I am frequently contacted by string players needing help with tonal issues in their search for an instrument. Many string players have trouble sorting out what tonal criteria are important in the process of selecting an instrument. Problems arise most often when string players attempt to objectify issues of tone. A player’s interface with an […]
Assessing Tone Wood Using the Lucchi Meter
Winter
Francois Xavier Tourte and Dominique Pecatte never used a Lucchi meter. In fact it was not until the late 20th Century that the first Lucchi meter was developed. Today however, the Lucchi meter has become so ubiquitous that the pricing of bow blanks is directly tied into the Lucchi meter reading. So what is this […]
Dendochronology and the Messiah Stradivarius An Interview with Henri D. Grissino-Mayer
FallAt the recently concluded 2001 meeting of the Violin Society of America, Professor Henri D. Grissino-Mayer presented the results of his dendrochronological analysis of the Messiah Strad. For those who could not attend he has kindly given us this summation of his science and his findings. Professor Grissino-Mayer introduces himself: I’m an Assistant Professor in […]
How to Try a Violin
Summer
Over many years I have observed all manner of tonal tests by retail buyers in the string instrument market. Some of these tests are more effective than others, but no one method for testing an instrument can tell players everything they need to know in evaluating an instrument or bow for purchase. In order to […]