All Lutherie articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureLike father, like daughter: the Giorgis family of violin makers
New research in the Turin archives has uncovered fascinating insights into the life of the violin maker Nicola Giorgis. Claudio Amighetti reveals why Giorgis’s daughter Francesca Maria took over his workshop upon his death in 1745
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Strad Calendar 2025: Canada’s crème de la crème
The Strad Calendar 2025 celebrates the work of the Canada Council for the Arts, which has been matching players with fine instruments for 40 years. Christian Lloyd takes a look at the collection’s highlights
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Premium ❘ FeatureA unique pairing: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin
In the first of a two-part article, Balthazar Soulier examines an extraordinary violin that displays the hallmarks of both Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ and Domenico Montagnana
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Premium ❘ FeatureA Stradivarian bow: a jewel of four facets
Recent research on the 17th- and 18th-century bows in the collection of the Musée de la Musique in Paris led to the attribution of a bow stick to the Stradivari workshop. Marie-Ève Geeraert and Jean-Philippe Échard shed some light on their discovery of this one-of-a-kind artefact
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Premium ❘ FeatureA closer look: Examining the ‘Salabue, Martzy’ violin
The Strad’s lutherie consultant Philip Ihle put together this month’s poster of the ‘Salabue, Martzy’. Here he points out several extra details to help luthiers make an exact copy of the instrument
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
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Premium ❘ FeatureDecorating a bow frog: let the flowers bloom
A very specialist part of the bow maker’s craft is the addition of decorative inlay into a bow frog. Vladimiros Sorokin-Andreou presents his method for this intricate and delicate part of the process
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Premium ❘ FeatureCello bridge design: X marks the spot
For many years the design of the cello bridge has remained constant – but could it be improved? Sebastian Gonzalez presents the results of a comparison between the standard French bridge and a newly designed model, while Gaian Amorim tracks the development of the bridge
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Premium ❘ FeatureDouble bass set-up: not a giant violin
The size and shape of the double bass mean its set-up differs greatly from the other bowed stringed instruments. Bass maker Arnold E. Schnitzer presents a comprehensive guide, designed for both luthiers and practically minded bassists
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Premium ❘ FeatureElias Placht: how one man founded the violin making tradition of Schönbach
By the early 20th century, the town of Schönbach was producing tens of thousands of violins per year – but the industry began with just one man. Christian Hoyer sifts through the records to reveal the life and legacy of Elias Placht
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Premium ❘ FeatureAnalysing the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’: Stradivari à la mode
George Stoppani presents the results of an investigation into the acoustics of the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’, focusing primarily on the ‘signature modes’
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Fulton collection: Magnificent obsession
For decades, top soloists would visit the home of David Fulton to sample the treasures of his legendary collection. Now dispersed, the instruments have been brought together again in book form. The collector shares some of the highlights with Christian Lloyd
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Premium ❘ FeatureFilippo de Filippi: From Vatican to varnish
The 19th-century violin maker Filippo de Filippi had an unusual route to his chosen career, taking in the Papal court, the Risorgimento and Rome’s cultural milieu. Stefano Pio explores his intriguing life
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Premium ❘ FeatureCopying a Montagnana cello: The Full Monty
For the past few years, the attendees of the annual Oberlin Violin Makers Workshop have set themselves increasingly challenging group projects. Robin Aitchison explains how 30 luthiers collaborated on their latest task: to copy a Montagnana cello with pinpoint accuracy
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Premium ❘ FeatureNorwegian Wood: The history of the Hardanger fiddle
Regarded as Norway’s national instrument, the Hardanger fiddle is the product of a long evolution beginning in medieval times. Wiebke Lüders presents a history of the instrument’s development, profiling some of the most notable artisans
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Premium ❘ Feature‘Be the person to teach them how to learn’ - Training an apprentice
Sarah Kluge explains her method of training an apprentice from scratch, including an essential list of dos and don’ts
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Premium ❘ FeatureMarino Capicchioni: A one-of-a-kind luthier
Self-taught and living far away from any centres of lutherie, Marino Capicchioni became famous in his time for the superb quality of his instruments.
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Premium ❘ Feature1709 ‘King Carlos IV’ Stradivari violin: A crown jewel
Florian Leonhard reveals the history behind the 1709 ‘King Carlos IV’ Stradivari violin
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Premium ❘ FeaturePlate archings and tone - part 2: a question of tone
Nigel Harris shows how close control of the arching shape of the plates can influence tone
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Replicating peg shapes without a copying lathe
A device for maintaining the same shape and diameter of instrument pegs during the carving process
