Instruments, Bows, and Gear | Strings Magazine | For players of violin, viola, cello, bass & fiddle

Cannone From The Violinmaker Cesare Candi and Paganinis Violin published by Cremonabooks

Vintage Instruments Have Paid a Heavy Price Over a Little Airborne Moisture

Exposing a violin to just the right amount of humidity and heat can be the crucial difference between a healthy instrument and a harrowed one; just look at Paganini's violin.

Asha Mevlana, violinist for the trans-siberian orchestra

16 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Electric String Player

Here are 16 holiday gift ideas for the electric violin, electric cello, electric viola or electric upright bass player in your life.

Fancy Rib Inlays Are a Satisfying Bit of Extra Work in the Violin-Making Process

Carving fancy rib inlays on a violin isn’t a sound requirement. It is extra work. It has little bearing on the functionality of the violin. But it is artistically satisfying.

stringed instrument bows and pernambuco tree

State of the Heart(wood): With Pernambuco Conservation Efforts Underway, Makers Search for Other Bow-Wood Options

Pernambuco is renowned as the perfect wood for making bows. What many string players don’t realize is that pernambuco is becoming increasingly rare.

A Guide to Choosing the Right Violin Strings

These days, string players face a multitude of choices when it comes to picking violin strings. Here's how to eliminate the guesswork and find the perfect strings for your instrument.

CodaBow’s Escent Offers Advanced Players a Versatile Tool

It is the advanced player whose career reflects this kind of versatility that CodaBow was considering when it launched its new Escent bow.

Remembering Legendary Louisiana Fiddler Edius Naquin’s Unique Instrument

Legendary Louisiana Fiddler Edius Naquin's violin not a notable instrument, a cheaper Strad copy textured with decades of patina, but it had a real presence.

instrument re-graduation label inside violin

The Tricky Topic of Instrument Re-graduation

Re-graduation (also known as re-voicing or improving) is when a violin is opened; the top, back, and sides are slightly thinned; and the bass bar is replaced to make the instrument more responsive.

close-up-of-Major-Bling-Fine-Tuner-Swarovski-Crystal-by-blingtuners

How to Add a Little Sparkle to Your Stringed Instrument

If you’re longing to personalize your musical style—add a little bling to your strings, as it were—here's where you might find just the right gear to make you cheer.

Museum Pieces: Do Stringed Instruments Belong Under Glass?

These days, performances on museum instruments have become fairly common. But this wasn't always the case, and the idea still generates controversy amongst some players and curators.