All Lutherie articles – Page 29
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Premium ❘ FeatureStradivari’s varnish: a chemical analysis
Jean-PhilIppe Echard and Balthazar Soulier reveal the results of their seven-year research into Stradivari’s varnish, using five of the master’s instruments from Paris’s Musée de la Musique. From April 2010
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NewsTwo gold medals awarded at 2021 Cremona Triennale violin making competition
Kazune Nemoto received the top prize in the cello section, while Guido Mariotto won for his double bass
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Giuseppe Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin c.1736
With a handsome, deeply reflective and broadly flamed maple back, this is the crown jewel in the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation’s collection
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Gallery‘Noah’s Violin’ has successful Venice launch
A quartet of musicians from the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory performed Vivaldi on top of the floating instrument
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Strad Calendar 2022: Dutch treasures
The Strad Calendar 2022 showcases twelve of the finest instruments belonging to the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation. Head of collection Frits Schutte outlines its work, while Hubert de Launay gives a tour of the riches
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Premium ❘ FeatureOptical effects in Lutherie: Reflected Glories
Why do some instruments look completely different in varying kinds of light? In this lutherie feature from August 2013, Michael Molnar explains how an understanding of wood, varnish and their optical interactions can produce magical results
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FocusUsing ‘Digital Amati’ in violin making
In this extract from September 2017, Harry Mairson introduces the ’Digital Amati’ software used in conjunction with Euclidean geometry to design string instruments
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Premium ❘ FeatureBetween the Baroque and modern age: Vuillaume’s ‘Messiah’ Strad
Stefan-Peter Greiner examines Vuillaume’s unorthodox method of fastening and extending the neck in his copy of the ‘Messiah’ Strad. From November 1996
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FocusUsing Artificial Intelligence in violin making
In the September 2021 issue, Sebastian Gonzalez investigates artificial intelligence (AI) software to examine violin forms
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Focus‘Spanish Court’ Stradivari viola copy by Diego del Valle
A chance to check out the decorated viola that is the subject of The Strad Podcast Episode #11
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #11: Jesus Rodolfo’s 1696 ‘Spanish Court’ Stradivari viola copy
Jesus Rodolfo speaks about his very special instrument made for him based on a decorated Stradivari
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FocusVarious viola variables: weight, shape and sound
In the September 2021 issue, William Castle examines how weight, shape and sound is affected in violas of various sizes
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NewsInaugural Brandenburg Violin Making Workshop 2021
Watch exclusive footage of the week-long workshop in August, the first of its kind in Europe
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FocusGut reaction: the worst job in history?
How to make gut strings the 18th-century way. From February 2011
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Premium ❘ FeatureViola sizes: Size does matter
Viola players everywhere know the difficulty in finding the perfect instrument – but how many realise the differences that size, shape and weight can make to playability and tone? William Castle gives a step-by-step guide to finding the one that’s right for you
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ReviewBook review: Feine und bedeutende Streichinstrumente
Benjamin Hebbert reviews an anthology of instruments by German violin dealer Rudolf Eckstein, witht text in German and English
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FocusA weighty argument: wood density in violins
John Waddle, Steve Rossow and Steve Sirr discuss how wood density can vastly affect the acoustic properties of violins
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FocusCT scanning and the ‘Betts’ Stradivari
John Waddle shows how CT scanning technology is used to examine the structure and wood density of the ‘Betts’ Stradivari
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Premium ❘ FocusThe geometry of violin outlines: Proportional representation
In this article from March 1990, Leslie Wyatt offers a rational and coherent geometrical method for the construction of an inner form outline and for sizing and positioning the f-holes, to break free from the traditional slavish reproduction of classical instruments
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Premium ❘ FeatureClimate conundrum: Does wood from the ‘Little Ice Age’ account for the brilliance of Stradivari’s violins?
Did Stradivari have superior wood because of exceptionally low temperatures during his lifetime? In this article from April 2014, John Waddle, Steve Rossow and Steve Sirr investigate the idea using CT scans of Cremonese instruments
