All Lutherie articles – Page 43
-
Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: An 1804 Viola by Joseph Fischer
Roland Baumgartner examines an instrument by the German maker
-
ArticleObituary: Ron Prentice
The British luthier who produced 50 double basses has died at the age of 87
-
ArticleTesting a copy of a Rostropovich cello
In this video the cellist Torleif Thedéen (recently interviewed for Technique) tests a newly made copy of Rostropovich’s cello: a 1783 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini. The copy is made by the luthier Michael Sturzenhofecker. ’What’s very particular with this model – a copy of a 1783 Guadagnini which was owned by ...
-
Premium ❘ FeatureLutherie in the Vogtland: Stars of the East
The Vogtland in eastern Germany produced some of the country’s least known and most fascinating instrument makers.Rudolf Hopfner and Monika Lustig use CT scans to lift the lid on their unusual construction methods, and show why they should be more widely studied
-
NewsFormer lutherie student wins prestigious motorcycling championship
‘Violin Rider’ Brian Hsu, 21, plays his instrument while touring to international motocross events
-
VideoHow Nashville former gymnast and Chicago carpenter ended up making violins together
He’s a carpenter, hunter, fisherman and veteran, who, for many years, lived in the woods of Alaska. She’s a former gymnast who fell in love with the violin in ballet class. So on the face of it Ray DeMeo and Amanda N. Ewing don’t have that much in common. Except ...
-
Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Neck shaping
A quick and accurate method for this crucial part of the making process
-
VideoBach on a 1659 Andrea Guarneri
In this video the violinist Federico Guglielmo plays Bach on a 1659 Andrea Guarneri.
-
VideoCellist plays with synthetic bow hair
In this video cellist Sarah Markle performs ‘Original Rags’ (1899) by Scott Joplin, using Coruss synthetic bow hair. According to the manufacturer, Coruss synthetic bow hair matches natural horsehair in blind tests for tone and articulation. The pianist Evan Currie.
-
-
Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Inlay techniques
Giving a decorative flourish to an instrument can add a personal touch – and be a true test of skill
-
Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: A head for figures
Luthiers such as Jacob Stainer often surmounted their instruments with elaborately carved heads rather than scrolls. Lloyd McCaffery, a professional wood carver, explains how he developed a modern take on an ancient art form
-
VideoA Far Cry performs Tchaikovsky’s Serenade on Cremonese instruments
Musicians from Boston chamber orchestra A Far Cry perform the first movement from Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings from memory on Cremonese instruments selected from the vault of Reuning & Son
-
NewsObituary: Soroku Murata (1927–2020)
The veteran violin maker and teacher was head of the Tokyo Violin Making School and a respected jury member at international making competitions
-
Focus7 tips for carving a scroll
How to perfect the head of your instrument from 125 years of the Strad
-
-
VideoWhittall Stradivarius Collection
Musicians talk about and demonstrate instruments donated to the Library of Congress by Gertrude Clarke Whittall in 1935. With Robert Mann, Alexis Galperine, Miles Hoffman, Rene Morel, Young Uck Kim, Daniel Phillips, and Samuel Zygmuntowicz.
-
FocusMichel Collichon, enigma among French viol makers
Just a handful of instruments by Michel Collichon have survived to the present day – but they demonstrate the skill and techniques of a master innovator. With a tenth example recently identified, Shem Mackey explains the appeal of the 17th-century viol maker to modern-day luthiers
-
Premium ❘ FeatureChinese Tonewoods: Interesting Times
For luthiers worldwide, European wood is still viewed as the best for making stringed instruments – even though China’s forests are filled with high-quality spruce and maple. Xue Peng presents the results of a study comparing the tonewoods of China and Europe, with some startling conclusions
-
VideoGlass fibre cello used to play Takemitsu
Carbon fibre instruments have been introduced on the market for a couple of years. A research team from Ghent University and School of Arts Gent has been investigating the use of composite materials for string instruments. Now, one of their prototypes, a cello made from glass fibre by luthier Tim ...



























