All Lutherie articles – Page 4
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NewsWinners announced at 2024 VSA instrument making competition
Bow makers Victor Bernard and Emmanuel Carlier were named ‘hors concours’ members, while Canadian luthier Fabienne Gauchet received a double gold for quartet - for the second time
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FeatureLife as a violin maker in 16th-century Venice: an exclusive look
In the December 2024 issue we examine the history of the Linarol dynasty, one of the first violin making families in Venice. Here, Stefano Pio provides some context as to the 16th-century environment in which they worked, as well as a semantic discussion on the terms ‘viole’ and ‘lire’ ...
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BlogsViolin trivia: Can you beat the VSA’s top brains?
Test your violin knowledge with some of the questions from the VSA convention’s Trivia Night on Monday 18 November
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BlogsWhere the wood came from: Peter Ratcliff speaks to the VSA
The British dendrochronology expert explains his latest research, revealing how wood from one source can appear in centuries-old instruments made thousands of miles apart
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VideoJordan Bak plays the ‘Silver Leaf Fiddle’ by Andrew Carruthers
The unusual violin is currently on display at the ‘New Instrument Exhibit’, part of the Violin Society of America’s 2024 convention in Indianapolis
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: 1820 Giovanni Francesco Pressenda violin
Possibly the first instrument ever made by Pressenda, it boasts a two-piece back of slightly burled quarter-cut maple
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BlogsViolin Society of America’s 50th convention kicks off in Indianapolis
Exhibitions, lectures and demonstrations were all in evidence on the first day of proceedings
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Premium ❘ FeatureMerchants of Venice: Venetian lutherie
In the 16th century, the Republic of Venice was a hotbed of innovation for stringed instrument makers – and the members of the Linarol family were at the heart of the trade. Stefano Pio explores the archives to reveal their fascinating and often colourful lives and careers
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NewsScotland’s oldest surviving cello to be heard in public for the first time since the 18th century
The 1756 cello by Robert Duncan, which once belonged to a fierce opponent of the slave trade, will take to the stage in a performance at the University of Aberdeen on 22 November
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: c.1696 ‘Bonjour’ Antonio Stradivari cello
A beautiful instrument with plentiful red–brown varnish, it has been played by Robert Cohen, Martin Lovett and others
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: 1747 ‘Palmason’ Gennaro Gagliano violin
Named for Canadian violinist Pearl Palmason, the violin has a back of one piece of maple with broad figure
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NewsNew exhibition of Count Cozio di Salabue drawings to open in Cremona
The collection of manuscripts by the 19th-century Italian violin connoisseur is to be preserved for future study
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper
A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop
The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: 1824 ‘McConnell’ Nicolò Gagliano II cello
A rare cello by the least prolific member of the Neapolitan family, the ‘McConnell’ has a two piece back of slab-cut poplar
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: A violin made by ten luthiers
Over the course of a year, ten luthiers in nine countries made a violin together, sending each other the parts by mail. Christian Lloyd reports on the unique project ‘Violinabox’
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A c.1740 viola by Johann Christian Hoffmann
Alex Krieger examines a viola by one of the best-known German luthiers
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BlogsHow do you take a violin to space? The story of astronaut Sarah Gillis and her violin
Taking a violin into space is no simple task. Barbara Barber from Robertson & Sons Violin Shop shares how astronaut Sarah Gillis selected the instrument for her mission, as well as the process behind preparing the violin for its journey
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: 1689 ‘Baumgartner’ Antonio Stradivari violin
Marking the end of Stradivari’s early ’Amatisé’ period, it is named for the Swiss violin dealer Fritz Baumgartner
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn the zone: a one-person double bass repair method
For luthiers working alone, double bass repair can be a difficult task to take on. US bass maker Nick Lloyd presents his ‘Zone method’ for re-gluing a bass top using just one pair of hands
