Trying to decide on a book (gift) for an amateur luthier

[rynthae]

Hi everyone,

I've started thinking ahead for what I want to do for holiday gifts this year, and although I've already decided on a couple things for my father I also wanted to include a book to help expand his reference library for violin-making/repairing since he dabbles in making and repairing violins and violin bows in his spare time. He has a couple of the Strobel books already (he has Violin Making, Step by Step and also Useful Measurements for Violin Makers) and I was hoping to pick up another to add to his collection, but wasn't sure whether Art & Method of the Violin Maker or Violin Maker's Notebook would come in handier. Any opinions on which is more useful out of the two?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

-Ryn

[Frank Nichols]

Well, it is free, so it may not make the list, and it may not be very practical either. But, I am just starting out, and definitely not even an amateur yet, but I found "Violin Making by Walter Henry Mayson printed in 1909" to be a fascinating and entertaining read. I love the form of the language back then, and the almost poetry used to express opinions of the author, for example (I have posted this one here before):

“Many persons of good, practical ability, and moderately versed in the laws of acoustics, with an eye for form, and not deficient in a certain conception of art as art; who have the instinct to check any approach to vulgarity, and work on lines, curves and thicknesses, more or less true, elegant, and the best for producing fine tone, have seen, and will yet again see, their efforts of small avail, cast aside, never to assume even mediocre rank in the stern array of violins of modern make, much less of those of ancient Italy, merely because the wood chosen for the instrument made is of an inferior, probably worthless character, which would have been employed to much more purpose had it been used in the construction of a windmill, or the shaft of a mine.”

 

Excerpt From: Walter Henry Mayson. “Violin Making.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/3MgDE.l

[MarkBouquet]

Strobel describes "Art & Method......" as:

"......not a manual for making a violin, but rather "continuing education" for the working violin maker. Violinists and collectors will be interested, too."

It's a collection of articles on various making topics, without being a step-by-step inclusive manual.

"Violin Maker's Notebook" is mostly about bow rehairing and repairs, and violin crack and varnish repair. There are a few other topics thrown into the mix, but those two are the main subjects.

They're both good books. Get one for Christmas, and the other for his birthday. You can hardly go wrong either way.

[Violadamore]

Oh, my, Mayson...............

 

I don't have an opinion about Stroebel's works, but, the poor fellow hasn't anything by Herron-Allen?      Well, there's your answer! 

 

Levity aside, if you have sufficient budget ($400 range), what I would consider a prize gift for any serious violin addict would be either Sacconi's The Secrets of Stradivari, or Weisshaar and Shipman's Violin Restoration. 

[Peter Lynch]

Best book by far on as a general reference on making violins would be The Art of Violin Making by Johnson and Courtanll.  It is about $100 but worth every penny.

[duane88]

Best book by far on as a general reference on making violins would be The Art of Violin Making by Johnson and Courtanll.  It is about $100 but worth every penny.

Ditto!

 

Or if they are really just into violins, the Secrets of Stradivarius by Simone Sacconi. It goes well with The Art of Violin Making...

 

Herron Allen, Mayson, Pethrick, are all esoteric junk for the collector of books, but not those who want real answers!

 

Or you could go cheap and get the Hill Strad and Guarneri reprints. Nothing wrong with those and you can read them more than once, still get more each time, and on different levels as you progress.

[rynthae]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! FrankNichols, I'll definitely have to show my dad that link since I'm positive he would be interested in it! Clearsky, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll get the second one for him for his birthday.

I would love to get him The Art of Violin Making, The Secrets of Stradivari, or Violin Restoration but alas the budget does not allow this time around, haha. I already picked him up a nice maple shoulder rest, a tuner, and will be getting him some Swiss chocolates that he likes as well, so $20-$30 on a book would be the easiest to do this time around. In the future I might save up for one of the others, like The Art of Violin Making, though.

[Violadamore]

Herron Allen, Mayson, Pethrick, are all esoteric junk for the collector of books, but not those who want real answers!.

True.  Unfortunately, nearly all of us here have stepped in them at some point (though apparently, some have wallowed  ) because they are free and readily available as downloads.  Someone could easily edit the public domain material available from the Victorian/Edwardian era of violin enthusiasm into sets of either The Five Foot Shelf of Violin Nonsense  or Questionable Books of the Violin World.   

[Pate Bliss]

Blood Makes the Grass Grow Green is an outstanding first effort.

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Makes-Grass-Grow-Green/dp/0891418970

Would also suggest Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway, and if he lives out west, Men To Match My Mountains.

[Jim Bress]

The good books that would help your Dad in making or repairing have already been mentioned.  If you want a budget friendly book for entertainment I would suggest "The Violin Maker: Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop".  It's a good read, but may push the infection of violin making into a full blown disease.  I'm sorry but I don't think a cure for the disease has been discovered yet.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Violin-Maker-Centuries-Old-Tradition-Brooklyn/dp/0060012676

 

-Jim

[Berl Mendenhall]

There are good books out there, but nothing compares with Maestronet. Get him/her started with a good book and direct them here. No need for them to be intimidated, we have beginners to makers like David Burgess. Reading daily posts will keep their interest up.

[Rue]

The good books that would help your Dad in making or repairing have already been mentioned.  If you want a budget friendly book for entertainment I would suggest "The Violin Maker: Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop".  It's a good read, but may push the infection of violin making into a full blown disease.  I'm sorry but I don't think a cure for the disease has been discovered yet.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Violin-Maker-Centuries-Old-Tradition-Brooklyn/dp/0060012676

 

-Jim

 

I agree.  This is a fun read (and re-read).  And within your remaining budget.

[catnip]

There are many other gifts an amateur violin maker would appreciate.  A book is a resource and is purchased as needed and from my experience buying a violin making book can be hit or miss with the inexpensive ones. There are the classics like the Courtnall book, Weisshaar repair book etc. but those are a bit more expensive.   You might consider a Strad magazine subscription, or the Strad Trade Secrets book(s) or a gift certificate to Lee Valley .

[Nick Allen]

I found the Sacconi book cheaper.

http://www.cremonatools.com/the-secrets-of-stradivari-s-f-sacconi.html

It's €150, which is like $170.

[Jim Bress]

There are many other gifts an amateur violin maker would appreciate.  A book is a resource and is purchased as needed and from my experience buying a violin making book can be hit or miss with the inexpensive ones. There are the classics like the Courtnall book, Weisshaar repair book etc. but those are a bit more expensive.   You might consider a Strad magazine subscription, or the Strad Trade Secrets book(s) or a gift certificate to Lee Valley .

Or Luthier lights!  Oh wait, that's for my wish list. 

 

-Jim

[Bill Yacey]

Depending on how much money you wish to spend, the Karl Roy book is an excellent reference book, but a little pricey.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

Best book by far on as a general reference on making violins would be The Art of Violin Making by Johnson and Courtanll.  It is about $100 but worth every penny.

I like this one also