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Making Matters: Choosing the right wood

2023-04-14T09:00:00

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Bridge maker Milo Stamm gives his thoughts on wood selection and preparation

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There is a legend in Cremona about a barrel maker who made a bet with a group of cello builders. He claimed that he could make a cello that sounded better than any of theirs; it is said that, even though it was the first and only cello he ever made, he won the bet and the cello is still preserved in Cremona today. The matter caused a stir among the instrument makers of Cremona, who subsequently began to regard the construction of their instruments in a new way, paying greater attention to the wood they were using and finding new ways to work it…

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