Lutherie – Page 6
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‘He was taking a very large elephant to America’ - From the archive: June 1904
Violinist Archie Easton presents some ‘reminiscences of John Frederick Lott’ (1804–70), including his brief spell as an elephant trainer for a circus
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Auction Report June 2024: Like father, like son
An Omobono Stradivari and two Vuillaumes were the standout lots during a varied spring auction season in London, as Kevin MacDonald reports
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The luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
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News
Photo story: Celebrating Women Luthiers exhibit at Potter Violins
Held at Potter Violins from 3 to 11 May 2024, Robyn Sullivan reports back from the event that had discussion, laughter and music making at its heart
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Taking acoustic measurements from internal vibrations
Normally, acoustic measurements are taken from outside the instrument – but the internal vibrations can reveal even more. Colin Gough presents a method for listening inside the soundbox and demonstrates what it can tell us about the sound
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Analysis June 2024: Is ipê an alternative for pernambuco?
With pernambuco in danger of being permanently off limits to bow makers, could another Brazilian hardwood – ipê – be the solution?
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‘She typed the name into Google and emitted a cry of astonishment’ - Letters to the editor: June 2024
A selection of letters The Strad receives each month from its readers around the world: June 2024 issue
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Decorating a bow frog: let the flowers bloom
A very specialist part of the bow maker’s craft is the addition of decorative inlay into a bow frog. Vladimiros Sorokin-Andreou presents his method for this intricate and delicate part of the process
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My Space: Anthony Morton’s Greensboro workshop
Take a peek into the North Carolina atelier
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Focus
8 tips for perfecting your violin varnish
Advice from The Strad Archive on preparing, applying and drying varnish for best results
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Focus
Ask the Experts: protecting your instrument in hot and humid temperatures
Four luthiers and restorers advise a musician on how to care for her instrument during the hot summer months. From August 2014
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In Focus: c.1810–20 bow by Christian Wilhelm Knopf
Matthieu Besseling on a bow by the Knopf dynasty’s patriarch
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A mystery unveiled: the makers of Ferrara
While scholars have scrutinised the making traditions of various Italian cities, the luthiers of Ferrara have been largely neglected – until now. Florian Leonhard presents the results of recent archival research into Alessandro Mezzadri and the Marconcini family, along with notes on their making styles
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Focus
Ask the experts: What should a luthier look for when choosing tonewood?
For a beginner luthier, choosing the perfect spruce and maple for an instrument can be a confusing process. Three experts in wood selection offer some guidelines
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Trade Secrets: An alternative rib construction method
Luthier Alan Beavitt shares an option that can guarantee an accurate overhang at the end of the process
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Blogs
Connecting musicians and makers: the British Violin Making Association’s 2024 Makers’ Day
Tibor Szemmelveisz reports back from the 27th Makers’ Day in February 2024, which cultivated a meeting of minds between luthiers and players in central London
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Blogs
Truly unique: Henrik Frendin on his custom-made electric viola and five-string bass viola
Violist Henrik Frendin shares how his search for the perfect sound palette led him to commission two bespoke instruments by Richard Rolf
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Blogs
Like living beings: how instruments damaged by war and disaster found new life thanks to a luthier’s noblesse oblige
Barbara Khristi writes about the deeds of luthier Phillip Injeian, who helped restore instruments damaged in the Bosnian War, as well as the 2010 Haiti earthquake
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Focus
A Gagliano and a Strad: the violins of Maria Dueñas
Our May 2024 cover star discusses the tools of her trade with Tom Stewart
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Blogs
The pernambuco wood dilemma: a call for global responsibility and unity
Connecting cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, Daniel Neves discusses a proposal to include pernambuco in Appendix I of CITES, a change that would significantly impact the global trade of this essential wood