New music for Zanetto Pellegrino.

Jazz performer and composer Robert Rivera was in my shop last week, he was kind to play on my new Zanetto da Montichiari 1576 replica.  I am particularly impressed by the harmonics and bass tones he was able to get from this comfortable and rather compact cello.  The string length is shy of 27"1/4 or 69 cm. the cello was set up with a French bridge, C and G are Spiracore Tungsten, D is Pirastro Permanent and A is Jaeger forte.  The tailpiece is ebony French style (71gr.) with carbon fiber tuners, and Kevlar tail cord.

Thank you Robert!

Craquelure, what Montagnana feared.

What causes craquelure?  When subsequent layers of varnish are applied too quickly, lower layers tend to dry at a slower rate due to the solvent effect of the layer that is applied on top, the reduced amount of uv rays, air.  The layers on top start to dry faster and as they harden they shrink causing wide gaps and the effect we call craquelure.  This effect can be faked by softening the varnish, some makers simply by applying a coat of alcohol, and then applying, with of without a brush, a quick drying varnish.  It could be an alcohol sandarac varnish applied over one or two coats of not completely dry oil varnish, or a water based solution of gum Arabic applied over a still soft alcohol or oil based varnish.  The thinner the soft coat is, the narrower and distant from one another the gaps will be.  If you desire to achieve wide craquelure as in the C bout photo, the varnish should be applied thick and still quite wet.  In this case one or more layers of egg white, could be applied with an airbrush.  Egg white will generate wide craquelure.

I am sure Domenico Montagnana did his best to avoid this varnish abnormal behavior, see two Montagnana cellos with and without craquelure.  The craquelure on the Montagnana is particularly appealing because it varies in pattern.  I still have to see a beautiful convincing craquelure imitation, my colleague D.W. suggests we should make a varnish that will slowly gain such effect.  I think he is right.

Finishing with the chisel. Guarneri Andrea

I have been working on a cello scroll all day, this time I am going to finish the surfaces with the gouge.  For example and inspiration I look at this Andrea Guarneri scroll.  The work is both, rough and refined.  I assure you it is a very hard look to achieve.  Why do I like it so much?  Because surfaces that are finished with the chisel show the intent of a simple and effective technique.  Time has then softened some of the edges and accentuated the volumes where leftover varnish has created darker areas.

Congress makes it easier to fly with instruments

http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101807703206-370/FAA.pdf

Finally, relief at last for musicians who travel with their instruments on airplanes.

 

Congress has finally passed legislation that sets a consistent national policy allowing musical instruments on airplanes.

Any instrument that can be safely stored in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat may be brought on board as carry-on luggage.

 

Additionally, the bill sets standard weight and size requirements for checked instruments, and permits musicians to purchase a seat for over-sized instruments, such as cellos, that are too delicate to be checked. 

 

Existing law used to allow each airline to set their own policy regarding musical instruments, and size requirements varied widely for both carry-on and checked baggage. 

The finest tool chest.

I keep my tools on a panel, in front of my bench.  They are all layed out and within reach, but I have made several tool chests.  Whatching this video made me want to make another one, maybe not as heavy.