Japes

I haven't tried the Vivaldis yet, but I recently gave the Marchio Bleu set a whirl. I think they're a perfectly adequate string. They wouldn't suit all instruments, just as the popular brands don't suit all instruments, but if you're partial to a brighter sound or your instrument is a bit too dark, I think these strings would be a good candidate. They take a couple of days to fully settle in, as do most, but once they have, I find them quite pleasant under the ear. I haven't heard them from a distance, but I have no reason to believe they wouldn't perform suitably. I don't really understand how a person can make the immediate assumption that a set of strings are poor after experiencing them on one instrument. Granted, I know many only require strings for one instrument, but I wouldn't close a door on a brand just because one set didn't suit one instrument. I might try 5 different sets before deciding on the most suitable pairing. The resulting set may include more than one brand, depending on the instrument's requirements. I think some people can get locked on to the tone qualities of their favourites. Different is often good. Incidentally, I was sent two sets as samplers. I saw an ad in The Strad and sent them off an email. I'm always keen to try new products. Maybe they're just trying to get their hands on the Australian market. Whatever the case, they were freebies. Mind you, I can also potentially buy quite a few sets and I'd imagine they take this into consideration when deciding who to send samples to. I think that's totally fair enough - especially for a small company. I agree - freebies are an essential component of marketing products like these, but you can't give every member of the general public who requests them a free set. That would be silly. I can also guarantee that the bigger brands have far greater profit margins than Dogal. Their capacity to absorb the cost of free samples would be far greater and they've likely budgeted for it and built the cost of the practice into their margins. That Dogal is a small family business in Venice, manufacturing strings by hand, is very appealing. I'd imagine the bigger brands started out in a similar fashion. Who knows - Dogal could be a dominant force in 10 year's time. I'm always happy to give the smaller guys my business, even if it means paying a bit more. Naturally, as a business grows, so too do the resources to improve upon the existing product.

Doesn't look like a Gaillard to me, but I think it's something along those lines. Lupot/Pique influence - maybe 1820-40ish.

Alan, you stinker! I'm SO disappointed. I always looked forward to the next installment, and I've been wondering where it disappeared to. Well, I think The Strad has lost some value. Was this your decision or theirs? I think the rest of us should start a petition.

I think it's French. An early Derazey or something of that ilk. Unfortunate condition.

Are you able to post some photos of the rest of the fiddle? It appears as though the neck was lengthened at the heel, which may be indicative of a certain time-frame.

I've discovered several pieces of my work ripped off and posted in the portfolios of other designers over the years. Even in school, I had two portfolios stolen and two separate attempts to turn in my work as that of the offenders. It's a bold display of dysfunctional brain matter.

After I carved my first scroll, I lost partial feeling in my fingers for a month. No cuts, just temporary nerve damage from the pressure of my palm tools. It was unsettling at first.

That's right, so this seems to confirm that the Kremer tung oil varnish is, indeed, Le Tonkinois, which actually means 'The Tonkinese'. I'm guessing tung oil's origin is Tonkin?

Is 'Le Tonkinois' Dutch for Tung Oil Varnish? http://kremer-pigmente.de/shop...lang=NLD&product=79055

I think this is the same stuff Kremer sells, and they do indicate it as a suitable violin varnish. http://kremer-pigmente.de/shop...product=79055〈=ENG

I suspect it says, 'élève de Lupot', though it does look more like the Steve de Lupot variety.

Thanks, Tim and Alan. Merry Christmas to both of you as well, and the rest of you lot. It's Christmas eve already here in Aussieland. We'll need to be asleep very shortly or Santa will bypass the Southern Hemishpere altogether. I wish you all loads of violin paraphernalia under the tree.

It's a Christmas miracle! Well done, xania. It's a lovely looking effort, and about bloody time too! Now, get out the hand cream - I'd like to see number two about this time next year. You owe it to the Australian fiddle making cause.

I sold that bagel to apartmentluthier. It's my belief it is indeed French; an exact copy of the Mashiah bagel, posssibly by Veeyum - one of several he made. There's a very similar looking specimen on permanent loan at the Hashmolean Museum in Oxford. It's not open to the general public, unfortunately, but I was able to see it on a special culinary tour of Europe. The bagel travelled with a very good French stick as well. It's in great condition. It needs hair, grip and lapping, but it's essentially in mint condition.

Matz, Manfio is correct, but your interpretation may also be suitable I've yet to see a listing of his that fully lives up to his descriptions, but this is probably true for most sellers. In all fairness, he's not attempting to charge the sorts of prices we'd expect for such items. His 'Buy it Now' prices are quite moderate and his estimates of their retail values aren't at all off the wall.