Mr. Sivak's (prize-winning) violins are priced at $9,450/E7,000. Please inquire for more details. They are occasionally available and are also made to order. Please allow 4-5 months for commissioned work.

Arpad Sivak was born near the Slovak/Hungarian border in 1956 but later settled in the Bohemia, the Czech center of violin making, where he decided on his profession at the age of 15. His first teacher was Alois Sibal, but he gained additional mastery later with Josef Dvorak and Emil Lupac. He has been greatly influenced by the work of Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri. Mr. Sivak uses only the the best Italian (from the Dolomites) or Czech spruce, and Bosnian, Slovak or Italian maple. He makes violins in which he uses a "golden period" Strad as a model with an oil/spirit varnish that has won praise in Central Europe.The varnish features traces of brown, red, black, green, and gold, over a yellow ground. Varnishes that are 'antiqued' are also possible.

Mr. Sivak has participated in violin-making competitions in Mittenwald (Germany), Nachod (Czech Republic) and Prague (Czech Republic). His instruments are owned and greatly valued and played by professionals in Slovakia (members of the Slovak National Opera), the Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, the US, Spain, Singapore and Japan. He has made approximately 125 violins to date and plans and to begin making violas soon. He also has plans to introduce what he calls a "Cremonese" varnish.

Blue Danube Violins is proud to be the EXCLUSIVE and WORLDWIDE dealer for Arpad Sivak's violins.