Urban Luthier

Your cello is in good company! Violin looks beautiful as always!

Hello MN I'm looking for a few volunteers to proofread a new digital edition of Roger's chapters from the del Gesu book. The digital version published on Roger's site contains 100's of typographical errors that were not corrected before the document was posted to his site. This new digital version corrects the errors and adds an interactive experience - the images and foot notes are hyperlinked to make it easier to navigate on a computer or tablet device. If you have a copy of the del Gesu book and would like to volunteer an hr of your time to review a chapter or two against the original text, then PM me! Chris

anyone have this article? Tried and Tested - the Strad, 1155 July 1986

Beautiful as always Christian! From a tonal perspective, how do you find your Bergonzi models compare to your typical del Gesu?

Beautiful work Michael!

Looks even better in one piece!

+1. I started using Holtier's varnish on the advice of a well-respected Canadian maker (also Cremona Triennial winner). I'm able to achieve good and repeatable results that I'm happy with. I haven't tried the primer.

Stunning as always!

Fortunately Roger owns copyright for all his writings

Ha, I think I will leave it to you to tell Roger to get off his arse ;O.

Hi Mike, I'm afraid you misunderstood my post. I simply meant that if Holtier is following the Roubo historical horse dung/urine recipe I posted above. (Which I believe is how the Magister primer was made). Then $250 isn't unreasonable price for someone to deal with the mess of horse dung and wait around while it rots. I believe Brian Lisus had a go at this as well. if the Holiter stuff is made from commercially obtained sodium nitrate, then I agree - overpriced. either way I haven't purchased or used Holiter's primer so I cant comment first hand. I do like his varnish however

If the Holiter stuff is the same as the Magister primer then the Roubo recipe below is pretty much how it is done from organic materials. Cut from the Bass Book. If this is how Holiter is making it, the stuff will have a shelf life and the cost IMHO is reasonable. "Before finishing the dyeing of wood, I believe I ought to give a least-costly method of dyeing white wood red, which is done in the following manner: You take some horse dung, which you put in a bucket of which the bottom is pierced with many holes, and you place it above another bucket, into which falls the water from the dung, as it gradually rots. When it does not rot fast enough, you water it from time to time with some horse urine, which helps a lot and at the same time gives a red water, which not only stains the surface of the wood, but penetrates the interior 3 to 4 lines deep. In staining the wood with this dye, one must take care that all the pieces be of the same species, and about equal in density if one wishes that they be of equal colour throughout. This observation is general for all water-based stains, which have no palpable thickness or even appearance [they leave no residue or any evident change in appearance], which requires the cabinetmaker to make a choice of wood of equal colour and a density as I mentioned before."

Hello MN, I'm working with Roger and our friends at the VSA to pull together Roger's publications and relocate them from his website to a new home. Will share more info in a bit. In the meantime, I could use some help locating several articles from The Strad Magazine. I seem to be missing the following. If you have these and are willing to scan the pages, please PM me! Thanks so much, Chris Roger Hargrave, "Preservation Order," The Strad 96, No. 1142 (June 1985) Roger Hargrave, "Artistic Alliance," The Strad 111, No. 1324 (August 2000) KOEN PADDING 1958-2012. By: HARGRAVE, ROGER. Strad. Nov2012, Vol. 123 Issue 1471, p28-29. 2p. The holy grail. By: Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Mar2005, Vol. 116 Issue 1379, p52-56. A bold statement. By: Dilworth, John; Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Dec96, Vol. 107 Issue 1280, p1278. 12p. A ravisher from Ravatin. By: Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Jul96, Vol. 107 Issue 1275, p710. 2p. Artistic alliance. By: Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Aug2000, Vol. 111 Issue 1324, p832. 5p. Circle of friends. By: Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Feb99, Vol. 110 Issue 1306, p159. 1p. 'Del Gesù' at the Met. By: HARGRAVE, ROGER. Strad. Apr95, Vol. 106 Issue 1260, p374-376. 3p. Machold remembered. By: Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Apr95, Vol. 106 Issue 1260, p401-401. 1p Reviews: Books. By: Hargrave, Roger. Strad. Oct97, Vol. 108 Issue 1290, p1137. 3/5p. Abstract: Reviews the book `Alte Geigen und Bogen Violins and Bows of the Past: Selected Masterpieces From the German Cultural Sphere,' by Irene Loebner et al.

Thanks Jim. I did one more based on an Amati Tenor viol pictured in the dna Amati book. I think I like the look of these best. @Kevin Kelly videos etc are very helpful by the way! F-Hole Based on Amati tenor viol-Model.pdf

Working away on my Amati CV inspired viola. The originals have f-holes on the smaller side (closer to violin scale). Ive been experimenting with increasing the size. I could use some feedback. Do these look well balanced in relation to the body size? I've lost perspective! The one based on an Amati bass f hole (left) is a little better drawn. I'm leaning towards the left one but perhaps decreasing the overall size a mm or Thanks in advance! F-Hole Based on Amati Bass Model.pdf F-Hole based on Amati Cello Model.pdf