I Review Broken 1840s Violin Restoration Video

Master Violin Maker and Restorer Olaf Grawert reacts to the 1840's violin restoration video. Will the violin restorer meet Olaf's standards? Can it be classified as a restoration?
Be fully informed when you buy your next instrument. Get Olaf's free 7 essentials when buying an instrument report here: olafgrawertviolinstudio.com/7...
Also if you are a repairer or like to tinker on violins, please take the time to find out proper violin Measurements. There is a great book by Henry Strobl called "Useful Measurements for Violin Makers" It will help you make sure you do things right. String players will appreciate it and getting it wrong can destroy possibilities for up and coming players.
While I comment on the way this person did the repair, remember to be kind to content creators... They use their time to create content for you. I do my videos to help educate string players so they can be the best they can with the right information.
00:00 Introduction
1:15 Fitting the soundpost patch
04:20 Fitting fingerboard and planing patches
06:10 Gluing the instrument closed
07:50 Adjusting, fitting and gluing the neck
09:15 Detailing and retouching the instrument
15:10 Finishing touches
19:30 Final thoughts and conclusion
#myviolinmaker, #olafgrawertviolin #violin
Website: www.olafgrawertviolinstudio.com
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[@sgnt9337]

Keep posting these sorts of topics. I really enjoy them!

[@BrianTimmonsTX]

They clearly got a more qualified person to fix this one. The original video looked like it was filmed in the repair corner of a pawn shop. Very “I know a guy” vibes.

[@highmountaingee]

Just, FYI. I like your channel because I like watching people restore things, and I love watching the workmanship of someone talented. I'm not a musician, but I do enjoy going to the symphony.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Well Olaf you also redeemed yourself on this one, showing an honest evaluation and giving credit where and when due. kudos. I'm an 80 yr old wood hacker from way back. Im not a master of the craft in anyway shape or form. but am intelligent enough to know and appreciate. expertise when I see it. we all might be Patzer's in the wood field of craftsmanship but thanks for sharing and making an enjoyable video. More!!! ECF

[@highmountaingee]

Great job! I really enjoyed this video. I always look forward to your next video. It never comes fast enough

[@arnhemseptember2009]

Good craftsmanship is always enjoyable to watch! Sound comments show craftsmanship too!

[@maxheadroom1506]

I thought the neck filing would be cringe but I am no expert in the proper shape for the neck. to me that video is restoration plus correction vs just restoration. Thanks Olaf for clearing things up.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Nice to they got footage of someone who knows what they're doing this time around. That last one was so bad, I still can't believe they used wood glue as Brett and Eddy would say it was sacrilegious lol. 👍👍

[@keithrosenberg5486]

A very good commentary.

[@RobertFay]

*- Thanks for reminding me to hit the Like Button, Olaf.*

[@sirspongadoodle]

You were talking about your dad being a violin maker aswell, could you get him on a video?? It would be fascinating to see how it was done…

[@hl8560]

"In all fairness" - good video Olaf. Great to watch.

[@michelnagumaqmorton]

That was so much fun , thanks for the video and comments and explanations ...was it maybe boiled linseed oil he rubbed on the neck :o)

[@AbstractObserver]

Its an AI generated script with an AI narration. Dont give it too much credit

[@zainab58]

Oh, well spotted. I saw one recently that I didn’t recognize as AI narration until it came to the trivia question “Who wrote the novel One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four?” Luþier, haha.

[@RattiDave]

Olaf - Their channel is "Masters Of Craft", not "Masters Of _THE_ Craft". Just being my usual pedantic self …

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Well it's just a craft that is half a step closer to the most basic standard level of violin restoration techniques

[@NOLAfugee]

12:30 I guess you forgot what a hair dryer is. 😂

[@BeastOfSoda]

Hey Olaf, thanks for reacting to this; I knew you'd eventually get to when I saw this video originally. One question: what do you imagine the monetary value of this instrument would have been? Do you think it's worth the effort spent on it, or do you consider this to be too far gone to justify fixing?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

It's hard to say what the monetary value would have been... It definitely looks like it's worth doing the restoration though.

[@maxheadroom1506]

Olaf what are your thoughts on carbon fiber violins? Also there is a youtuber guy who used a cnc to make a violin just to see if it was possible what are your thoughts on how that violin sounded? In that video he used permanent glue on purpose so that it could never be repaired. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5qzY5Whe7qdb5Y @@AskOlaftheViolinmaker

[@rikspector]

Olaf, Given the basic skills, it's all those "little" refinements you make that show skill levels. You really have developed the KISS method, like shaving the pieces before final fitting. We don't want to work harder than necessary and it shows in your videos. Each day, each week, each year is a continuing process to be able to achieve the results more easily. Come to think of it, that holds true for anything that requires skill, eh? Cheers, Rik Spector

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Olaf reviews your video?

[@doctorscoot]

i think the narrator and the script is written by an AI, which is common for content-farm you tube channels (which this video seems to be one)

[@ThomasLecoq-bd7qj]

Question: I have a student violin that's finished with oil, but not varnish. I suspect it is because the timber is fairly recent. It is Spruce top, maple back. Would this be a candidate for a violin maker to varnish with a good, old fashion violin varnish? It has a very nice sound because I took it to an experienced violin maker who set it up to perfection, but it has a rather dull finish. Or would a polishing done your way, improve the appearance and maybe enhance the sound? I live in the desert, so the violin will be thoroughly dry in a year or two. Would varnishing later work as I hope? BTW, it's a Bunnel by Kennedy Violins, the model Ray Chen liked best of all violins on Amazon in his youtube comparison.

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

I thought Ricard bunnel violins used synthetic varnish? The transition between varnish and no varnish on the neck has a distinctive matte character and deep color. It's different if the violin is varnished with handmade varnish by the violin maker himself, the color will of course be more transparent (Consisting of several layers of "violin varnish"), a little slippery, have a wave texture (not perfectly smooth), And they can usually wear out more quickly. In contrast to synthetic varnish which when touched is perfectly smooth, the color is thick (But actually it only consists of one thin layer) and smooth like the surface of ABS plastic. Apart from that, the gradient color is made from the same type of varnish/paint as the main varnish used by the Ricard Bunnel violin, so it does not affect the feel of the surface (synthetic varnish, Synthetic gradation, synthetic maple backplate hologram fleming) Usually, manufactured chemical paint/varnish will not be compatible with ordinary violin maker varnishes made from natural ingredients Or any natural ingredients such as linseed oil. I liken it to natural varnish applied to fake varnish like porridge spread evenly until dry on a smooth ceramic floor. But at least and overall Ricard bunnel violins are at least very more durable and technically more resistant to all the things that can damage a violin, also Ricard Bunnel violins Has better sound quality. But the standard of a violin is not determined by price. In my opinion, a standard violin (beginner and above) is not the right price at $500USD, but a little more expensive above that. Solid wood with tight wood grain, varnish made by a violin maker from natural materials, made by a reputable violin maker, durable, precise craftsmanship, And the setup is slightly above standard quality (not just good enough). As for the rest, it is your own preference.

[@Ramplcro]

Cool review. Those thumb planes, thou... I guess you professionals have to achieve quite a dexterity in fingers. After a while working on a bigger surface (guitar) my fingers began to hurt. So I attached diy "handle" , which is a vine bottle cork, slashed partially in half and fitted on the back of the blade and then clamped with rope. These way "handle" rests in the palm, taking some pressure off from fingers.

[@zapa1pnt]

There are commercially made planes, like that, available.

[@shiraga0516]

03:10 What is 'a wood-based glue'?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Haha... Missed that one. How would you make glue from wood. He would have used hide glue

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Olaf mean, Water based glue? 😂😂😂❤🎉

[@abe_nuh]

hi olaf

[@aryeh-xw7mi]

Hi, Olaf! Can you recommend a luthier in the area or Trier, Germany?

[@billmumbo2697]

Hi Olaf can i point you to Rosa Stringworks channel where Jerry Rosa repairs a violin that has been destroyed while moving he does not like hide glue the episodes you want are called Chocolate ( the name of the violin ) hope you enjoy his work and maybe get a reaction video from it 😊

[@zapa1pnt]

Oh, Bill. Your just setting the stage for a rant. 🤬😖 Of course, Jerry's use of Titebond will be the premier issue. 😱 Are you trolling, here? 🤣 😁✌🖖

[@neilfromclearwaterfl81]

@@zapa1pntOf course though Jerry backs up his choices by showing how consistent the glues he uses work and how easily he can take the instruments apart for repairs afterwards when they've sustained physical damage. He'll even go so far as to explain why he chose a particular glue such as this needs to be able to come apart so I use Original TiteBond compared to I want this to last as long as possible but come apart with heat so I use TiteBond 2 or this is something I never want to come apart and to be impervious to humidity such as repairing a broken neck or headstock so I used TiteBond 3. He does when the job calls for it use Hide Glue and regularly uses it for what its best at when he puts on labels. He does strongly dislike the inconsistency between Hide Glues used by different makers with some coming apart if you sneeze near the instrument while others require extreme heat, steaming and great force to get them apart. Jerry would tell people when they brought a really valuable instrument in though when he thought it needed to go to a Master Violin Maker especially if it needed to be perfectly color matched to maintain its value since he is color blind. He says he would refuse to work on a real Stradivarius or any other violin made by the Old Masters since that would be beyond where he places his limits so one does have to appreciate that level of candor and honesty. Stradivarius was an innovator using the most modern technology of his time and perhaps inventing better so if he were here today we all might be surprised by what he would choose to make his instruments with in the here and now. Perhaps a mix of carbon and wood fiber or a 3 axis CNC machine along with laser cutters. Wonder if he'd be first in line to get some Tesla Atlas Robots working in his shop.... Best!

[@zapa1pnt]

@@neilfromclearwaterfl81: I am well aware of all of that. I have been watching Jerry's channel for years. I was joking, specifically, with Bill. 😁✌🖖

[@neilfromclearwaterfl81]

@@zapa1pntJust calling it out for those that may not be familiar with Jerry. Best!

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Just let RSW and the world of classical violin be a heterogeneous "mixture" even though they are still the same topic. RSW must accept the complete rules of traditional violin workshops if violinists want to be in the spotlight

[@illmade2]

Most restores on youtube do more damage to what they are working on than help, as long as it's shiny at the end. Is this even the same person as in the other video? Gotta love AI narration.

[@wakingtheworld]

The difference in restoration workmanship between this vid and the last is too good to be true.... Odd!

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

I'm sure they don't think that the violin is a very fragile Sound Resonance Box and changing the varnish at will destroys the Natural Sound Equalizer on the violin. Restoring a violin isn't just a puzzle game or leaving lots of blemishes and scratches for "art" reasons.

[@adamgc73]

Videos are always better when you see a random animal walk through 😂😅

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

The humor in between will always be interesting

[@user-jq8lz1my3c]

olaf is truly a master,,,, but that guy didn t do to bad either

[@zapa1pnt]

Olaf, the Masters of Craft YT channel is nothing but a journalistic endeavor. As with Any journalistic posting, the journalists have no idea what they are dealing with or talking about, because it is not their line. So, the things to be found there are random choices, on the part of the poster and without any depth, far below the level of a documentary. Unless you are Looking for something to rant about, it is not worth your time to even peruse the channel. 😁✌🖖

[@sgnt9337]

Here's a suggestion for a future violin repair reaction video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKurdIuMZteVhJI

[@RED-cy7ig]

Thanfully this was not a cringe worthy video like the previous.

[@eliasschwartzman2283]

100% that narration is written and voiced by AI. the particular kind of nonsense sounds like a large language model

[@yogibear6363]

Olaf needs a cat.

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

It would be so cute 🥰

[@gailrivas762]

I get so angry at those videos that say everything you need to build a violin at home.

[@wakingtheworld]

Original vid was 31mins long. Would have been good to have seen less of you and more of the video & work being done, by having you as the thumbnail as you did around 16:20, commenting as he worked. Glad they redeemed themselves. The workmanship was one extreme to the other which is kinda odd....

[@davidhudson5452]

Breathing violin must be electric

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

We classical violinists see the electric violin as exactly like a Kopyor cake which is very beautiful and aesthetic with a taste that is bland and almost indigestible.