New Models & Templates

This week I have been working on making new models, or patterns that I base my instruments on. I have decided to make a quartet of Guarneri instruments. The cello will be a Joseph Guarneri ‘Filius Andrea’, the viola an Andrea Guarneri, and...

The 2009 Violinmaking Workshop

I have returned from the Violin Society of America’s Violin Making workshop in Oberlin, Ohio. I feel like I am just settling back into my normal routine. The workshop is a unique experience. About 40 professional makers from around the world come...

Rib Structures Part 2: Bending...

After the blocks have been glued to the mold I shape them to the right curve to match the model I am making. The shape of the blocks defines the shape of the corners on the top and back, so I am careful to get the shape that will give me the look that...

Rib Structures: Blocks and Molds

I am varnishing the cello we’ve been following right now. This ends up giving me a bit of time in between coats to work on other things. So, I have started the next cello. More about varnish later. Ribs are the sides of the instrument. They are...

Madder Root

Madder root is a traditional material used for dyeing. Madder root has been used by people for thousands of years, most famously perhaps to dye Turkish carpets their distinctive red. The plants grew originally in what is now Afghanistan and now have...