All Lutherie articles
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FocusStick your neck out: the pros and cons of adjustable necks
In this extract from the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin discusses how he experimented with adjustable necks, progressing from the various changes made in connecting an instrument’s neck to its body since the Baroque era
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Focus
‘Makers should pay attention to these three modes’ - Joseph Curtin on violin acoustics
In the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin examines the evolution of neck setting. Twelve years ago he looked into a violin’s acoustic behaviours, and how its signature ‘modes’ indicate its sound and response
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Violin modal analysis – part two: Good vibrations
In the second of a two-part article from July 2009, Joseph Curtin continues his investigation of the low-frequency resonances that influence a violin’s acoustic behaviour
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In Focus: A c.1680 double bass by Girolamo Amati II
René Zaal details an instrument by the son of the more well-known Nicolò Amati, and the grandson of his namesake Girolamo Amati I
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Trade Secrets: Making a martelé button
A simple method for adding this small detail to your bows
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My Space: Gertrud Reuter
The luthier’s workshop, based in Basel, Switzerland, contains furniture from the Paris firms of Caressa Français, Maucotel Deschamps, and Daniel Moinel
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Making Matters: Something in the air
Steve Sirr and John R. Waddle use CT scans to examine the internal air volume of 20 Cremonese violins, and make a surprising discovery about the soundpost position
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Review
Book review: Monograph of the Antonio Stradivari Cello c.1690 ‘Barjansky’
Florian Leonhard reviews an extensive study of the famous cello, including dendrochronology, CT scans and posters
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Recording arching profiles: Ahead of the curve
Recording the archings of instruments is one of the most difficult areas of violin making and restoration. Charline Dequincey describes a method using dental compound which is accessible to anyone, and gives high-quality results
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News
Philharmonie de Paris announces lutherie competition
The contest will be held next January for students and professional instrument makers
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Focus
Violin making at Xinghai Conservatory of Music
In this extract from the July issue, Sisi Ye examines one violin making school in China teaching the art of lutherie to young people
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News
New study reveals the wood treatments used by Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri
The report reveals how the luthiers changed the molecular structure of the spruce used for instrument tops
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In Focus: An 1865 violin by Samuel Nemessányi
Zoltán Délczeg details an instrument by a maker considered to be the most famous in Hungarian history
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Trade Secrets: An easy system for making a template and a mould
A method to create classical forms inspired by the work of the Cremonese masters
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My Space: Jamie Marie Lazzara
The luthier’s workshop, based in Florence Italy, is just six square metres and was used in the filming of Hannibal
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Making Matters: Thank you for sharing
CT scanning of instruments is becoming more and more commonplace – so why is it so difficult to get hold of the data? Harry Mairson and Paolo Bodini enter a plea for CT information to be made more accessible to luthiers and researchers
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Article
A family tree of Italian violin makers
This illustrated representation of violin making in Italy first appeared in The Strad’s August 1891 issue
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News
Sheku Kanneh-Mason loaned 1700 Gofriller cello
The instrument ‘presents a kaleidoscope of tonal qualities’ and ’has an uncanny capacity to respond’ according to the cellist
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In Focus: An 1875 viola by Domenico Degani
Ernst Fuchs details an instrument by the accomplished maker, now best-known as the father of Eugenio Degani
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Trade Secrets: Making a single-use mould
A method that can be used when making one-off instrument commissions
