All Making articles – Page 3
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VideoEdgar Russ: The right soundpost position
Continuing his YouTube series, Cremona-based luthier Edgar Russ talks about how to work out the correct position of the soundpost
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VideoChristian Tetzlaff on his 2000 Greiner violin
Christian Tetzlaff switched from playing older instruments to a modern one built by the German luthier Stefan-Peter Greiner. In this video from the Czech Philharmonic he suggests that ”Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ were fantastic violin makers but their instruments are not good because they are old and Italian, but ...
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GalleryFrom The Strad Calendar 2018: Violin by Andrea Amati, c.1566
Based in Cremona, the Friends of Stradivari network brings together instruments owned by collectors and stringed-instrument enthusiasts from around the world. The Strad Calendar 2018 celebrates twelve of these treasures, with this violin from a private collection in Germany featuring in October. Text by John Dilworth
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FocusStradivari's Cremona was an unstable place, ravaged by war and disease
Exactly 280 years ago in December, master violin maker Antonio Stradivari met his end. Here Andrew Dipper recounts how the changes that took place in Cremona during his final years influenced the creation of his later masterpieces
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FocusIt's the inside of the violin which governs its sound – how did we end up carving the outside arch first?
For almost two centuries luthiers have been copying instruments using the French method which, Torbjörn Zethelius argues, doesn’t give the interior carving of the violin the primacy it deserves – and crucially, that which it had in the hands of the original Italian makers
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GalleryGallery: Violin Society of America 2017 convention
The Violin Society of America’s 45th annual convention took place in Arlington, Virginia, on 9-11 November. Photographs by luthier Christopher Jacoby, editor of the VSA members’ magazine The Scroll 1. John Montgomery showing off the 1699 ‘Castelbarco’ Stradivari cello in the Library of Congress, during the Lottery Preconvention ...
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GalleryFrom The Strad Calendar 2018: Stradivarius viola, 1715
Based in Cremona, the Friends of Stradivari network brings together instruments owned by collectors and stringed-instrument enthusiasts from around the world. The Strad Calendar 2018 celebrates twelve of these treasures, with this viola from the Russian State Collection featuring in September. Text by John Dilworth
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FocusHardwood alternatives from natural options to advances in synthetics
Following CITES’ restrictions on the trade of rosewoods at the beginning of this year, there are those in the musical instrument industry who fear that ebony may be next. Peter Somerford looks at the alternatives to ebony and other exotic hardwoods being developed by a handful of intrepid manufacturers
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VideoIvan Hus makes a violin in 1968
This short film directed by Bogdan Žižić in 1968 shows Croatian violin maker Ivan Hus (1898–1992) in his Zagreb workshop, and follows the process of making a violin.
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FocusThe Brazilian lutherie tradition, forged by the contribution of Italian migrants
Largely neglected until now, the violin making tradition of Brazil is closely tied to the history of Italian immigration to the country. In this extract from the article by Marcos Schmitz and Ivan Guimarães in the November 2017 issue of Strad, Guido Pascoli is the focus
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Blogs10 tips for buying a new bow
Are you considering upgrading to a better bow but not sure where to start? Violinist and bow maker Mariia Gorkun gives practical advice on how to go about choosing the right bow for you and your instrument – Register for free to read
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NewsBernard Millant collection goes under the hammer
Vichy Enchères to auction 127 lots belonging to leading French bow maker who died earlier this year
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VideoViolin maker Guy Rabut talks about his obsession with wood
In this extended version of an interview that formed part of The Truth About Trees documentary, New York based violin maker Guy Rabut talks about the importance of fine wood in his profession
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FocusFrom the archive: Ruggiero Ricci's Curtin & Alf 1985 replica of the 'Huberman' Guarnerius
A very fine copy of a famous instrument which went on to achieve a healthy measure of celebrity on its own merits
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FocusFrom the archive: a cello by Johann Öhberg, Stockholm 1770
These photos were published alongside an article on violin making in 18th-century Sweden in the June 1989 issue of The Strad. In the extract below, violin maker Roland Wiklund discusses Johann Öhberg
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VideoFrom Andrea Amati to Stradivari and 'del Gesù' in 12 minutes
This is a presentation by violin maker Kevin Kelly about the Four Circle system, showing a stepwise progression from the earliest to the latest Cremonese violin designs, from a 1550 Amati to a 1741 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ and the Stradivari ‘P’ form. The presentation uses Harry Mairson’s Digital Amati computer ...
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FocusFrom the archive: A violin by Jacob Stainer, 1679
In this article from the April 1990 issue of The Strad, Roger Hargrave examines the construction and workmanship of this violin, which still retains its original undisturbed baroque neck
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GalleryFrom The Strad Calendar 2018: Violin by Lorenzo Storioni, 1770
Based in Cremona, the Friends of Stradivari network brings together instruments owned by collectors and stringed-instrument enthusiasts from around the world. The Strad Calendar 2018 celebrates twelve of these treasures, with this violin featuring in May. Text by John Dilworth
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FocusMaking Matters: a luthier's photographic studio
Now that having high-quality images of instruments is essential for many luthiers, a practical solution is to create your own photographic studio. In this extract from the October issue of The Strad, Ian McWilliams describes how he went about creating light boxes for lighting isntruments
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NewsUK ivory ban proposals include musical instrument exemption
British goverment has launched 12-week consultation on ivory ban proposals with suggested exemptions for musical instruments among other categories