Lutherie – Page 53
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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 ...
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FocusIn focus: 1764 violin by Giovanni Battista Gabrielli
In this article from the February 2009 issue, Gabriele Rossi Rognoni examines an instrument by probably the most prominent Florentine maker, about whom very little information survives. Photographs by Marco Rabatti, Serge Domingie
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VideoThe 'Four Circles' approach to violin making
In the January 2019 issue of The Strad, luthier Kevin Kelly describes his geometrical method for violin design. This video is intended to provide a visual accompaniment to the article. ’In the past, there must have been a system of design that makers could easily understand and follow, with ...
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VideoPhotographing a Stradivarius
In this video from 2013, still life photographer Søren Jonesen photographs the 1714 ‘Yoldi-Moldenhauer’ Stradivari. The photoshoot was organised by Danish high-end digital photography company Phase One working with Andy Lim of Darling Publications, which printed a monograph featuring the photos and history of the instrument. The concept was to ...
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VideoDie Seele der Geige: documentary featuring Frank Peter Zimmermann and luthier Martin Schleske
[n.b. no English subtitles. As broadcast on Arte.tv, the film is in German, or click the gear icon to change to French.] This documentary, a coproduction by EuroArts and BR (Bavarian Broadcasting), follows violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann in 2016 as he reunites with the ‘Lady Inchiquin’ Stradivari, after a period ...
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VideoHow many luthiers does it take to make two violins in a week?
This video follows the week-long process of making two new violins for the Royal Northern College of Music instrument collection during its Strings Festival in March 2018. Luthiers Kai-Thomas Roth, William Castle, Marc Soubeyran and Tibor Szemmelveisz collaborated on building two violins between 2 and 8 March, one based on ...
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Focus4 tips on using antiquing methods to give an instrument a warm look
John Simmers shares his wisdom on finding a balance between antiquing and not antiquing
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VideoDavid Leonard Wiedmer and Léa Trombert in comic promo
Léa Trombert and David Leonard Wiedmer, who share a workshop in Lyon, France, star in what starts looking like a standard promotional video. David Leonard Wiedmer won a number of medals at the 2018 VSA Competition, including Gold for violin, Gold for cello (in collaboration with Damien Gest) and Silver ...
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NewsVSA honours instrument and bow makers in biennial competition
Violin Society of America convention in Cleveland reveals winners in violin, viola, cello, bass, quartet and bow categories
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FocusIn focus: violin by Vincenzo Postiglione, 1891
Sean Bishop examines a violin by the most prolific and finest Neapolitan makers of the second half of the 19th century. From the January 2008 issue. Photographs by Richard Valencia [click ‘+’ to zoom]
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VideoThe 1707 'Stella' Stradivarius
Our 2019 calendar brings together twelve of the finest instruments ever made by Antonio Stradivari, all of which were on display at the Tokyo Stradivarius Festival, where the video below was taken. Text by Alessandra Barabaschi
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FocusThe 1724 ‘Cecil’ Stradivarius – a masterpiece unseen and unheard
Despite having been examined by some of the best-known experts in history, the violin has spent centuries largely hidden – until now. John Dilworth examines one of the least regarded instruments by the Cremonese master
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FocusCommissioning a new instrument – a guide for players
Commissioning an instrument can be an exciting prospect, but as a creative journey it can have its ups and downs. John Milnes considers how both player and maker can keep each other happy.
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VideoThe Strad Calendar 2019: the ‘Kustendyke’ Stradivarius of 1699
Our 2019 calendar brings together twelve of the finest instruments ever made by Antonio Stradivari, all of which were on display at the Tokyo Stradivarius Festival, where the video below was taken. Description by Alessandra Barabaschi
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FocusTokyo Stradivarius Festival: A Celebration of Genius
Ending on Monday 15 October, the Tokyo Stradivarius Festival 2018 has brought together 21 of the finest Stradivari instruments from all over the world, together with some of the master’s tools and templates, an acoustic demonstration, and concerts performed on several of the instruments.
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NewsSpanish luthier Ramon Pinto has died at 89
He was director of the Casa Parramon stringed instrument workshop in Barcelona for over 40 years and founded the Spanish Master Luthiers Association
