Securing high-quality, well-priced orchestral string instruments for learners—particularly in a classroom setting—can be challenging. Good string instruments require careful craftsmanship, and lower-cost options often compromise on sound quality, durability and finishing. Schools and music hubs frequently struggle with limited budgets, making it difficult to invest in reliable instruments that will withstand regular use.
A solution to this problem presented itself when we encountered master luthier Guofang Wang back in 2013, at the Music China trade fair in Shanghai. Guofang is a highly skilled, experienced artisan, and ever since that first meeting we have worked directly with him and his family workshop to produce the best value orchestral string instruments on the market: MMX.
Every instrument crafted by hand in a small family workshop
The entire production journey of each MMX instrument takes place in Guofang Wang’s small family workshop which sits just outside Zhumadian, a town in China's southern Henan province, nestled in the shadow of Mount Chaya. This is in stark contrast to the way that many student instruments are produced, passed between several factories (or areas in a factory), with the splicing and plating done in one place, the neck carved in another, and the finishing done somewhere else entirely. In fact, the MMX instruments are produced in a manner much more akin to traditional Stradivarius or Guarneri instruments than standard student ones.
All the MMX instruments benefit from a closely monitored manufacturing process, and an example of this can be found in the precise adjustments made to their bodies which ensure consistently excellent tone. The wood used to make string instruments is a natural material; there will always be discrepancies in the different cuts used, even if they are broadly the same wood, from the same place, processed in the same way. Even tiny discrepancies in the material can have a fundamental effect on the sound that comes from an instrument, but the close oversight that Guofang and his team hold over every single item allows them to make bespoke adjustments.
For instance, the thickness of the front and back plates is precisely measured and tweaked to ensure consistency of tone, accounting for the exact properties of the wood being used – this is one area in which making instruments entirely in one workshop, by hand, is a huge advantage:
‘Considering that the body of the violin is a thin-walled structure with the role of amplifying musical sounds, the thickness of the resonator walls in correlation with wood properties, is a parameter that influences the acoustic timbre, acoustic radiation, sound intensity’
- Changing the vibrational behavior of the wooden thin arched plates—The maestro violins experimental study case in ScienceDirect (2022)
With a more disjointed production operation, these precise adjustments would never happen, resulting in a wider variance in quality between various instruments in a batch.
A beautiful, traditional finish
Most student string instruments are finished with a spray-on cellulose lacquer. Whilst this is quick, easy and cheap to do, it makes for neither an attractive look nor a particularly protective coating. Conversely, MMX strings are finished by hand using a traditional spirit varnish, mixed to exact specifications to provide superior protection for the instrument. Spirit varnishing involves applying multiple thin layers of alcohol-based varnish with natural resins, creating a hard, smooth surface that gives not just a beautifully lustrous look, and excellent sound projection. MMX strings are all antiqued; that is, a patina of age is applied to the bodies to enhance the beauty of the instrument, whilst retaining the ‘newness’ of its construction.
This attention to detail is one of the things that makes MMX special; over the 12 years of working with Guofang, we have been able to make important refinements to the MMX range through a constructive dialogue between our in-house luthier and the workshop in China.
How are costs kept down, and quality up?
Given the exceptional craftsmanship guaranteed by Guofang and his small team, along with the small-scale production process, MMX instruments represent fantastic value. A big factor in this is the streamlined shipping process. The instruments are sent straight from China to our UK warehouse and then straight to customers, as excess cost centres are avoided to keep the prices down. Moreover, the education-focused MMX ranges come with sizeable bulk discounts, making it easier to find the requisite funding, and carbon composite bows are included with each instrument.
Getting these reliable, hand-crafted instruments into schools is a worthwhile endeavour; they’ll last for years, need far less frequent maintenance than lesser products, and the students will love playing them! With six different series from the entry-level ‘Student’ to the top-tier ‘Virtuoso’, the MMX range covers the entire string family, from a 1/8 size violin right up to the double bass.
The Student series
Providing a great MMX entry point for beginners, the Student series instruments are produced in the MMX factory and delivered to your door ready to play. Set up at the factory with quality strings, these instruments present particularly great value for schools and music hubs, especially with bulk discounts that apply to the violin and viola. Getting a class’s worth of these terrific, durable instruments for the prices on offer is really quite astounding, and goes a long way towards maximising departmental budget.
Each of the Student series instruments is constructed with a spruce top and a two-piece maple back and sides, and features ebony fittings with an integrated tailpiece. As is crucial with entry level instruments, these come in a range of sizes.
The violin and cello both come as small as 1/8th size and as large as full size, with several options in between. The viola sizing is organised differently, with three different body lengths available: 14”, 15” and 15.5”. Plenty of choice is available to suit learners of any age and size!
So, the student series provides everything that you need in a set of classroom instruments: solid manufacturing, good sound, a range of sizes and fantastic bulk pricing. But what if you want to step up to the next level…
The Graduate series
Building upon the Student series, MMX Graduate instruments all receive a full set-up by our in-house UK luthier. This ensures that the pegs, fingerboard, bridge, and sound post are all finely tuned for a more precise and enjoyable playing experience right from the start.
A good setup on a string instrument is so important for progressing players. Proper adjustments to the bridge, nut, and fingerboard ensure comfortable string action, making it easier to play while reducing strain on the fingers. A well-set instrument also improves intonation and tuning stability, mitigating issues like buzzing, uneven tone, or difficulty in producing clear notes. In bowed instruments, the placement of the soundpost and bridge can significantly affect resonance and projection, while on fretted instruments, proper neck relief and fretwork enhance sustain and clarity.
Beyond playability, a good setup helps prevent long-term damage by establishing the proper tension and structural balance. It also improves responsiveness, allowing for better articulation, vibrato, and dynamic control. For a student, having an instrument that plays ‘as it should’ helps develop good habits and makes the learning process more consistent, enjoyable, and (hopefully) fast!
Once again, violins, violas and cellos are all available.
The Performer series
Another level up in material quality and craftsmanship, MMX Performer instruments have a rosewood tailpiece, chin rest, ebony pegs and end pin, and are hand varnished with a chestnut brown oil-based varnish and given an antique finish. As with the Graduate series, the final set up is all done by our in-house luthier, and strings from trusted brands like Dominant, Larsen and Jargar are selected specifically to suit each particular instrument.
While the Performer series does not currently feature a Viola model, unlike the Student and Graduate lines it does incorporate a double bass. This features a carved spruce top with two-piece maple back and sides, along with an ebony fingerboard and geared tuning pegs.
Overall, the Performer instruments are aimed at intermediate players; they will comfortably take you through to the upper grades and provide a worthy companion for solo recitals, orchestras, quintets or whatever else you might be involved in. As well as the bass, violins and cellos are also found in the Performer series.
The Soloist series
Hand crafted by the master luthier with superb attention to detail, Soloist instruments are made from MMX’s highest-grade spruce, maple and ebony for the best possible sound and appearance. This is supplemented by a bespoke set-up from our UK luthier using high grade strings to suit each instrument specifically. They are made with an ‘A grade’ Asian spruce top with very tight grain, a beautifully figured quartersawn solid maple back and ebony fittings. On top of these superb tonewoods the instrument is then hand varnished with an antique oil varnish which is applied in layers to voice this beautiful instrument with a full, rich sound with superb tonal variation.
The Soloist series features the smallest three instruments in the orchestral string family: a full size violin, and cellos of both 7/8 and full size.
The Signature and Virtuoso series
At the top of the MMX range sit the Signature and Virtuoso series. These instruments are more rarefied, intended for the individual in pursuit of excellence, rather than budding students. As such, they are only available as full size violins and cellos. Benefitting from the direct attention of Guofang himself, these are the very finest instruments to leave the workshop and are treated to the very best set-up and finishing both in the MMX factory and our UK workshop.
Conclusion
Overall, MMX offers a comprehensive range of orchestral string instruments catering to players at every stage of their development. From the budget-friendly Student series to the masterfully crafted Virtuoso line, each instrument is designed with quality, playability, and value in mind. By sticking to a family workshop and maintaining meticulous, handmade attention to detail, MMX ensures that musicians—whether beginners, advancing students, or professionals—have access to instruments that inspire and perform beautifully. Whatever your level, whatever your musical aspirations, there’s an MMX instrument ready to support your progress.
The master luthier with one of his very smallest instruments!