Our Story
Learn how tradition, innovation and craftsmanship combine to create an unparalleled playing experience.
Six generations of family traditions.
a heritage of innovators, musicians, and artists
The Frirsz family of luthiers began making violins in the mid 1800s, as patriarch Antol Frirsz moved from making cabinets to musical instruments. As the oldest family of luthiers in the world, they perfected a method of making violins using no forms. At Sixth Generation Violin, we carry on that method. We also carry on the family varnish recipe and method, which gives our instruments an unmatched, unique look.
01. THE BEGINNINGS
The Frirsz family became extremely influential in the Hungarian school of violin making under Lajos, Miksa, and Maximilian Frirsz in Budapest. The family perfected a rare “no-form” construction method and proprietary varnish recipes.
After escaping the Hungarian Revolution with just his tools in a briefcase, master luthier Maximilian Frirsz brought the family tradition to New York City, establishing a famous studio on 57th Street.
In 1974, his 17-year-old son Nicholas became the youngest luthier ever to win an International Gold Medal, later taking over the New York shop in the 1980s when Maximilian retired.
02. THE NEXT GENERATION
In Upstate New York, Nicholas Frirsz continued his family’s legacy by pioneering the revolutionary asymmetrical viola and the Frirsz tailpiece.
In 2010, physics student Thomas Dunn began studying under Nicholas, learning directly from the gold-medal luthier. As his full apprentice, Thomas mastered six generations of Hungarian trade secrets, absorbing Nicholas’s expertise in acoustic design, form-free construction, and varnish methods that define the Frirsz tradition.
03. THE PRESENT DAY
Today, Sixth Generation Strings operates out of Saratoga Springs, New York, bridging centuries of old-world European heritage with modern acoustic science.
Owner and master luthier Thomas Dunn provides world-class hand-crafted instruments, expert restorations, and custom setups for players of all levels. Every instrument that leaves the shop carries forward six generations of integrity, passion, and unrivaled artistry.
OUR VALUES
We stand for quality, integrity, personal service, and engagement at Sixth Generation Violin.
We provide the highest quality of instruments and service in the area, from our decades old materials to fittings and bows, and we perform repairs and restoration to the exacting quality standards held by the most respected members of the violin making profession.
We are committed to being open, transparent, and honest with all of our work, estimates, and instruments- we will always strive to impart all the options, and recommend the best course of action within budget and needs.
We are always available to answer any questions, and will do everything in our power to make your experience a great one.
Finally, we are committed to giving back to the musical and local community, whether that is providing service, instruments, advice, or donations to needy and deserving individuals and organizations who promote or create music, community events and/or charity work.