All Lutherie articles – Page 52
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VideoThe most exotic violin woods
California-based electric violin maker John Jordan introduces us to some of his most exotic woods, ranging from the pricey Tasmanian tiger rose myrtle to the Swamp Kauri, which is dug up from bogs in New Zealand and is certified to be a minimum of 30000 years old. ...
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FocusIn focus: 1751 violin by G.B. Guadagnini
One of two by the maker owned by Adolph Brodsky, it has a good claim to being the one on which he premiered the Tchaikovsky concerto, writes Stewart Pollens
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NewsNewark's collaborative making competition reveals winners
The School of Violin Making’s ‘Hope’ competition will see four violins and two guitars sold in aid of a charity providing refugees with tools to restart their trades
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NewsItalian violin maker and teacher Francesco Bissolotti has died aged 89
The influential luthier was respected for his technical skill and use of Cremonese making techniques
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DebateWhy musicians should appeal against the ivory act
Benjamin Hebbert on the ethical tightrope of campaigning for exemptions to the Ivory Act while supporting its aim to put a stop to the slaughter of elephants
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VideoMaking a cello from carbon
In this video Tim Duerinck demonstrates how to make a cello from carbon by hand. The music to the video is also performed on the carbon cello. To read his article investigating the possibilities of flax, carbon, aramid and more in violin making click here.
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FocusIn focus: c.1737 cello by G.F. Celoniato
From a Turinese maker with a relatively short but successful career, from which only a handful of instruments survive, comes this elegant cello. Article by Simon Morris
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VideoFrank Peter Zimmermann talks violins
In this video, Frank Peter Zimmermann describes what it means to have a long-term relationship with your instrument, and how you know which violin is right for you.
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NewsRostropovich's record-breaking Guadagnini on loan to Torleif Thedéen
Norwegian musical instrument foundation bought the cello for nearly £2m from an auction of the great Russian’s collection
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FocusThe 'Four Circles' system of violin making
Luthier Kevin Kelly explains his ‘Four Circles’ system for instrument design, adaptable to violins, violas and cellos
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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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VideoLuca Ruggiero: Spreading varnish with the fingers
The Italian luthier demonstrates his personal technique for applying varnish on a finished instrument
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FocusIn focus: the 1706 'Brott-Turner/Schumacher' Tecchler cello
Tom Wilder examines an instrument in an excellent state of preservation by the foremost maker of the Roman school. From the September 2014 issue of The Strad
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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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NewsSaving Stradivari's forests: effort to harvest precious tonewoods felled in storms
A factory in the Fiemme valley has launched a crowdfunding effort to enable it to quadruple its processing capacity before the wood deteriorates
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FocusIn focus: 1850 violin by Giuseppe Rocca
John Dilworth examines a violin from the height of Rocca’s powers, after he left the Pressenda workshop to strike out on his own. From the January 2011 issue of The Strad
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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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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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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 ...
