The VA405 Andreas Eastman Series Student viola outfit is a highly desired step-up instrument in appearance and sound. The VA405 is a meticulously hand-carved instrument with a premium spruce top and highly flamed maple back and sides. The superior tonal qualities of these premium tonewoods is enhanced by a hand-applied multi-layered antiqued spirit varnish that emulates the best varnishes from a small number of master workshops of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These master workshops located in Markneukirchen, Germany created a gently shaded spirit varnish that added to the appearance of depth in the tonewoods of each instrument while promoting the free, ringing sound of the viola.