stephen redrobe Posted March 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_piano_stud Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 I like Curtin. His instruments has a lot of raw power. His tone isn't as silky and smooth but it's great if you are an adrenalin junkie like me. When I was in London, I liked Paul Harrild's violin a lot too. Almost went home with one for such a bargain price. I laid down a commision last year with Terry Borman, I should have that fiddle in Nov. Borman's instruments don't appear to be as powerful as Curtin. But the projection is great and the tone is just beautiful. Another maker who's instrument has that kind of subtle qualities is Metsuo Matsuda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepBlue Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 In reply to: There's an article in this month's Strings about the acceptance (or occasionally lack thereof) of new instruments, with particular reference to orchestras. Without giving details it alludes to orchestra players who have cashed in on their old Italian instruments and play contemporary ones instead, and also claims that certain orchestra managements have expressed unhappiness about this. Steve, Is that in the Feb/Mar issue of strings or the April (which I haven't received yet)? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLaBonne Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 The April issue, which surprised me by arriving a few days ago; I don't recall an issue coming so early before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepBlue Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Great. Now I have something to look forward to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniazzi Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 You say youe Harrild is an exact copy of the del gesu but,and please correct me if i'm wrong,surely the genius of the great makers was in getting the most out of the particular piece of wood that they were working with and perhaps then making an exact copy is missing the point,since no two pieces of wood are going to work in the same way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen redrobe Posted March 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 I think you will find that the mould came first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlo_jsb Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Paul Harrild...hmmm...isn't he part of the "New work group" advertised by Phelps? How much are his violins? Carlo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_piano_stud Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 yes paul harrild is one of the people in the groups. Actually, Phelps was the place where I played Harrild's del gesu copy. you should visit phelps. they have some very interesting stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlo_jsb Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 I do visit Phelps, practically every week. The woman in charge, Rachel Douglas, will stop at nothing to sell you something. I go to school very near Phelps so I can go during lunch hours. Carlo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen redrobe Posted March 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Dear Carlo, he charges £5500 for a violin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Tseng Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 I would like to know from violin players, what are the important features you are looking for in a new violin. I will use them as guidelines and strive to produce that kind of instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Folia Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Anyone every play a Jennifer Becker? I've seen one, and it was certainly well made, but I've never played one. She has the right pedigree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedar Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 After selling a del Gesu you should be able to afford quite a few modern violins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierGirl Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 In reply to: Anyone ever play a Jennifer Becker? I've seen one, and it was certainly well made, but I've never played one. She has the right pedigree. My husband has a Jennifer Becker and is very happy with it. He just played it Monday night in a chamber music series, which is a high recommendation from him. We had a violinist friend from out of town staying with us last week and he was crazy about it too. I'm very bad at describing sound but I'd say it's a very "live" sounding violin... bold, a little aggressive (in a good way) with a lot of ring and a very broad/wide/deep sound (as opposed to his Matsudas, which are sweet with a more compact sound). It's a bit brighter than a Carl Becker. As far as playability goes my husband describes it as "stiff," which is a quality he particularly likes in it but sometimes throws off students. It's also a powerhouse of a violin. If you click around enough on our Web page you can see it a little -- it's the one in the pictures. It's funny to see people's reactions to it at first since it's bright orange and not at all antiqued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLaBonne Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 I looked at the pictures and, from what I can see, I like it! I'm one of those strange people who enjoy seeing new instruments that look new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Folia Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Gosh, I hope the grammar police don't see that error. I must confess that I don't mind unantiqued violins at all, but the one thing I don't like about Beckers is the bright orange color. Still, you're lucky to have a great instrument. Do you know how much she charges now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierGirl Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 If it helps, the varnish is getting darker over time. Those pictures were taken several years ago when it was brand new. This violin was $15K in '95, but I believe her violins are more like $20K now. Jennifer Becker's shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Was this a collaborative effort with Carl F? Are those still being offered, at what price, and did you get any impression of those if that is not what you chose in the end? I gather that her father is still making the occasional instrument by himself. True? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lversola Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 I just saw Carl Jr. last week (in fact, I'm going over to Becker's tonight after work) -- he's doing great, and yes, he still makes the occasional instrument, so his son Paul tells me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierGirl Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 This one is 100% Jennifer's work. She does make instruments in partnership with her father, but unfortunately that's all I know. My husband didn't look into those when he bought this one -- actually, I'm not sure the Beckers were doing partnership instruments back in '95. Don't quote me on that, though. I'm in over my head here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjm Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 I have just commissioned a violin by David Folland. I still plan to keep my other fiddle (Sgarabotto) for variety and investment (although I'll have to make payments for seven more years). I believe David is one of the finest makers around. I had the good fortune of trying two Guadagnini violns the same week as I played a Folland,and his violin was superior (to my ears) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverfishfight Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 "I feel that there are makers alive today, this very day, who can provide me with just as great a violin. In fact I know it." Hmmmm........Toads hop to work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Tseng Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 How much does Folland charge for his violin? I used to play with his brother in a church orchestra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_piano_stud Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 ha ha ha! yes rachel. she cracks me up. when i was there she also showed me a violin with Beare certificate by "Cristofo Affler" or something like that. Great fiddle. But she was asking for too much. She also had a Sgarbi, now that's a really nice violin. However, all of the modern violins she showed me, I had absolutely no interest in them. But Paul Harrild's... yes... was interested but didn't have 8000 pounds on me. You should hop on the tube and to Beare's sometime. It's not a hard to get an appointment with Beare and just go play for an whole afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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