Michael_Molnar Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I love the one-piece backs with that varnish. Perfect! Any more details about that varnish? Is it chippy, soft, etc.? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DarylG Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 As a matter of interest I went to some quite inauthentic lengths to finish the front to the smoothness we see in the recent Strad exhibition ( 0n what might be considered near pristine instruments after taking varnish drying & wood shrinkage into account) and even so its corduroy effect is quite marked beyond what I hoped. I thought the Messiah had a fairly strong corduroy texture on the top, is this not the case? (Haven't seen it myself) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Kelly Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I thought the Messiah had a fairly strong corduroy texture on the top, is this not the case? (Haven't seen it myself) Looking good, Melvin! La Messie cord. belly.tiff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I thought the Messiah had a fairly strong corduroy texture on the top, is this not the case? (Haven't seen it myself) Hi Daryl, Yes you are right to take me up on that as can be seen in Kevin's Pic above. There is some corduroy on the Lady Blunt too and the Amati viol in the Ashmolean permanent collection has similar texture to the Messie. But a lot of the instruments seemed to have quite smooth bellies especially given what one might expect if they were finished with the scrapers on display at the exhibition!.... That's just my impression though.I wish I had time to return to look again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Kelly Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I would agree with you, Melvin, about the corduroy. I think I took photos of the Messie in that raking light to remind myself of just how much texture there is on that fiddle. There's still a day or so left, isn't there?... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
christian bayon Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 .I wish I had time to return to look again. Come tomorrow, I pay a beer! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 Come tomorrow, I pay a beer! Hey Christian I would love to take you up on that offer but unfortunately I am confined to the workshop with a deadline to finish these violas. You will have a great time and you will need a beer afterwards for sure! I just wish I could be there to join you! I have been to the exhibition four times now and each time has been amazing. If I could go again I would. Each time I have visited it has taken me a couple of days to recover from the intensity of the experience, being so mentally stimulated that sleeping at the end of the day was not possible!... Enjoy your visit! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 I would agree with you, Melvin, about the corduroy. I think I took photos of the Messie in that raking light to remind myself of just how much texture there is on that fiddle. There's still a day or so left, isn't there?... Hi Kevin, There is still two days left but I MUST stay in the workshop and meet some deadlines....It was great to go there with Antoine and Martina and then have the pleasure and privilage to meet you and Ben there...I'm still hopefully computing what I saw & what I saw through the eyes of all colleagues on the day. Thank you! Martina's group pic below Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Kelly Posted August 10, 2013 Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 Melvin, I sympathise with your situation. If I were only an hour or two away, I'd be rationalizing all sorts of reasons to take another day and go back. Getting to meet you and talk (with Antoine, Martina, and Ben) about Strad varnish in a room full of great Strad varnish was a real high point of that trip. By the way, I was very impressed with the varnish samples you brought. I thought they stood up very well, and I don't think there will ever be a harder room than that one to compare one's varnish samples in. As Ben said, you're a brave man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Attending to work at the bench as best I can Quote Link to post Share on other sites
christian bayon Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Great varnish on a nice viola! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tango Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Wonderful!!! Great work, I mainly like the style of archings. Tango Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 I love the one-piece backs with that varnish. Perfect! Any more details about that varnish? Is it chippy, soft, Ooops! Forgot to paste in my answer here. Sorry not to reply earlier Mike. The viola varnish is quite hard. It will chip if forced with a hard finger nail. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
curious1 Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Very beautiful viola and very tastefully done! Love the edge work, texture of the top, and discreet antiquing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Thanks Curious 1 ! That viola was one of those lucky instruments where for some unknown reason more or less everything went to plan for once! By the way I would love to see more of your work. I am particularly taken with this violin you illustrated a few weeks ago! Link below... http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/gallery/album/170-my-work/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Of the two violas I posted above the second is near complete... Edit. This one is more close to the original Amati Viola which was cut down and re enlarged etc whilst still retaining a lot of the essential Amati grammar. I copied the asymmetries and differing back & front outlines quite closely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Kelly Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Great stuff, Melvin! I especially like the head - so cool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Antoine Nedelec Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Impressive Melvin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
curious1 Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 Thanks Curious 1 ! That viola was one of those lucky instruments where for some unknown reason more or less everything went to plan for once! By the way I would love to see more of your work. I am particularly taken with this violin you illustrated a few weeks ago! Link below... http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/gallery/album/170-my-work/ Thanks, I'll try and post more instruments. I look forward to seeing more of your work also. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
christian bayon Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 Is the varnish different from the other or the weather more cloudy? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 Is the varnish different from the other or the weather more cloudy? Hi Christian, That's a good question. It is the same varnish and ground and shooting places for both violas but different wood taking varnish a bit different, different light and a good camera with a bad operator! I added some more shots. This is the first time I copied this viola including the quite large cello style head. I was worried that it might make the instrument feel top heavy to play but to an oaf like me it feels OK...so far! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pbelin Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Hi Melvin We've made these big heads for quite a while now, no one ever complained… Very nice viola! Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
actonern Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Am I right in seeing a longer than usual nut (further into the fingerboard) in this viola, and is this a way to provide a bit more clearance for the left first finger from hitting the extended cheeks? Best regards, E Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roland Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Of the two violas I posted above the second is near complete... Beautiful, Melvin! Seeing your work is alwas a treat. I love the flipped two part back à la Amati! The varnish/finish seems to be a bit more glossy than before, is that true? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melvin Goldsmith Posted August 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Hi Ernie Yes that's an extended nut to give finger clearance as you suggest. I make it in two pieces to ease fitting. Hi Roland, The finish is as you rightly notice rather shiny. This is similar to what the original looks like from accumulated polish and what the customer requests. It's from French polish with some gum Benzoin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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