Lutherie – Page 6
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Premium ❘ FeatureBow maker Richard Otto Gläsel: Parisian splendour
Having perfected his skills in the French capital, German bow maker Richard Otto Gläsel was much inspired by the work of his Gallic forebears, from Voirin to Vigneron. Gennady Filimonov tells his story and examines several of his finest works
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Premium ❘ FeatureCello bridge design: X marks the spot
For many years the design of the cello bridge has remained constant – but could it be improved? Sebastian Gonzalez presents the results of a comparison between the standard French bridge and a newly designed model, while Gaian Amorim tracks the development of the bridge
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Premium ❘ FeatureDouble bass set-up: not a giant violin
The size and shape of the double bass mean its set-up differs greatly from the other bowed stringed instruments. Bass maker Arnold E. Schnitzer presents a comprehensive guide, designed for both luthiers and practically minded bassists
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolin maker Otto Schünemann: A Romantic visionary
Although Otto Schünemann’s violins were praised by everyone from Vuillaume to Sarasate, his name is barely recognised today. Clifford Hall tells the story of this idealistic luthier who strove to bring the glories of the Cremonese masters to 19th-century Germany
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: An 1899 viola by Luigi Rovatti
Lionnel Genovart looks at the Buenos Aires-based Italian luthier’s late-century instrument
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: The ‘golden ratio’ in violin making
Violin maker Wolfgang Schiele argues that the influence of the ‘golden ratio’ on painting, architecture and lutherie supports the idea of a perfect form for instruments
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Repairing a cello button
Petko Petkov shares a restoration method for creating a new button on the back plate
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Marius Laufer & Christian Klein’s Landshut workshop
Take a tour of the makers’ workshop in southern Germany
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Stability of top and back plates
Christian Bayon reveals the results of several years’ experimentation with improving the stability of a violin’s top and back plates without compromising the sound quality
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Premium ❘ FeatureScarampella and Gadda: The art of the deal
Signed 100 years ago, an agreement between luthier Stefano Scarampella and his apprentice Gaetano Gadda has recently been discovered. Philip Kass explains how it shines a light on the business relationship between two of Mantua’s leading 20th-century makers
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Victor Hugo Vélez's Tallinn workshop
The Argentinian luthier presents his Estonian workshop
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A 1786 violin by G.B. Guadagnini
John Dilworth examines a violin made in the last year of the master luthier’s life
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Premium ❘ FeatureElias Placht: how one man founded the violin making tradition of Schönbach
By the early 20th century, the town of Schönbach was producing tens of thousands of violins per year – but the industry began with just one man. Christian Hoyer sifts through the records to reveal the life and legacy of Elias Placht
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Preparing the neck-block on a violin before scroll carving
Katharina Neumüller presents an efficient, accurate method for the earlier parts of neck carving, before working on the scroll
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Half-edging with a router
William Szott presents a quick way to fit a new piece of wood to a block area
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A 1925 violin by Giuseppe Del Lungo
Michele Mecatti looks at the Italian maker’s early 20th-century instrument
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: G.B. Ceruti’s restoration of a violin with worm damage
Luiz Amorim examines an intriguing c.1800 violin by G.B. Ceruti containing wood that appears to have been restored following worm damage – by the maker himself
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Premium ❘ FocusAuction Report January 2024: A generous offering
A Brothers Amati violin, another by a lesser-known Guadagnini and a cello by ‘the father of the piano’ all made waves at the London sales, as Kevin MacDonald reports
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Martin Kuhn’s Diessenhofen workshop
Peek into the maker’s workshop located in a small Swiss village
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Premium ❘ FeatureAnalysing the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’: Stradivari à la mode
George Stoppani presents the results of an investigation into the acoustics of the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’, focusing primarily on the ‘signature modes’
