Technical – Page 19
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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 ...
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FocusShould violin shops and luthiers be more welcoming to young learners?
If violin dealers and makers welcome young learners, they can inspire their playing dreams and gain potentially lifelong customers in return, says Royal Northern College of Music senior lecturer in music education Philippa Bunting
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ArticleStrad Style: not your average violin making documentary
A new documentary charting the struggle by amateur luthier Danny Houck to make a copy of the 1743 'Il Cannone' Guarneri del Gesù has won the Jury Prize for Best Documentary and the Audience Award at the 2017 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.Made by violinist and ...
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FocusAsk the Experts: how effective are stringed instrument 'playing-in' devices?
Strad readers submit their problems and queries about string playing, teaching or making to our experts
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Focus'The value of tradition lies in repurposing the meaningful parts,' says luthier Sam Zygmuntowicz
The maker talks to Chloe Cutts about the impact of his Strad 3D project and his own journey as a luthier and researcher
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NewsResearch suggests chemical wood treatment may account for the 'Stradivarius sound'
The findings by scientists at the National Taiwan University have been published in the PNAS journal
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NewsViolin, viola, cello and bow makers honoured at 2016 VSA competition
Hungarian luthier Gábor Draskóczy scores double gold in violin category
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NewsSanta Cecilia International Violin Making Competition announces results
This year's contest attracted contestants from 24 different countries