Violin repair and restoration has many facets. There are skills of wood sculpting. Not in the roughest sense, but more focused on delicate carving and direct ties to past traditions and methods. The amount of skill, knowledge and discipline one must first attain, gives rise to the myth of unknowable secrets. Golden Music Fine Strings brings the secrets to Colorado with the hosting of the European Masters. Bobby and these makers rub elbows for hours, days and weeks, and Bobby learns the secrets and fine points of the trade. A violin restoration, maker, repair person must also be an architect and engineers in instrument design and construction, in the design of curved lines and surfaces, which are carved and bent for optimum lightness, strength and flexibility. Knowledge of materials and an ability to sense the strengths and weaknesses of a given piece of wood, is essential. The design, architecture and choice of wood all determine the ultimate potential of the finished work. In our shop, the tools are a critical component – Bobby must make and maintain the condition of many specialized tools. Knives, plane irons, chisels and gouges must be kept razor sharp. Other tools, such as scrapers, require sharpened edges rolled over with a burnisher.

Of course, to add onto this, we must make music with this combination of tools, wood, art and science. We must rely on memory and instinct, searching to improve the sound of each new instrument through slight controlled variations in model, architecture or dimensions. Think about the size of a violin (weighing less than a pound) and its capability to fill every corner of a large concert hall with sound, and how it can convey the fiery of a raging emotion, to the subtle nuance of a breath or air or a tear… Good acoustic properties of a violin relate to more than just volume. An instrument cannot be just “loud”. It must have a complexity and richness of overtones and harmonics to achieve power that is rich sounding and sweetness that is penetrable. Hence, each instrument possesses a unique voice.

The repair staff also are proficient players of the instruments and must hear subtle tone adjustments. One must be a player to achieve properly set-up and adjustments of the neck, fingerboard, strings, pegs, bridge, etc that of which effect the playing of the instruments. We are adept in preparation and application of varnish involving purifying, sun-bleaching and body oils; grinding, cooking and mixing resins and preparing color lakes. Fine violin restoration not only employs many of the ethics and techniques of fine art restoration, but also requires the various skills of the maker and specialized techniques developed over the past 200 years. The opportunity of studying the works of the old masters, allows one to analyze the successes (and shortcomings) of individual works, and to observe how each maker or school of makers from the past approached the various aspects of making.

IN-HOUSE LUTHIERS

Director, Alex Qualtire has studied with master luthiers from around the world.  Apprentice’s Bo Adams and Griffin Wahl assist in all areas of repair.

VISITING MASTER LUTHIERS :

Thomas Hummell ( Stuttgart, Germany ) – COMING APRIL 3, 2012!

Has over 25 years working as a violin maker. He puts his rich experience in restoration of old string instruments, and, above all, sound enhancement, to teach and support Golden Music each year for six weeks. He taught at the famous Boston North Bennet Street Violin Making School. He was at Golden Music from 1/21/11-2/24/11, May 2010, and November 2006.

Carlos Roberts (Cremona, Italy)

Visited here January and February 2012, he is born and grew up in Argentina, but migrated to Cremona, Italy to study his passion, violin making. A member of the Italian Consortium of Violin Makers, he repesents the Contemporary Italian Tradition and brings this rich knowledge to our luthiers.

Ferenc Korosi ( Budapest, Hungary )

From Budapest, Ferenc is the maker and restorer of the Budapest symphony and opera players’ instruments. Married to a classical pianist professor at the university there, he is looking forward to coming back again. He was at Golden Music from September 19, 2010 thru November 21, 2010.