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Old Work Shop Tour
Materials
Contact Information
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Every violinist (violist, cellist or bassist) whether amateur or
concert status, has conflicting opinions about tone quality and what
constitutes it. Who and what elements
define tone? Talk to makers,
performers or dealers and all have different, but vague answers. But they all agree that the Italians set
the standards by which all others are measured. This makes the job of the
modern makers very difficult in trying to meet these standards, and not to
mention exceeding them. Over the
years, almost every conceivable test has been devised to test and determine
what the old Italians did or used to create this magnificent tone quality. Every aspect of the physical components
have been tested and re-tested with the most modern and sophisticated
equipment available in order to unlock this mystery. Be assured that all are correct. It is the right combination of wood,
varnish (its application) and what we cannot give - age. It is the meshing of all these elements
that create the overtones that result in instruments with superb tone
quality. It is also important to know
that proper alignment of these overtones aid in the production of excellent
intonation. The premier makers try to
make every instrument that leaves the bench exude these qualities and not a
hit-and-miss effort. There will
always be minor nuances between every instrument that leaves a makers bench
due to the characteristics of each individual piece of wood. But they all will signify the hands of the
maker and will be consistent across the lot.
Every one of my instruments leaves my shop possessing all the tangible
features of the old Italian makers and will rival them in my blind tone test. |
John Sipe About Tone
The culminating mark of any maker is to make his handcrafted instruments come as close as possible to the standards set forth by the Cremonese without breaking down, cracking, choking, loss of tone quality or carrying power in any area of the finger board. Every one of my instruments that leave my shop possess all of these tangibles, rivaling the works of old Cremona. |
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