[Catnip's (John K) Bench]

Pre varnish sound impressions?

[Violin playing hearing loss]

I have started using an ear plug in my left ear. The problem is that in an ensemble I feel that I should be hearing more from my left ear. The good thing other than perhaps preserving my hearing is hearing less direct sound. Keep in mind that according to the inverse square law, it can be shown that for each doubling of distance from a point source, the sound pressure level decreases by approximately 6 dB.

I would add to the above comments to avoid sitting next to a piccolo. It is like having a knitting needle stuck in your ear drum.

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

I knew that bringing up commission rates might ruffle some feathers. Can't hurt to ask. I'm sure I'm not the only one to think about this.

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

What do you think is a good commission rate? One would think that for more expensive instruments and bows, that the 20% rate would go down a bit. What about the 50-100k range?

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

4 hours ago, The Violin Beautiful said:

Now that Chris Reuning has a spot in New York, you might try that as well. 

Thanks for that. I did not know about the NYC office.

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

I will say that if I wanted someone to write a certificate for an important bow, Isaac Salchow would be one of the few in the US that I would seek out. I noticed that he wrote a certificate for the Tourte that is for sale at Tarisio on Wednesday (yesterday). Paul Childs also recently wrote a certificate for the same bow.

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

2 hours ago, martin swan said:

I would second Michael's point!

Also, when you say "fine bow" what level of bow are you talking about?

Classic French maker. Pricey. I’m not publicly going more than that. Sorry.

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

4 hours ago, Michael Darnton said:

Rare Violins of NY. But why just NYC---the business is international now and there are many fine shops.

Of course it is international. But walk in customers creates a local (ish) context. What percentage of your bow sales are international vs when someone is in town? I’m sure that depends on the value of the item. The bigger the price tag the smaller number of people that can purchase it. Therefore travel and or shipping is probably necessary once you have worked your way through local clients. That is not to say Stefan and Julian don’t visit other localities if the circumstances dictate. Another factor is I like the ability to physically transport when possible.

[Best shop to consign high end bow in New York City]

Thinking of selling a fine French bow in New York city. Opinions on which shop to choose? Pm if you want to be stealthy. Isaac Salchow and Yung Chin are bow specialists. Salchow only works three days a week from 10 to 4, which seems pretty limited for a full time business.

[Michael Molnar]

Hi Mike. Was your paper ever published by the VSA?

[recommendation's for archival paper for label.]

27 minutes ago, Rue said:

Wonder if he roughs up the edges of the paperand soaks them in tea (or coffee or onion skin) begore he applies that lovely dense ink?

However...the couple of authentic old labels I've seen in situ...looked remarkably "new".

So..."over-aging' a label isn't very authentic. 

 

Yeah. The art of label making is a matter of personal taste. Like the art of antiquing an instrument. Could be some photo contrast manipulation. Care to display your labels?

[recommendation's for archival paper for label.]

These labels look fantastic. Wonder where he gets his paper?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg7S4RjowDm/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Smithsonian Instrument Display]

1 hour ago, GoPractice said:

Thank you for the photos. I hope to look at them in length a little later.

The viola set up has me giddy. 

That viola is very impressive.

[Smithsonian Instrument Display]

Yes.

[Smithsonian Instrument Display]

1677 Amati cello.

[Smithsonian Instrument Display]

1663 Amati viola.

 

[Smithsonian Instrument Display]

1672 Amati violin

 

[Smithsonian Instrument Display]

Currently there is a quartet display. 1706 Greffuhle Stradivari

[Contact Info for Instrument Curators at the Smithsonian]

I will be in Washington DC soon and was wondering if anyone had the contact info for the instrument curators at the Smithsonian? I understand that they are fairly welcoming to visitors.

[Tap tone test , top plate]

13 hours ago, Bodacious Cowboy said:

words with a G this time...

King Crimson. https://youtu.be/YecBv-5JXmQ

 

[Tap tone test , top plate]

12 minutes ago, Michael Darnton said:

I think I have mentioned before that I know a STRAD with harlequin top *and* back to the extent that I had to put the main light on one side above the instrument and the other side below to make them the approach same brightness for photos, and this was a universal fave of the many who got to play it. So I'm going to say it doesn't make a bit of difference, tonally.

Or maybe it is even positive.

I've made a few with more runout than most would tolerate with no evil effect.

That is encouraging because the top I am currently working on has quite a bit of runout...

[Tap tone test , top plate]

Anyone want to speculate on the effects of runout on tops?

[Cremona Visit]

Very nice bench copies. High quality.

[Which ground to use]

I thought nunzio was selling his varnish business?

[Long Arch Drawing]

I wonder if the prominent soloist (Kavakos) has had arching correction done to the 'saddled" Strad  mentioned above? Did Florian sell him the instrument? Sounds damn good. I've heard it live a few times.