I was thinking these bard instruments and their creation and came across of an
idea which is more familiar in fantasy literature in relation to dwarves and
their weaponsmithing.

What if a bard when using instrument creation would have a small chance
(something like 5-10%) to create an exceptional instrument. The creation of
this exceptional instrument would then cause the bard to lose the interest in
instrument creation for predetermined time (something like 2-10 RL weeks),
because of that perfection could not improved. This exceptionality could give
some small bonuses to the instrument in comparison to a normal instrument.

My aim of this idea is not to boost the actual instrument too much, but to
give some additional status to the creator of this kind of instrument.
Therefore the exceptional instrument could have some special kind of glow or
give the creator a special rank or something like that to set him/her/it apart
from the rest.

Please feel free to take this idea to new heights you more experienced bards.

- Miserable Newbie, Bard trainee