Voila! There’s a viola in here somewhere!
I was planing this piece of wood to join for a violin back. It was self labeled. You know, just in case I forgot what it was.
My latest violin!!! Almost four years of love and neglect. It has an even, dark tone and needs to be played in. I can’t wait to start another. Oil varnish, rosewood fittings, Dominant strings.
Stradivari Instruments Still In Existence
This is an interesting list of Stradivari’s instruments. I went to my current favorite instrument, the 1714 Soil, and just found out it is the subject of a quest in the video game Fallout 3.
I completed this right before I left town to go visit family in MN. I had another big project to get out the same week. I hardly remember working on it. I do know that I am getting faster and better at these things…
Tortoise Shell Replacement. It used to be that restorers would replace broken and worn sections of tortoise shell frogs with combs and other objects made of tortoise shell due to the ban on using tortoise. My boss came up with a technique to imitate and replace missing sections of tortoise shell. It isn’t as invasive as cutting out original material to make a nice shape to fit new shell (which had happened to this frog at some point) and a restorer can color match really well. The restorations are visible under special lighting so, for ethical reasons, it is easier to tell if a frog has gone through a major restoration. A lot of time went into this restoration and it was a lot of fun working on it.
Gaulard Frog Copy. I enjoyed working on this one during my day job (I have yet to find something in restoration/making that I don’t like…) The eyes and the back of the frog are unusual. Lots of problem solving. We had to recreate wear, but not to the extent of the original, of course.
Q:Wow, that is some serious talent you've got there! Those violins and cellos are seriously beautiful! I've been wanting to learn cello for a very long time now, so maybe once I find the chance to take lessons, I'll buy one from you :). Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks! Even if you don’t end up buying one of mine, I highly advocate learning to play. Stringed instruments are pretty much awesome. And good for the brain. Good luck learning cello. It’s hard work, but well worth it. :)
Vacations
We are in Birmingham, AL for the midweek. Thee Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra put on a really awesome show last night at the Bottletree. We got there super early and got to grab a tour poster or two. One of them is a really awesome screenprinted one that has the same image as their new 7” vinyl. Super cool. Then almost the best part (the music was hard to top) after the show, Sophie and Jessica graciously played a violin I made. It was pretty much the bees knees as I thought it would be. I got to talk to most of the band a little bit, too. It’s always nice to meet people who I have read so much about and admired and they turn out to be friendly and down to earth. All around a really awesome vacation so far.
ArtsBeat: Emerson String Quartet's Cellist, David Finckel, Is Leaving
David Finckel has been the Emerson String Quartet’s cellist since 1979.
Source: The New York Times
Kari Azure,
Violin and Bow
Maker and Restorer
