a violin - my violin professor told me it was time to move from a great beginning professional instrument to something serious. I was scared about spending that much money on something - not know my future income as a violinist. For over a year I had instruments shipped to me, I flew to see some, and finally my instructor told me that she had two special instruments for me to see - a friend of hers in Houston Texas owned one (owns a luthier shop their) and another had been flown in from Italy. She did not tell me the price of either - just told me to play first a scale, then a Bartok, then a scale in f-minor then - the piece everyone memorizes in there early years- the Concerto for 2 violins m1 (Bach), then the Chaconne. She said to play the pieces back to back no break, then switch instruments and repeat. I did. Then she told me to play the Thais as sappy as I could on both violins. She had recorded it all. She told me to go home and listen to the recordings and let her know in a week what I thought. It was a tough decision, the italian violin, an Antoniazzi, was "more my style" - it was italian not german and felt different- and to be honest was much prettier. The Paesold was very masculine looking, I thought. But as I forgot about the esthetics through the week and listened to my playing all week, I knew that the sound - in any key, range, or volume - was balanced and mature on the Organ pipe German "brute." The Antoniazzi, was a more amazing instrument, but it was finicky and its potential was limited in ways that I can't describe. The Peasold is like an understated hot rod car, it is a sleeper. I have come to absolutely love my Brute. I was skeptical 1) about playing a Peasold-known for their factory instrument creations, 2) about paying a decent sum of money ($12,000 less than the Antoniazzi, however) for a Peasold 3) if I had a mature enough ear and playing ability to make the right choice. But, in the end I decided to trust my instructor and my gut. I am glad I did. The violin's single piece top resonates. The violin has a very very mature sound for its age (2003) due to the 100+ year old organ pipe wood. Its tone, balance, and rounded full body sound is powerful; not powerful in the sense of "booming" forte, however. The power can be felt even when playing light pianissimo's - the violin holds it's rounded, balanced tone- no matter how fast, how load, how soft, how little bow, how much bow, ....you play. I have played instruments that have cost me ten times the amount this one originally cost me - most have not come quite as close. Those that have, show that the quality and tone of these (or at least my Peasold) can hold it's own.