Accessories – Page 10
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ArticleLess space, more bass: the Travel Bass
An answer to the logistical hassle of double-bass playing
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NewsNew music stand designed to improve posture
Violinist designer says Stikato can be positioned at the perfect practice height, then easily stowed in an instrument case
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FocusPlane and simple: steel bow planes
Taking inspiration from the design of traditional French bow-making tools, these bow planes are constructed from machine-tooled steel that has been ground and flash-chromed for additional durability. The blades are custom-made by Hock tools and are also available separately. Triangle Strings bow plane from $160, blade only ...
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FocusIntegrated instrument and music stand
This modern, height-adjustable instrument stand with integrated lectern is available in walnut, maple or cherrywood. The violin/viola model suspends the instrument from a leather strap, while the cello model rests it on a shelf below. Both versions include a bow hanger. Jolly Stand instrument and music stand ...
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FocusBlank canvas: unvarnished 5-string instruments
These unvarnished five-string violins and violas are built by a Chinese maker using flamed maple and seasoned spruce. They feature extra-wide necks, extended pegboxes and adjusted bass-bars, and most have one-piece backs. Both designs are based on Stradivari models and include ebony fingerboards, nuts and saddles. While ...
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FocusMaster stroke: Schilbach varnishing brush
The tapered and split synthetic fibres of this brush are designed to absorb a large volume of oil or spirit varnish, to enable its controlled and uniform application. It has an untreated hornbeam wood handle and solvent-resistant plastic ferrule, eliminating the risk of staining to the varnish ...
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FocusTravelling light: Musafia Lievissima Evolution case
A high-specification case that makes easy work of instrument transport
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FocusArc Rest: support without elevation
A cellular foam pad attached to a piece of lightweight balsa wood, the Arc shoulder rest for violin and viola is held in place using a durable silicone band that minimises its contact with the instrument. The rest weighs just 11 grams and is designed to support ...
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FocusAll kitted out: violin accessory set
Manufactured in India to Italian designs, these accessory sets comprise four heart-shaped pegs, a decorative end-button, a Guarneri-style chinrest with Hill-style clamps and a Hill-style tailpiece. They are available in ebony and rosewood with a black trim to the tailpiece and black pin collars and pegs, and in boxwood trimmed ...
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FocusFirmly fastened: the Schilbach Kevlar tailgut
Using military-grade materials to improve set-up stability Kevlar is familiar to most people as a material used inside bulletproof vests. According to German manufacturer Schilbach, however, this strength also makes Kevlar a useful component in the tailgut that fastens an instrument’s tailpiece to the button at the ...
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FocusPinky promise: the Pinky Hold bowing aid
By helping to anchor a student’s little finger in place on the heel of their bow, the Pinky Hold is designed to avoid stiffness and encourage the development of muscle memory. Made of soft, hypoallergenic silicone and available in a range of colours, it weighs 3g and ...
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FocusA cut above: Lee Valley stainless steel pocket plane
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Canadian woodworking firm Lee Valley has produced a limited-edition version of its pocket plane in corrosion-resistant stainless steel and with a nickel-plated lever cap. The plane measures approximately 115mm by 30mm and weighs 285g; its blade measures 22mm across and is set ...
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FocusCore values: Warchal Timbre violin strings
A new answer to an old problem – and novel packaging too Developing a string with the warmth of gut, the stability of synthetics and the projection of steel has long preoccupied engineers faced with the complex demands of 21st-century musicians. As Warchal founder Bohdan Warchal explains, ...
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FocusFirmly grounded: the Cellobrett endpin anchor
The Cellobrett has been designed to offer the security of a cord-fixed endpin stopper with the flexibility of one adhered to the ground. According to the manufacturer, the polyoxymethylene plastic body neither squeaks nor ‘rings’, will not slip against any floor surface and is suitable for straight ...
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FocusStay Tuned: the Jameasy bluetooth practice device
Clipped to the scroll of the violin, the Jameasy device monitors intonation and rhythm and displays its findings via a smartphone or tablet connected with Bluetooth. Hundreds of pieces at numerous levels are available from the Jameasy music library, with detailed visual feedback given for accuracy of ...
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FocusHot off the press: A violin to download and print out
In 2014 David Perry created the F-F-Fiddle, an electric violin for which anyone (in theory) could download the ‘parts’ and ‘print’ them out on their 3D printer. Building on subsequent technological advances, Perry has now designed the Modular Fiddle, a 3D-printed acoustic violin with parts – or ...
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FocusDo different rosin brands actually perform differently? We put 7 to the test
The Strad’s editor Charlotte Smith and contributing editor Pauline Harding put seven rosins to the test and discover a world of difference between brand and type
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FocusPrimavera: Lightweight entry-level violin case
This lightweight, entry-level case for violin or viola features a Styrofoam shell designed to provide thermal insulation and protection against damage from accidental impacts. The case, available in a shaped model weighing 1.05kg and an oblong version weighing 1.61kg, includes a full-length music pocket, a stitched handle, ...
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FocusThe Tonara teaching and practice app
Using artificial intelligence to help make practice more useful and rewarding