A Legacy Rooted in Craftsmanship Since 1932
From a partnership between a seventh-generation violin maker and a Cleveland businessman, Scherl & Roth grew into one of the most trusted names in music education and string instruments.
From setting standards to supporting the next generation.
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Early Foundations
Skilled craftsmen, guided by Heinrich Roth, established finishing and adjustment techniques designed to produce reliable, affordable string instruments for school programs.
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Establishing Standards
These techniques helped define expectations for student instruments and later influenced standards adopted by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), supporting the growth of school orchestra programs.
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Trusted by Educators
As school music programs expanded, Scherl & Roth instruments became a familiar and trusted choice for teachers, students, violin shops, and specialty dealers.
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A New Chapter
Today, Scherl & Roth continues its legacy with renewed attention to craftsmanship, preparation, and consistency — combining time-honored violin making traditions with modern methods to deliver exceptional value for the next generation of players.
The history of Scherl & Roth is rooted in the craftsmanship traditions of Heinrich Roth, a seventh-generation violin maker from Markneukirchen, Germany. In the early 20th century, Roth brought his expertise to the United States, where demand for high-quality string instruments was growing.
In 1932, Roth partnered with Max Scherl to form Scherl & Roth, establishing a foundation that would become closely tied to the development of school orchestra programs. Following World War II, as music education expanded, Roth brought skilled violin makers to his Cleveland workshop to help produce reliable, affordable instruments for students at scale.
Under his guidance, finishing and adjustment techniques were refined to support consistency and playability. These approaches helped shape expectations for student instruments and later influenced standards adopted by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).
Over time, Scherl & Roth became a trusted name among teachers, students, and violin shops, recognized for dependable instruments that supported developing musicians.
A new chapter under Connolly Music.
Today Scherl & Roth instruments continue their legacy with renewed attention to preparation, fittings, and setup — carrying decades of trust forward for the next generation of players.