All Technical articles – Page 15
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Repairing damaged blocks
A conscientious method that preserves as much information as possible for future restorers
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NewsViolin and bow makers collaborate to raise money for musicians’ fund
Luthier Jacob Brillhart is live-streaming the building of a $10k violin for ’Musician Aid’
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: A Major Sticking Point
Instead of discussing the right way to secure a crack with reinforcements, shouldn’t we try to achieve the strongest possible joint in the first place? Christian Schabbon presents the results of his investigation into different types of glue
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VideoHow Nashville former gymnast and Chicago carpenter ended up making violins together
He’s a carpenter, hunter, fisherman and veteran, who, for many years, lived in the woods of Alaska. She’s a former gymnast who fell in love with the violin in ballet class. So on the face of it Ray DeMeo and Amanda N. Ewing don’t have that much in common. Except ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Neck shaping
A quick and accurate method for this crucial part of the making process
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Inlay techniques
Giving a decorative flourish to an instrument can add a personal touch – and be a true test of skill
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: A head for figures
Luthiers such as Jacob Stainer often surmounted their instruments with elaborately carved heads rather than scrolls. Lloyd McCaffery, a professional wood carver, explains how he developed a modern take on an ancient art form
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking a Full Quartet of Instruments: Matches Made in Heaven?
It’s both a privilege and a challenge to build a quartet of instruments that are intended to be played together from the start. Peter Somerford speaks to players and makers to discover both the pitfalls and the opportunities
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Premium ❘ FeatureChinese Tonewoods: Interesting Times
For luthiers worldwide, European wood is still viewed as the best for making stringed instruments – even though China’s forests are filled with high-quality spruce and maple. Xue Peng presents the results of a study comparing the tonewoods of China and Europe, with some startling conclusions
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VideoGlass fibre cello used to play Takemitsu
Carbon fibre instruments have been introduced on the market for a couple of years. A research team from Ghent University and School of Arts Gent has been investigating the use of composite materials for string instruments. Now, one of their prototypes, a cello made from glass fibre by luthier Tim ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Notes on cello endpin fitting
A guide to veneer bushing and creating an ‘abrasive reamer’ for making adjustments
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: The Sound of Science
Tom Croen reports on a 2019 experiment to discover how much variation in sound can be gained from fingerboard ‘tuning’ – and how alternative materials fare against traditional ebony
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Premium ❘ FeatureVarnish analysis: shining examples
Identifying the varnish recipes of the early makers has been a long-held dream among researchers. Now, a team at the Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostics, headed by Marco Malagodi, has used a new form of micro-CT scanning to delve further into an instrument’s coatings than ever before
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ArticleThe alchemy of the madder root
Madder root has been used since ancient times to create a deep red pigment – but the making process remains enigmatic
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: a peninsular bench extension
Ideas for a workplace addition that is completely accessible from all three of its sides
