D Z Strad Viola Model 700

About the D Z Strad Viola Model 700

The Model 700 pairs a solid, tight-grained, hand-carved spruce top with richly flamed maple across the back, ribs, neck and scroll, finished in a hand-applied oil varnish deliberately aged to mimic the look of a well-played older instrument. The bridge is cut from rock maple and fitted by the maker's own luthiers rather than left for a dealer to finish, and every ebony fitting on the instrument - the heart-shaped pegs, tailpiece, chinrest and end button - matches, a small consistency touch that cheaper mixed-fitting instruments often skip. It's offered across five viola body sizes (14" to 16.5"), all at the same price, and ships as a full outfit: a case, a shoulder rest, rosin, and - unusually - two bows of different materials, one carbon fiber and one brazilwood, giving a player a sturdier everyday option alongside a traditional wood bow rather than forcing a choice between them. Within D Z Strad's own numbered model line, the 700 sits above entry-level numbers like the 100 and 300 and below the brand's dedicated Professional Model 1000, with a nearly identically equipped Model 900 just above it - suggesting the step up from here is mostly about wood grade and finish refinement rather than a change in basic construction.

Where to buy

• Reverb D Z Strad Viola - Model 700 - Handmade Viola Outfit-- handmade by prize winning luthiers 2.794 EUR Best price View details
• Reverb D Z Strad Viola - Model 700 - Viola Outfit Handmade by Prize Winning Luthiers (16" Inch) 3.447 EUR View details

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Source: https://reverb.com/item/71406467-d-z-strad-viola-model-700-viola-outfit-handmade-by-prize-winning-luthiers-16-inch

Sound character of the D Z Strad Viola Model 700

The maker describes the instrument's response as warm with a distinct character, and the antiqued oil varnish - applied by hand rather than sprayed - is presented as part of what gives it a fuller, more settled tone than a glossier factory finish would. Beyond this manufacturer framing, no independent acoustic assessment of the Model 700 specifically (projection, register balance, or comparison to other tiers) turned up in available sources, so the tonal picture here rests on the maker's own description rather than corroborated third-party listening impressions.

What owners of the D Z Strad Viola Model 700 say

Independent, model-specific commentary on the Model 700 viola is scarce - no dedicated discussion of it turned up on specialist forums like Maestronet, and the available third-party reviews cover D Z Strad's cheaper Model 101 or the brand in general rather than this particular tier. What does exist points toward a generally favorable reputation: the brand was ranked as a leading intermediate viola maker by at least one specialist review site, and its instruments are consistently described as arriving properly set up out of the box rather than needing immediate adjustment - a detail that recurs across reviews of several different models in the range, not just this one. The clearest gap in available information is the Model 700 itself: beyond the maker's own product page, independent sources have little to say about this specific size and price tier.

Recommended accessories & strings for the D Z Strad Viola Model 700

The outfit already covers the essentials most players need from day one: a case, a shoulder rest, rosin and, notably, two bows rather than the usual single one - a carbon fiber bow for everyday durability and weather tolerance, plus a brazilwood bow for a more traditional wood feel, letting a player choose per session instead of committing to one material. The factory D'Addario Helicore strings are a solid mid-tier choice rather than bare entry-level strings, so an immediate string swap isn't the first upgrade most players would feel pushed toward, unlike on cheaper student instruments where generic strings are a near-universal early replacement. Beyond that, upkeep follows standard viola practice: periodic bow rehairing, fresh rosin as needed, and the maker's own recommended service check roughly every six months, which is not included in the purchase price.

Technical data for the D Z Strad Viola Model 700

Price history for the D Z Strad Viola Model 700

Cheapest seen: 2.794 EUR  ·  Most expensive seen: 3.447 EUR

The history of the D Z Strad Viola Model 700

D Z Strad's Model 700 sits near the top of the brand's handmade viola line, just below the dedicated Professional Model 1000.

About D Z Strad as a manufacturer

D Z Strad Violin Shop was founded in 2014 and operates out of White Plains, New York, where the company says every order is hand-selected, packaged and shipped directly from its own workshop. The brand runs a broad, numbered model line spanning instruments for complete beginners up through a dedicated Professional tier, with the Model 700 sitting in the upper-middle of that range. Reviewing the brand's more affordable Model 101 viola, the review site Viola Central named D Z Strad its 'best intermediate viola brand' in both its 2016 and 2017 rankings - a brand-level distinction rather than one earned by the Model 700 specifically, but a useful data point on how the company is regarded by specialist reviewers. Every instrument, regardless of tier, goes through the same final step before shipping: an in-house luthier inspects and sets it up to spec, with orders typically processed within two to three business days.