All Lutherie articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: how to care for your bow hair
Musicians might not realise how important the quality and condition of their bow hair can be. Canisa Sie gives a guide to caring for this vital part of a string player’s arsenal
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1712 ‘Viotti, Hottinger’ Antonio Stradivari violin
’The noble beauty of its tone seems to us to echo the elevated style of Viotti’s compositions’ said the Hills of this violin
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NewsFate of pernambuco bows decided at CITES conference
Discussions on the proposal by the Brazilian government to move the wood up to CITES Appendix I have concluded at the global environment summit in Samarkand
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Premium ❘ FeatureA master of his craft: Simone Fernando Sacconi
Born 130 years ago, Simone Fernando Sacconi was a brilliant violin maker and restorer, a respected teacher and, latterly, a celebrated author. Friends, colleagues and former students share their memories with Peter Somerford
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Glyn Jones’s Bala workshop
The luthier presents his shop, located in North Wales
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1767 Nicolò Gagliano cello
Formerly owned by Roger Smith of the Gagliano Trio, this fine example of Gagliano’s work is now played by Thomas Mesa
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BlogsUniting luthiers, bow makers and players: Klanggestalten in Berlin 2025
Carlos María Solare reports back from Klanggestalten in Berlin, held from 31 October to 2 November 2025, where highlights included the Signum Quartet performing on different combinations of new instruments and bows
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Cutting the f-holes
The traditional method adopted by the luthiers of the old Mirecourt school
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1713 ‘G. Schönau’ Antonio Stradivari violin
This fascinating example of Stradivari’s work is played by Nikki Chooi, the current concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A c.1690 violin by Giovanni Maria del Bussetto
Aidan Mullerkin examines the elusive maker’s instrument
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1741 ‘Bohrer, Baumgartner’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Currently played by Kerson Leong, this is an ‘outstanding concert instrument in excellent condition’
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Premium ❘ FeatureForms follow function: early Stradivari violin patterns
Unlike his contemporaries, Antonio Stradivari was trying out different violin patterns from the start of his career as a luthier. Philip Ihle examines a number of his early violins to discover how his art evolved
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1699 ‘Dubois’ Antonio Stradivari cello
With a fine red-brown varnish, this cello may have been made with wood from the same tree as the famed ’Cristiani, Stauffer’
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BlogsHalf a century of craft at the Chicago School of Violin Making
The Chicago School of Violin Making looks back on a legacy that began with Tschu Ho Lee and the Warren family. Executive director Antoine Nédélec reflects on CSVM’s craft, community and continuing influence
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1773–78 ‘Crafoord’ Guadagnini viola
The back of this viola is made from two pieces of bird’s-eye maple cut on the slab, with a faint figure running more or less horizontally
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Vinay Murali’s Chendamangalam workshop
The maker gives us a tour of his workshop in India
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Premium ❘ FeatureSing the body electric: early amplified instruments
The 1920s saw a demand for louder, more resonant instruments, and resourceful violin makers rose to the challenge. Clifford Hall looks at some of the innovative solutions they came up with
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1727 ‘Eugenio di Barbaro’ Stradivari violin
Made during the tail end of the master luthier’s life, this instrument also displays the hands of his sons Omobono and Francesco
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Infrared reflectography in restoration
Luiz Amorim demonstrates how infrared reflectography can be used in violin restoration, as a non-invasive method for diagnosing problems
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2026: 1785 Guadagnini violin
Played by Émilie Auclair, this is one of the last instruments to be made by Guadagnini, who died a year later
