A little while ago I had an interesting call from Stella, a viola player and teacher from Switzerland. Alongside her teaching practice she's working on a dissertation, which has set her thinking more and more about the quality of her pupils' instruments. She wondered if I had ever made a viola the same size as a half size violin, and if I would be up for making one for her, that her pupils could use, so that they had the experience of a good quality instrument. I'm always up for a … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2023
339: Violin based on Antonio Stradivari 1734 ‘Habeneck’ 2023
I've made this violin model regularly over the last few years; it reliably produces a powerful and rich sound with a warm G string and sweet A. A friend of one of my cello customers came to see the last one I made before its new owner collected it, and I'm happy to say she liked it enough to order one for herself. So I've now started work. As ever, I start with the ribs, thin strips of maple bent round the mould. When all the ribs are glued in place, I fit the linings, small strips of spruce … [Read more...]
