Stradivari Sunrise

[Levin]

Hi,

I 'd like to make a violin based on the 1677 Stradivari's Sunrise but I haven't found the arching of the top and the back .

Can anyone tell me if and where they can be found?

 

 

thanks and ciao

Levin

[Davide Sora]

Hi,

I 'd like to make a violin based on the 1677 Stradivari's Sunrise but I haven't found the arching of the top and the back .

Can anyone tell me if and where they can be found?

 

 

thanks and ciao

Levin

 

Ciao Levin,

I am not aware of the existence of arching templates of the Sunrise, I think the most you can find are pictures of the rib side of the body, from which you may get an idea of long arch shape and heights.

You can find them on the book Strad in Japan or in the four volumes of Jost Thone on Stradivari.

Measured on photos (Strad in Japan) the arching heights seem around 17.5 or 18.0 mm that combined with the narrowness of the Sunrise (163 - 105 - 203.5, probably made on "S" form) definitely creates an arch somewhat different from those of the best instruments

Why did you come to make this choice?

[Levin]

Ciao Davide and thanks for the informations.

 

The beautiful books that you've recommended to me for now are far from my pockets ☺ so I think that the only sources that I realistically can address me are:

- The book "Antonio Stradivari: l'estetica del sublime" (Is it a good book for the job?)
- The poster (without measures) of Sunrise at http://www.cremonaliuteria.it/Poster_e_cartoline/843

the measures that  you told me are referred to the back (17.5) and (18) to the belly?
I have chosen the Sunrise mainly for aesthetic reasons. I find beautiful the relationship between the parties, the top well rounded, the inclination of C, the shortness measure between the C and then the general grace especially in the arching (not flat but gently elevate, the beaks nicely stretched without being excessively long).
I saw the Sunrise in Cremona and I'm in love with it ;-)

My inclinations in violin making lead me towards Amati or amatisé Strad molds more than toward the great Stradivari violins of early '700. I know that my opinion not agree with the prevalent idea but my eye always takes me to Niccolò Amati or to the Early Stradivari so I decided to follow this inclination to see where it takes me.

 

What do you think about this violin ?

 

Ciao

Levin

Edited May 29, 2015 by Levin

[catnip]

I like the Sunrise scroll (side view). 

 

Here are some measurements in mm and details from my research;

length:       355 or 356

Upper        163

C-bout       105  (with caliper) 109 (without)

Lower        204

upper rib    29.5

mid rib       29.5

lower rib    30.5

scroll length 106

scroll height  48.5

scroll width   40.5

 

Top is one piece with the tight grain on Bass side !?

C rib on the right has the flame in the wrong direction.

No information about arching heights (yet) but you can probably estimate it from the pictures.

[Davide Sora]

Ciao Davide and thanks for the informations.

 

The beautiful books that you've recommended to me for now are far from my pockets ☺ so I think that the only sources that I realistically can address me are:

- The book "Antonio Stradivari: l'estetica del sublime" (Is it a good book for the job?)

- The poster (without measures) of Sunrise at http://www.cremonaliuteria.it/Poster_e_cartoline/843

the measures that  you told me are referred to the back (17.5) and (18) to the belly?

I have chosen the Sunrise mainly for aesthetic reasons. I find beautiful the relationship between the parties, the top well rounded, the inclination of C, the shortness measure between the C and then the general grace especially in the arching (not flat but gently elevate, the beaks nicely stretched without being excessively long).

I saw the Sunrise in Cremona and I'm in love with it ;-)

My inclinations in violin making lead me towards Amati or amatisé Strad molds more than toward the great Stradivari violins of early '700. I know that my opinion not agree with the prevalent idea but my eye always takes me to Niccolò Amati or to the Early Stradivari so I decided to follow this inclination to see where it takes me.

 

What do you think about this violin ?

 

Ciao

Levin

 

I don't have that book and that poster and so I can not say if they are reliable for measurement or useful.

The arching heights taken from photos of the sides are not very reliable because the point of shooting, which may distort the lines.

On Strad in Japan there are photos of both sides and measures are reversed from side to side, so it's just an approximation.

The Sunrise is very beautiful, but acoustically I not find it very exciting.

One of the first forms I made was based on the Sunrise, later enlarged and modified, transforming it in my present PG form .

[Levin]

The Sunrise is very beautiful, but acoustically I not find it very exciting.

 

Do you think that acoustically the violin with the Amati-style arching are less powerful and/or unpleasant in the sound?

 

Levin

[Levin]

I like the Sunrise scroll (side view). 

 

Here are some measurements in mm and details from my research;

length:       355 or 356

Upper        163

C-bout       105  (with caliper) 109 (without)

Lower        204

upper rib    29.5

mid rib       29.5

lower rib    30.5

scroll length 106

scroll height  48.5

scroll width   40.5

 

Top is one piece with the tight grain on Bass side !?

C rib on the right has the flame in the wrong direction.

No information about arching heights (yet) but you can probably estimate it from the pictures.

 

Tanks catnip! :-)

 

Levin

[Violadamore]

I'm another Sunrise fan, and wish you great good luck.  [Mixes a Tequila Sunrise and sips appreciatively at it]  How are you planning to execute the decorations, and do you have templates? 

Here's a link to a previous thread that you might find interesting. http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/topic/329199-list-of-decorated-stradivarius-instruments/

[Levin]

How are you planning to execute the decorations, and do you have templates? 

 

Hi,

I 'm not going to do the decorations. In this violin I like the shape and arching more than the decoration.

[Davide Sora]

Do you think that acoustically the violin with the Amati-style arching are less powerful and/or unpleasant in the sound?

 

Levin

 

I do not like this generalization on Amati style archings, and I prefer to speak of specific instruments.

The Sunrise have a very sweet tone, but a little thin and not so much powerful

compared for example to the Hellier who has a sound much more full and bodied.

Between the two I choose the Hellier for the sound, which has larger dimensions and lower archings.

Anyway I love the Sunrise scroll, one of those who inspired me at the beginnings of my "career" in the eighties, after having bought my first serious book of violins photos (Strad in Japan).