Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Hi All, I’m privileged to be the owner of a Tres Amigos violin (2013, Strad Model) made by Ryan Soltis, Antoine Nedelec, and Jeff Phillips for Julie Reed-Yeboah’s contemporary violin exhibition in New York. Every year (theoretically, ) the trio of first-class makers go through rotations of who does what. In the case of my current violin, the scroll/varnish is by Ryan, the back and ribs are by Antoine, and the top is by Jeff. After they completed three Strad models, of which mine is the second, they moved on to Del Gesu models. When the time for the second DG model came around, which would be the twin to mine in terms of who made what, I had expressed a lot of interest in the fiddle as a companion to my current Strad. Fast forward to 2020 and here we are with the fiddle completed! When I asked the trio if they would be okay with me posting the pictures, the condition was that I give Antoine a mohawk in one of them. VOILA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Antoine was kind enough to allow me to provide some input as to the fiddle’s model. We decided on a mid-period Del Gesu model with a fairly symmetrical conception of F-holes. Antoine chose the Joachim of 1737 as an outline due to its fairly pristine condition. What I also wanted was a two piece back with flames ascending from the centre joint since my Strad model has the same back. As the violin progressed, Ryan fed me many pictures during the process (we are good facebook buds). These are some of the first shots of the fiddle in white, once again Jeff Phillips top and Antoine Nedelec back/ribs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 This is Ryan Soltis’ lovely scroll, inspired by the Baltic DG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 The violin is out of it’s tanning booth and it has received it’s first ground coat! The back and ribs have some stunning flaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Here’s the fiddle going through various coats of varnish, getting more red as coats go on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 The three amigos have assembled in Chicago at the Chicago School of Violin Making where Antoine is the director. Let the antiquing fest begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 At the outset of their assembly, I told Ryan to send me lots of pictures. He didn’t disappoint! The three do rotations of antiquing, turning over the fiddle to the next person every 30 minutes or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 “Ryan, stop taking pictures of me and get back to work!” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 The violin, once a pristine sheen of red, is getting about 300 years of abuse in a week. The antiquing process is a fine art in its own right and these three are some of the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Antoine be flexin’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 The Tres Amigos next to one of Ryan’s fiddles getting the same treatment. The three friends are having a great time it seems! The fiddle is looking pretty spectacular as it goes between pairs of hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Dinner time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Well, it looks like they got fed up with it all and decided to chuck it in the bin (thanks for giving me a heart attack Ryan!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Back to work! Something new as well, a PSN logo about the button! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Antoine hard at work giving the fiddle some patina and sheen, and Ryan having some fun positioning that lamp shade juuuuuust right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Almost at the finish line!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 At last, the antiquing fest has come to a close and the Tres Amigos is looking spectacular! They all went to school together in Salt Lake and remain great friends. Each one of them has ascended to top of their field and collaborative efforts like these are extremely special. If it weren’t for the pandemic, I would be going to see the violin as soon as I could, but I know it will be worth the wait. As Antoine told me, the 3 Amigos is a labour of love, and it shows! A big thank you to Jeff, Antoine, and Ryan for feeding me these photos and for allowing this humble musician to be the recipient of such a superb fiddle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 The fiddle has received it’s fingerboard (synthetic!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Brown Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Thanks for the great photos! Looks like a great fiddle. DLB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Dwight Brown said: Thanks for the great photos! Looks like a great fiddle. DLB You’re very welcome! I’m sure it will sound as good as it looks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 11 minutes ago, Jeremyamoto said: You’re very welcome! I’m sure it will sound as good as it looks! I'm waiting to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted May 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 51 minutes ago, Violadamore said: I'm waiting to ask. Yeah, I will update this post when I get to actually go and see it! Antoine has played it and said he was very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joerobson Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Thank you. That was fun! The new Varnish Room in Chicago looks great.I can't wait to see it. on we go, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremyamoto Posted August 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2021 Thar she blows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Jacoby Posted August 6, 2021 Report Share Posted August 6, 2021 Gorgeous. They're hard to beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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