A Buyer’s Guide to the Work of Mantua’s Historical Violin Makers
The Italian city of Mantua was home to some of the most important violin makers in history, including Pietro Guarneri, Camillo de Camilli, Tommaso Balestrieri, and Stefano Scarampella.
Instruments, Bows, and Gear
F-Holes Are All Basically the Same—Except That They’re All Different
Every violin f-hole looks like its twin, and they all look the same. But this is not the case with classical makers, especially the Italians of the Golden Period.
Cellist Emmanuel Feldman’s TekPin is a New Endpin with Freedom in Mind
The TekPin is a cello endpin designed to support the instrument at a vertical angle, intended to reduce the weight the cello puts on a player’s body.
Is a One-Piece Back on Violin Really Better Than Two?
Is a one-piece back really better than two? A violin maker explains how to see the forest through the trees.
The Stradivari Forma B Cello Revolutionized the Way Cellos Were Made… Sort Of
The cello has also allowed for some variability in its size, but a key moment in its development seems to have happened in Cremona, in part thanks to Antonio Stradivari.
Understanding the Perils of High Action on Stringed Instruments and 3 Ways to Recognize it
Here are some tips to find your comfortable string height on violin in a range that is also healthy, and how to recognize high action when things are out of whack.
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.
Johannes Moser on His 1694 Andrea Guarneri Cello
Cellist Johannes Moser discusses the voice of his 1694 Andrea Guarneri cello, which “has a dark varnish, several procession holes in the back, and was cut smaller and then enlarged.”
A Beginner’s Guide to Tuning Your Cello
Tuning should be the first activity you complete with your cello every day, or every time you get the instrument out. Here's a beginner's guide to tuning your cello.
How Do You Take Care of a Violin?
Do you know how to take care of a violin? Here are 7 ways to treat your instrument with respect, love, care and protect it from harm.