All Technical articles – Page 22
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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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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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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
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FocusReverse engineering: explaining a Cremonese mystery by making the insides of the arches first
In his search for the secrets behind the classic arching technique of the Cremonese makers, Torbjörn Zethelius uncovered some revealing insights in this article from The Strad August 2006 issue. He will be returning to the topic in the November 2017 issue with observations from the intervening decade
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VideoLuthiers Stefan-Peter Greiner and Mark Jennings at IMS Prussia Cove
The materials on day one With sounds of rehearsals in the background, luthiers Stefan-Peter Greiner and Mark Jennings remove the mould from the violin they are working on collaboratively while resident at the International Musicians Seminar (IMS) at in Cornwall, England. ‘The project will help the musicians ...
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FocusDigital Amati: a computer program putting luthiers back in touch with ancient principles
A decade ago, François Denis’s Traité de Lutherie showed how the old Italians used Euclidean geometry to design their instruments. Now a computer program based on these principles allows luthiers to construct and adapt patterns quickly and easily. Its creator, Harry Mairson, explains the genesis of Digital Amati
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FocusMaking matters: ground prep
Since time immemorial, makers have searched for the perfect varnish recipe, and take great care of the ground – but often fail to realise the importance of preparing the wood first. Christopher Jacoby gives a crash course in ‘ground prep’
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VideoUpton Bass: Laminated or Solid Double Bass Ribs?
’When you get inside an old old instrument, you’ve got grafted pieces of wood, you’ve got linen cloth… it’s essentially bad plywood’. Gary Upton of Upton Bass in Mystic, Connecticut, explains the benefits of plywood ribs on a double bass.
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BlogsFrom concept to sound: What judges look for in a violin making competition
Luthier Patrick Robin, one of the jury members of the International Violin Making Competition Prague, discusses how he goes about assessing an instrument
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FocusThe titanium frog - a violinist and a luthier compare notes on the innovation
Violinist Peter Herresthal and luthier Christophe Landon recall how a performance of Kaija Saariaho’s Graal théâtre led to the debut of a new titanium bow frog
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FocusStradivari’s wood: investigating the chemical composition of the master's materials
For centuries, luthiers have suspected that the spruce and maple used by Antonio Stradivari had special qualities, and a recent series of experiments has sought to confirm or deny these suspicions. Here lead researcher Hwang-Ching Tai explains the methodology and findings
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ArticleStudents forced to leave Newark School of Violin Making over revoked visas
Lincoln College, which manages the Newark School, has been stripped of its licence to issue international student visas following a poor Ofsted report in 2016
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ArticleThe problem of substandard bow hair
Bow makers, suppliers and musicians are increasingly having to deal with thinning and brittle bow hair. How has this situation come about? Nancy Pellegrini reports
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ArticleViolinoDigitale's 3D-printed violin hybrid - made using wood filament
ViolinoDigitale's 3D-printed violin hybrid is based on the 'Sunrise' Stradivari violin of 1677.It was printed in more than 40 parts using wood filament with a Reprap FDM 3D printer. The parts were then assembled using traditional lutherie techniques by Harris Matzaridis. The printing and assembly of the instrument ...
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FocusOne of the most valuable things I've learned - luthier Gregg Alf
The American maker talks about the importance of spending quality time with string players
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NewsMalta International Violin Making Competition 2017 names winners
Run by the Central Academy of Arts, the contest received 61 separate instrument and bow entries this year, while makers hailed from nine different countries
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BlogsVideo: making a violin bow, by former W.E. Hill & Sons maker William Watson
In the ten-minute video below William Watson, employed by W.E. Hill & Sons from 1945 to 1962, demonstrates the bow making process - from start to finish.The final pupil of William Retford, Watson continued to make bows after leaving the Hill firm and built a reputation as an ...
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BlogsVideo: violinist Hilary Hahn knocks bridge over during a concert - and is helped by two luthiers in the audience
Hilary Hahn has posted video footage on her Twitter page of luthiers Peter and Wendela Moes re-fitting her bridge after a concert. The violinist managed to collapse the bridge while pushing her mute back on stage before her final encore. The two luthiers of Munich violin shop ...
