I’ve just been following an international forum discussing the 18th century Cremonese makers and whether they had a ‘secret’ process which makes them so valuable, apart from their antiquity! There have been nearly 800 replies delving into the Stradivarius concept, but with little unanimity of opinion. It does appear, though, that the old masters’ violins…
DetailsANDREA rosin has been around for over 20 years now. While countless musicians have used and shown their appreciations of its quality, the manufacturers never stopped experimenting and looking for something more unique and fascinating to offer serious musicians. In 2018, to celebrate its 10th year anniversary, they introduced the new ANDREA SANCTUS ROSIN. Sanctus…
DetailsBuying a new case can be a daunting task. Many student or intermediate violins, violas, cellos, and basses can be purchased as part of an outfit that includes a case that is usually consistent with the quality of the instrument; these cases generally offer very adequate protection and durability at an economical price. If, however,…
DetailsShould a beginner upgrade the strings on a student Violin or Cello? Just been asked the question, and the answer is yes, the better the strings the easier it will become to make a good sound, even before you have begun! This especially applies to adult beginners! You have bought the best instrument you can…
DetailsA very useful video on How to Tune you Violin or Viola by D’Addario. Key points are: Tune quietly – if you over-bow or over pluck it may distort the sound and be incorrect Tune slowly – the cause of most breakages, especially on new instrument is over tensioning the string. If you tune slowly…
DetailsJust off the phone from a mum who wants her son to begin playing Cello. Obviously the first question fired at me is, ‘what size must I get’? After a lengthy explanation and details such as age etc, I finally asked her son’s height – which turned out to substantially less than even an average…
DetailsThe New Larsen Virtuoso for Viola – A Complementary Balance – Available soon If something works then why change it? Since its original launch back in 1995, the Original Larsen Viola A string has become almost the default choice for viola players. Offering excellent projection with a broad spectrum of sound colours combined with a …
DetailsThe fitting and tuning of stringed instruments using pegs set into a block of wood or a pegbox, is as old as primitive instruments go. The craftsmanship, however, needed to fit specifically instruments of the violin family is a skilled process by trained luthiers using unique tools, getting a precise fit so that pegs turn…
DetailsHelp! Which strings do I need? Part 3 – Gut core strings So, we finally come to the original gut strings which have been used for centuries – plain old gut strings. Traditionally these are made from sheep or cattle gut. Up to the beginning of the 20th century only gut strings were played, and…
DetailsI have Grandpa’s old violin – is it worth fixing? We have written something about this earlier but here are further details and tips on how to evaluate your instrument. The above question I have heard more times than I can shake a stick at. Often, sorrowfully, it is Grandpa himself who has throughout the…
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