Thickness Graduation Maps of Classic Violins, Violas, and Cellos, 227 p.

Description

Thickness Graduation Maps:  Classic Violins, Violas, and Cellos
If you are a violin (viola, cello, bass) maker, repairer, researcher, or serious enthusiast, then you need reliable information upon which to base your knowledge and decisions about dimensions, acoustics, weight, wood quality, appearance, and performance.  Regrettably, the violin literature is a madhouse of differing opinions, out-of-context examples, and unsupported conclusions.  Rumors spread by the Press about this or that "secret" further muddy the waters.
As a frustrated maker in 1998, I turned my earlier PhD focus and drive towards gathering basic documentation on classic violin family instruments.  Others joined the enterprise, and soon we were spending weeks in the world's top museums measuring whole collections of Northern Italian violins, violas, and cellos. I traveled the world (Italy, Sweden, New York, Washington DC, South Dakota) collecting data on fine instruments and collaborating with other researchers, makers, shop owners, and enthusiasts.  As Editor of the Catgut Acoustical Society Journal for four years (2000-2004), I made connections that led to additional data.  Recently we received data from an important instrument collection in Japan. The result is a massive amount of data on thickness, dimensions, weights, and many other critical parameters on the world's best violin family instruments.  These data can be used to reliably answer many questions from makers, researchers, and enthusiasts.  The database currently comprises 17.1 gigabytes, which would run 550 feet long if it were books on a shelf.
The best way to present these data is to process all maps identically, using the same color scheme and contour interval.  Hot colors (yellow, red) mean thick and cold colors (blue, gray) mean thin, so they are easy to compare.
The 2021 version presents 320 instruments (261 violins, 32 violas, 23 celli, and 2 double bass). The current book is 227 pages, which is a condensation of the highest quality data from the huge database.  Previously we sold hundreds of copies of this book internationally. Top makers have it, and violin-making schools bought multiple copies.  Many makers told me that they made their best instrument after buying the book and studying the maps.  In one case a student won an important British violin-making competition by applying what he learned.
We hand produce these books on our office laser color printer.  We use the finest acid-free paper, and then bind with a ring binder so that it will lay flat on your workbench.  This is not a pretty coffee table book for collectors.  It is a large, heavy workbook full of careful documentation that can answer hundreds of questions perhaps better than any other source.
Jeff Loen PhD
owner of Kenmore Violins, Seattle WA USA
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Highlights of the Book
* Color contour maps of top and back plates of instruments by the greatest makers from Cremona, Brescia, Venice, Milan, Naples, Paris, Mittenwald, and other violin making centers
*45 violins, violas and cellos by five members of the Guarneri family, including 27 concert violins by Guarneri del Gesu
*66 violins, violas, and cellos by Antonio Stradivari encompassing 64 years of his working life (1670-1734), including 33 instruments from his Golden Age (1700-20)
*The finest examples of instruments from five of the world’s best museums
*Winners of major violin-making competitions
*18 violins and violas by four generations of the Amati family (1564-1703)
*Violins, violas, and cellos by the greatest Venetian makers (including Gofriller, Bellosio, Montagnana, Peter Guarneri, and Seraphin)
*Examples of unmodified instruments by classic makers, including Bros Amati, Andrea Guarneri, Stainer, and Seraphin
* Concert-class cellos by Stradivari, Andrea Guarneri, Gofriller, C.G. Testore, Montagnana, Jos Guarneri filius Andrea, Francesco Ruggeri, David Tecchler, and Peter Guarneri of
Venice; including several with poplar backs
*Instruments by the greatest modern Italian makers including Pressenda, Rocca, R & G Fiorini, Ornati, Scarampella, Poggi, and Garimberti
*Violins by famous copyists, including the Voller Brothers and 10 examples by Vuillaume
*Examples of new instruments by modern masters from
Italy, USA, Germany, France, Norway, and
Sweden, which show successful ways of graduating new wood
*Instruments by successful innovative makers including Alfred Lanini,
Sergio Peresson, François Chanot, and Anatolij Ivanovitch Léman
* Useful details on rib thickness, tap tones, arching heights, ff-hole spacings, repairs, and instrument weights.
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Comments from Readers:
“This book is the best reality check I've come across for thicknesses.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I am using your plate thicknesses book almost every day as I work through more design ideas. It's been a great resource.”
“The book is an invaluable aid that I refer to often. There's nothing else like it out there!”
“I must thank you for your work and the maps you sent me.  I thicknessed the violin for the  Violin Making competition according to them and it worked well soundwise! I got the student prize! …  Part of my success comes from you!”
“So far I have found the data very interesting. It fills in a lot of gaps in the thought process.”
“Hey, I got a chance to see your new book last night...  Wow--that thing is jam packed with info!!”
“Fabulous reference - the result of countless hours of work no doubt!  Glad to have it.”
“I received your book... It is awesome; exactly what I wanted.”
“What a fantastic contribution to the world of violin making!“
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Just to let you know that I received the book today. It's a real mine of information. Great to see real world data displayed in such an intuitive manner  rather than just generic averaged Sacconi type thicknesses. It's great also to see data about non-Cremonese makers - Guadagnini, Rocca, Pressenda, Vuillaume, Becker, etc."
“Excellent product, communication, service, packing, fast delivery. Recommended!”
“Everything great! All of the thicknesses I checked were quite accurate. Thanks!"
“Book of record and best and lasting values”
“Super nice, thanks again!
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“Excellent copy, well packed, fast delivery!
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Let me know if you would like more info.  I can send you the Table of Contents upon request.