Ancient Violin Restoration

Coming up is the restoration of a 19th Century replica of the legendary Stradivari violin. Let's dive into the process of repairing and transforming a broken and disfigured violin into its former glory!

[@isaiahbraddock]

Great video! But could you remove the stock music when the person is playing it at the end? I want to hear the violin better!

[@a-ls6333]

Yeah that pissed me off too, very frustrating indeed.

[@andrejohnson6731]

Would you like some fries with that?

[@a-ls6333]

@@andrejohnson6731 eh?

[@iteerrex8166]

Yes, that was mistake in editing.

[@bruperina]

Tks

[@49mrbassman]

As a luthier of nearly 50 years standing, I have to say that the commentary was very good at explaining what was happening, there are several elements that made me cringe. Reconstituted hot hide and bone glue are my own choice for any instrument of such age. I wouldn't go near it with a commercially made product as is used in the making of this video.

[@Julikachen]

Well, it's not a Strad, so... ;-)

[@jasonbutler419]

I noticed that, too, and it had me wondering. I don't have any experience with bottled "hide glue," but I've heard it doesn't really approximate the real thing all that well. Any thoughts?

[@49mrbassman]

@@jasonbutler419 that titebond hide glue doesn't have a great reputation. Unlike real hot hide glue, that stuff can come apart with ordinary water and even then only has a life of about 2 years before it needs reglueing. If your repairing instruments of that age, please show some respect for the skills of the old masters and the materials anx technjques they used (and as for sanding down... Well nuff said)

[@49mrbassman]

@@Julikachen No true but even so it should have been repaired the same way it was made out of respect to the instrument.. I'm currently restoring a 1776 Tomaso Carcasse violin. It was in a far worse state than the one in the video and has taken nearly 4 years of careful wood conservation and restoration techniques, (some of which were pioneered by myself) to get the top restabilised and able to support a minimum of 27 kilos of down pressure.

[@robertbolding4182]

maybe if it were built with glue that doesn't rot it wouldn't need a repair, it's time to change the glue. PVA is reversible with heat and moisture but it wont rot.

[@thecatofnineswords]

Whoa. This is a good example of some parts of the restoration process but there are some sections which horrify me - as both a violin player and amateur luthier. The choice of glues is ghastly. The standard glue choice is reconstituted hide glue, not pre-made/commercial and most certainly not CA glue. That's criminal. Violins are made and assembled with products that allow them to be disassembled later. CA glue does not allow this. I am sorry but this is no professional's instrument, but a practice piece for the luthier at best. I am doubly sorry that the director allowed a backing track to be overlaid over the raw, clean music of the instrument itself. That demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of music performance.

[@SpookyMcGhee]

As a violinist myself this video gave me nightmares lmao

[@willmorrison1022]

Thank you. I was going to comment on the use of the commercial hide glue, which is one of the WORST glues on the market. Miserable holding strength, terrible shelf time, just NOT a good glue. I haven't even gotten to the part where he uses CA glue, thank you for the warning. There is a reason hide glue is still used in violins, though for some parts, I would consider Titebond. But the parts that are supposed to be able to be taken apart later, those should only be doe with hot hide glue. There is a reason why traditions get that way. It's because they work.

[@SpookyMcGhee]

@@willmorrison1022 Exactly. Some people think it's an easy fix with common supplies (usually parents of young students) and try to do it themselves. Last year I had a student whose father tried to put the hair back into her bow with superglue with disastrous results despite me telling the father to take the bow to a luthier. Ended up ruining an otherwise good bow and had to buy a new one. I explained to him that despite the good intentions, there is a reason why instruments should be repaired by professionals and the cost of a professional repair will always be less than the cost of fixing or replacing something that wasn't serviced correctly. He took it to a luthier from then on. Again, there's a reason why luthiers exist...

[@willmorrison1022]

@@SpookyMcGhee Oh, I just lost a "don't flinch" competition when I read that. That move just cost him a TON more than if he'd just done the right thing in the first place. I hope he learned his lesson. OUCH!

[@SpookyMcGhee]

@@willmorrison1022 he did. He's been taking his daughter's instrument to the same luthier I go to any time it needs repairs after that incident.

[@geehump]

Completely wild decision to cover the final sound of the instrument with stock music.

[@donnamealy4877]

Bad decision. Feel like I’m at a jr high concert and everyone is still warming up

[@Jehag2]

Yeah. Totally incomprehensible...

[@beatsinabar]

And each at a different pitch, by the sound of t!

[@johnbiteme9118]

I agree 100%. This channel claims to be "Masters of Craft", but they completely messed up the last part of the video where the restored instrument is played. It sounds hideous!

[@funkymonk984]

The video editor was in a rush. The pizza rolls were done.

[@adirondackcomposer]

Anyone contemplating "repairing" or "restoring" a valuable violin would do well to disregard most of the information/methods expressed in this video. When in doubt, seek the assistance of a professional.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Frederick Warner.. No fair exposing the folly. Hack job not worth doing. At best this is a Cowboy fiddle made worse by an inelegant "restoration".

[@bryanhaycock672]

I thought it was just me. Something seemed oddly pedestrian about the restorer’s handling of the instrument, methods, and craftsmanship. I’m no expert myself, so I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong.

[@knottreel]

Now I get it! That's why they blatantly covered the sound of the violin at the end.

[@catsandcrafts171]

'Pedestrian'. Perfect word for how I felt watching the video, and I thought it was just me, too. Of all the youtube videos I've watched of true master craftsmen at their work, this seemed very imprecise and uninspiring.

[@hifinphoto]

:-)))))))))))))

[@indridcold8433]

Fun fact: The Stradivarius violins amazing sound and build was due, in part, to the wood from which it was produced. The wood came from trees that had survived a harsh drought and had very tight growth rings due to the very low growth rate during the harsh times. This wood made for a better sound in the Stradivarius due to the density of the wood. A prospective project to plant trees that were from the same forest and tend to the trees as if they were in the same conditions that resulted in the famed wood was planned. I am not sure if the project ever came into realisation.

[@SpookyMcGhee]

As a violinist myself, this gave me nightmares. If you're going to work on an instrument, do your research first and do it the right way.

[@Platonykiss]

Precisely! But what do we expect of someone who publishes at youtube his restoration? ... I adore Mr Bassman to discuss it so patiently, but any professional get the creeps, if material is used based on synthetic resin or industrial wood glue. Because you destroy the wood each time you have to open it (which you better do not in front of clients!). If there is such thing like craftship of a luthier (apart from the golden hands), it is about using the right material and making your own glue based on organic ingredients and using the right resin for the varnish. Otherwise you better stay away from it, even if it is not made by Stradivari. But ignorants know hardly more than this name. The precious thing is always wood which has more than at least 30 or even hundreds of years.

[@lowstringc]

While this video is informative, and the repairs shown are either good or passable for the quality of the instrument in question (and done well and consciously), I have apprenticed in full violin shop, and this was clearly a skilled repairer that works more primarily in a “music shop” that deals more with guitars than violins. There are things done here that wouldn’t find their way into a purist violin luthier shop, but would in a guitar shop that does occasional repairs on other types of instruments, but had reasonable and stable results for the quality of the instrument (they say very clearly in the video it’s “built on the strad pattern”, and so many people - myself included when I was young - think his means it’s high quality, when in fact a large majority of instruments are built on the Stradivari or Guarneri pattern, many of which are in expensively made in a production shop, or by machines, some very poorly indeed). I build guitars, and use PVA for laminations, but not for fingerboards due to my background and the ease and excellence of hide glue. I also am an orchestra director that repairs all school instruments myself (very poor district) and I stick to more accepted Luthery practices unless the instrument is already a total loss anyway and I can win a few more years out of it with an epoxied neck but it’s not worth grafting in wood to completely repair correctly (eg. It’s a $500 cheapo that plays but is bad quality in components and sound, but a young musician that has no money could use it for a time). I do have a cello from 15 years ago that had a complete break mid neck, and I glued it together hogged out all but a shell of maple, epoxied a new piece of maple that now comprised most of the mass of the neck, and it’s still going today! It was a better quality instrument, but I was young at luthiery and am still proud of my repair on that one. Still a fantastic sounding cello for a school instrument. So that is to say, no shade on this luthier because I’ve done some non-traditional repairs myself, but some of the choices here (especially the glues used) are not in line with traditional, time tested techniques and the well reasoned philosophies behind the techniques and I wouldn’t use them.

[@georgestorm1080]

I think you are being too gentle, as it's hard to tell what was the quality of the instrument when it has so clearly not been properly set up (or maybe played). It's basically not been given a decent chance. On the other hand, I have no objection to repairing a structural member such as the neck with high-grade epoxy - indeed, I believe this is the correct thing to do - and definitely infinitely preferable to replacing the neck following a simple break, as was done to ny 'cello (by a renouned luthier company) in the 1950s (before I owned it).

[@waltermayr339]

I would have expected to hear a serious audition of the instrument at the end...It was nothing! Why do I hear an electric piano where I want to hear a violin??

[@CaliforniaEBRDude]

Fascinating work. What I found must puzzling is why the finger board, nut, bridge, and tuning pegs are done before any body repairs. It seems to me it would make more sense to have a structurally sound platform before working on things that attach to it. I would also like to have seen a more comprehensive professional demonstration of the instrument at the end without the incidental music playing.

[@alvingoh8469]

I was wondering the same thing too

[@paulmcronk]

I think it could well be that he is giving the turpentine time to work on the heavy resin burning on the body. Saves workshop time I guess. Only a suggestion though.

[@ben2808]

Jesus Christ loves you.

[@qritique]

not fascinating. He did a shit job.

[@anthonytaylor9232]

@@qritique Ouch!

[@askianoskok6816]

Wtf is this new age violin lutherie? Thank God it's not a real Strad!!

[@Vietitier]

That was not even a restauration haha just normal care

[@Keyswiz71]

Was anyone else looking forward to actually hearing this beautiful instrument?

[@CalebHealson-uk4md]

Please if you found out the background music let me know

[@mplsmark222]

Very nice production values in this video, but the luthier work is sub par. I would never use or recommend the use of cold hide glue for any violin repairs, especially gluing on a fingerboard. It will fall off. Been in the trade for thirty years and have heard a number of bad outcomes from Franklin/Titebond cold hide glue. Use the correct stuff, traditional hot hide glue. Oh, and don’t use Titebond carpenter’s glue or Elmer’s white glue either, cause problems of their own. This was not meant to be a tutorial, but wish videos like this would show correct ways of doing the work. I’ve watch a number of KZbin videos and rarely do masters of the trade make these kinds of videos. They are too busy doing fine work on the instruments.

[@SpookyMcGhee]

I once had a student whose father tried to put the bow hair back into her bow with superglue with disastrous results despite me telling him to tske it to a luthier and that it won't be very expensive. Ended up having to buy a new bow. After this I gave him my preferred luthier's business card (No affiliation or anything, she's just a great luthier hence why I recommend her to my students) Long story short, he's been taking his daughter's violin to this luthier ever since and hasn't ever tried to do it himself again.

[@mplsmark222]

@@SpookyMcGhee Any luthier that has been in trade for a time has encountered poor amateur repairs that need to be redone. Sometime it is just redoing the work and sometime the problem has been made much worse by people with just enough knowledge to make them dangerous. Using the wrong adhesive is very common and can make a real mess of things. A simple rule is only use glue that you know you can soften with water and will hold things together provided the parts fit together well. Not all violins are rare and valuable and I don’t care if people want to mess around with them. Just don’t like when people make videos and give others poor advice on how to do repairs. I once watched a video a guy posted to demonstrate how to rehair bows. He said from the beginning he had never done a rehair before! It was a disaster, he broke the bow and the hair was way too long, uneven and unusable. A real waste of time and money.

[@robertphillips93]

As a retired bookbinder who remembers the aroma and adhesive strength of hot hide glue, these criticisms make a lot of sense. As a craftsman too, it is evident that the young luthier has enough gaps in his praxis to qualify his repairs as workmanlike, but not masterful. Unless you can learn from a master, the only way to get very far along that path is to try and fail with a multitude of materials and methods. Not only is that impossible in most commercial settings, it would require an uncommon kind of curiosity and perseverance in the apprentice.

[@PaulLefebvre936]

@@mplsmark222 do you still have the link of this video? I'm sure I will love it 😏

[@mplsmark222]

@@PaulLefebvre936 No sorry, it’s been a few years so it may not be available. I’ll look for it. I find it relaxing to watch a true craftsman work, like Norm Abram’s old show. But when a hack makes a video, it just makes me wince. Especially when they are using a cutting tool.

[@CosmicVitamins]

Many of the techniques shown here are appropriate for restoring student guitars of minor value.

[@RobbieHatley]

Yes. Anything under about $100 and for use by persons in the 4-11 age range. But as for persons age 12+ or violins priced > $100, see an actual luthier instead.

[@hifinphoto]

:-))))))))))))))))))))))

[@darrenbreeze3337]

The luthiers who are watching this are screaming in pain

[@Julikachen]

Well, I am 😬

[@PaulLefebvre936]

Or laughing, sending the link to there friends. Well that's what I'm doing 😅

[@maxvarjagen9810]

I know nothing about restoration and I'm just cringing at the order they did it in. Why would you replace the neck before repairing and polishing the body?

[@violinmiata]

This was like watching a idiot mechanic working on a garbage car and making it worse

[@AlanW]

I'm pretty sure they had an intern do this one.

[@MichaelButchin]

WHY did you keep playing your background incidental music when testing out the newly restored violin? I would have liked to have heard it clearly.

[@nullifiednullifidian5973]

0:26 "makes sure to wait to the end to hear the fixed instrument being played by a professional" 19:16 turns out the professional is an expert cat killer, and all we hear is the wailing of the poor creatures as they depart this Earth, with copious amounts of stock music overlay to try and hide the true horror.

[@knottreel]

Maybe the purpose of the piano music was to hide the violin.

[@RobbieHatley]

@@knottreel : Yes, definitely. I'm pretty sure this violin was unplayable after this carpenter got through butchering it.

[@PaloXanthos]

If i had a violin worth 30 dollars I would not let you go near it. You are a luthier like I am an archbishop.

[@PontusThuvesson]

Well, everyone is allowed to to do whatever they want with their instrument. But... Quite some stuff done in this video is not very "traditional". Some hundred years of experiance with violin making and repairs couud be worth considering.

[@alphamegaman8847]

As soon as I witnessed the state of his work area and shop, I would have said No Thank You, and walked out!😒

[@ewabrodacka9703]

Lol 😂 maybe you are archbishop

[@stanwest3529]

that violin sounded like a piano...how did you do that???

[@panoramicviolinist]

😂

[@Valery-wq5uh]

😂😂😂😂

[@rapidfire4202]

Sacrilegious!

[@Joe___R]

You were able to clean up that fiddle pretty good. Why did you not clean up the body before attaching the fretboard? It would have been easier without it in the way.

[@ianburkard]

If you're going to critique, at least say fingerboard. xD There are no frets on a violin.

[@TheMissing62]

@@ianburkard Whatever 🤷‍♂

[@ruslans8033]

I have the same thought

[@berry.1uvr]

Violins don’t have frets…

[@jellybeans6533]

Violins do not have frets. (Needs to be said again.) Why would you want all of that ebony dust on your freshly-finished violin? But I would have done just about everything else differently from this video. Besides, completing the fingerboard is an iterative thing. And you really need to string the instrument to finish the fingerboard, unless you don't care about how well it can be played. Considering how they overlaid other music over the person playing the instrument, I suspect it was not a priority.

[@mrs.blennerhassit92]

We watch the video all the way through to hear someone play the restored violin... AND THEN YOU PLAY ELEVATOR MUSIC ON TOP??? WTF, man? Jeez. Fail.

[@paulmcronk]

How refreshing that no attempt is made to re-finish the instrument. So many people do not realise that the original varnish is an essential, integral part of a violin. Over the years I’ve seen so many beautiful instruments ruined by re-varnishing!

[@melcrose]

"Bob, they've been waiting this WHOLE VID'JA TO HEAR IT, what say we just really turn up the pie-anner on that part, eh?"

[@TheSecretmuseum]

Nothing like having an unrelated soundtrack playing over live music in the film.

[@chrisirwin9612]

Really? Superglue on the nut? Wood glue on the fingerboard? These are wear points, and need to be periodically replaced.

[@johncohen4996]

This "luthier" is a hack, not a master craftsman.

[@GaryGP40]

My violin was built by a master luthier, who showed every step in making one just like mine. Pretty much nothing he does is shown here (no disrepect) but lovingly creates a work of art that will endure for years.

[@26Bluegb]

The guy doing this is not a "Master". This was horrifying to watch!

[@jamesreed1969]

The glue used in connecting upper and lower decks to the body is NOT WOOD GLUE. It is HIDE GLUE. That is exactly what was used here. Just to avoid a damage of violin in case some one watches this video and decides to repeat it. Hide glue is not permanent like wood glue.

[@lgyqchen5074]

I use just water and a knife blade to clean the residuals on the neck surface.

[@mortimerlojka5912]

"Masters of Craft": not sure about that... - “Cleaning” with turpentine is a “no-no” (especially this kind of bad turpentine): it slightly dissolves the original varnish, and as it contains itself a lot of resins, it will embed and fix dust particles into the now weakened varnish. Gently cleaning with a wet cloth dripped in warm water is a far, far better choice. - Use hide glue/ animal glue. Seriously. It’s the traditional way, still today, for many good reasons. At least for serious violin makers… People using it know that it works great, how it reacts with wood, for how long, how to reverse it if necessary, etc. But we don’t know about modern glue: how will it react, over time, on the surface? One case among others: what if the top needs to be removed for a future service, and that the glue is too strong? It might very well damage the upper/ lower/ C-ribs, and make the job much harder for the luthier, and risky for the instrument. For no reason. Also, some actions displayed in the video where probably not made in the right/ best order.

[@AmandaViolinGirl]

A professional luthier has made a reaction video to this one. I was not impressed by what he used on this violin. Go to Ask Olaf The Violin Maker to see it.

[@adirondackcomposer]

did he super glue the nut?

[@dudeforcaster8630]

Yes! And used titebond for the fingerboard. not a skilled repairerl

[@Gary_Texan_USA]

I've played many fine-quality violins in my life and I can say that this instrument is not even mediocre in quality.

[@jellesilence2593]

so it's really really bad?

[@walteralter9061]

I would have repaired the loose joinery and cleaned the body before fitting the fingerboard.

[@lowstringc]

Absolutely. And taken a look inside, at least with a mirror if not a top off, to make sure that the bass bar was ok. I did expect, however, that he would be doing deeper varnish work though, so maybe that was his reasoning (that he was only polishing it up - but it still would’ve been easier and achieved a slightly better result done fingerboard last)

[@walteralter9061]

@@lowstringc He did check the sound post much later in the video, so maybe the bass bar got a going over as well. I'm surprised that he didn't take the top off entirely and clean up any crystalized bone glue. No telling where else along the seam the glue might have been ready to let go. This was not a professional at work.

[@richardminnich4249]

Something that was never addressed in this video: yes, the violin was old (not ancient!), but what made it intrinsically worth putting the effort and money into restoring THIS violin? Had it been made by a well known luthier from its time? Had it been played by some well known violinist? To be honest, I didn’t think that the sound of the instrument at the end was all that impressive (granted the music playing on top wasn’t helpful.) But I didn’t hear the depth of sound from the instrument that I expected from the lead in to the video. Thanks, though, for showing some interesting specialized tools and clamps during the repair process.

[@jasonkohlman4092]

@@anniesamuel4787 The violin in this film is not a stradivarius, it is a mid 19th century copy, as the narrator states

[@jacobbrown7367]

Aside from being a mid-19th century copy of a stradivarius, there isn't anything notable. Which is good, because using titebond on an instrument is criminal

[@PaulLefebvre936]

To me, it looks like an early 20th manufactured violin as we saw thousands of it... so a big value, but enough to be reset up and sold.

[@hoshmoggen1746]

@@anniesamuel4787 it's a strad copy. He said it several times.

[@LiliKoblentz]

@@anniesamuel4787 This is a Strad copy. Even fully restored, that violin is worth a few thousand at best.

[@matthewbrook7683]

You wrecked the whole video with the piano music covering the sound of the violin. I want my 20 minutes back.

[@CyberCurtainTwitcher]

I cringed when I saw him rest the violin against the unprotected edge of the bench and stopped watching when I saw the bottle come out.

[@RobbieHatley]

I agree that this video is cringe-worthy. But I'm curious: What is "the bottled"? Is that a typo? Are you referring to the bad choice of materials used by this carpenter-playing-luthier?

[@CyberCurtainTwitcher]

@@RobbieHatley Just edited. I meant "bottle" referring to the type of glue he is using.

[@alfieharries]

'we will leave you with the sound of the violin being played, at the same time as a modern piano piece in a totally different key'

[@panoramicviolinist]

😂

[@rackets001]

"We will leave you with the sound of the violin being played." With some random music masking the sound of the violin being played.

[@edcew8236]

When you put a rag over a bottle of solvent and tip the bottle to moisten the rag, you risk contaminating the solvent still in the bottle with whatever grime is in the rag. Safer is to pour the solvent onto the rag. A $10,000 airplane paint job was once ruined by contaminated solvent... had to be repainted.

[@PaulLefebvre936]

Thanks. And that was the only controversial thing to notify in this video! 🤣

[@RobbieHatley]

@@PaulLefebvre936 : Yes, just about every aspect of this video is bad. Carpenters shouldn't pretend to be luthiers.

[@dleland71]

I thought we were supposed to hear it being played at the end of the video by a 'master'... All I heard was a few notes and a over powering piano being played...

[@everrime]

18:44 "We would like to think the renowned luthier himself, would have been proud of it" 😅 And I would like to think that statement wasn't completely detached from reality. Oh well, at least you did a nice job filming and covering the horrible sounds at the end with stock music.

[@raywood8187]

I don't know anything about violins, I saw a lot of criticisms but I'm glad I could just watch it for the enjoyment of something being restored. Only one thing, I cringed at the end when background discordant music was playing over the violin, I really did want to hear it played but just pure violin.

[@campbellbluestone1837]

very interesting to watch but you can't help but think that after all that the sound of the restored violin was not all that iimpressive when you play music over the top of it being played

[@youcanactuallysing]

This violin has seen more than any humans.. 150 years old.. Happy Birthday Violin! ♥☺

[@stu8506]

This should've been about the restoration of a piano because that's all I heard at the end.

[@panoramicviolinist]

😂

[@HappyG1lm0re]

Just to be clear, absolutely no one thinks this "luthier" did a decent job. This is astonishing.

[@WerewolfMaster]

Because he didn't - it's ruined violin sound because of what he did with the glues

[@gesh92]

"We will leave you with the sound of the violin being played". Proceeds with stock music that being played over the violin...

[@eriknestaas2270]

it hurt my ears so bad

[@Margo_Filippova]

This is violin became beautiful after restoration!!!

[@seandonaghy2473]

At the end of the video, the violin accompanied by the piano creates nothing other than a cacophony of sound which destroys totally the final impact of all that restoration work. Such a pity!

[@valeriorodorigo3275]

I am not an expert but as a violin player I can say quite surely that this violin was a 19th century, probably cheap, study violin. The maple used for the sides, the neck and the back of the instrument is a low quality one and the huge rosin stains indicate that the owner didn't care about the maintenance (very tipical of young players) . Being a stradivari copy doesn't necessarily mean quality

[@flymflam27]

I love the way you put the back of that priceless violin hard against the edge of your workbench @1:43. Right fucking professional guy!

[@jaatelomiess]

Priceless?

[@Jpatient]

@@jaatelomiessstrads can’t be replaced

[@jaatelomiess]

@@Jpatient That ain't a strad my guy, it's a replica

[@Jpatient]

@@jaatelomiess oh lmao because why would anyone let this guy restore a strad and it sounds awful afterwards

[@mikehudick7074]

Since when does anyone use "Tite-Bond" woodworkers glue to attach finger boards? No restorer I know would every use any type of glue that could not be reversed when repairs are needed in the future...and "Tite-Bond is NOT one of those!!"

[@lowstringc]

To be fair, this is Tb’s take on hide glue, but I’ve read so many bad reviews of it coming apart and behaving poorly, and the granules are so easy and such a long shelf life, that I don’t know why one would use this over true hot melt hide.

[@ldeemou]

Your choice of glues will make the work of any subsequent restorer a nightmare. After all, we should not forget that such instruments, if properly taken care of, will outlive us all.

[@anonamous6968]

The piano playing over top of the violin music was a bit distracting. I wanted to hear the sound of the violin alone. It's tone.

[@michaeldicarlo5540]

Musical instruments are amazing, I've had a cornet trumpet sitting in my closet for 15 years finally brought it out fixed it. Only to find out it's from 1899, its amazing to think that over 100 years ago someone used this instrument to bring happiness to people. Amazing work absolutely beautiful

[@TheReddkatt]

As a brass specialist Im sorry to say that brass instruments dont really get better with age like stringed instrument often do

[@vicbanks9079]

all so caring and considered. the end of the vid you masked the tone with background music. wanted to hear the pure violin. hmm?

[@blueduck9409]

The piano pounding in the background covered up the violin. Whats the point, if we can not clearly hear the violin?

[@dustystrings36]

I was disappointed that we couldn’t hear more of the violin at the end.

[@williamshaver5524]

This wasn't a restoration, it was a refinish.

[@MyName-nx1jj]

This is like watching a bricklayer restore a Ferrari.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Thank you very much for saving me the waste of time... I was about to watch this video, but I hate watching 'pretend' restorations (quite common nowadays).

[@ff1d1l]

I'm four minutes in and it's already a catalog of errors. Scotchbrite and turpentine to clean the corpus, meths to clean glue off the neck joint, those idiot clamps to hold the fingerboard on....ok I'll carry on watching now, I need a laugh.

[@billreediii217]

Interesting video. A few observations. The instrument is typical of the thousands of student models that were produced in Europe in the last couple centuries. I have worked on hundreds of them and still have around fifty in my shop. Many are without corner blocks or a viable baas bar. Their only redeeming quality is the fact that many have decent wood which makes restoring them a worthwhile effort. Agreeing with others who commented, using bottled "hide glue" is not a satisfactory substitute for quality hot hide glue. Also it appears as though the pegs were much too thick which if so would be a case for not having to bush the peg holes.

[@holton345]

Let us now listen to this wonderful instrument being played by a professional. But let us also listen to cheesy piano background music played just slightly louder than the violin we are listening to. You used TITEBOND and SUPERGLUE but not HIDE GLUE? WTF???

[@larry78cj7]

Glad the piano was louder than the violin.

[@brianbloom1799]

I just Loss a Close friend In Bethel Ct, He made and restore Violins, His Name Was Hans,His father Taught him from a young age, He was well known all over, He owns Stradivari Violins, And his Older Brother Now Owns them. You We Be Missed My Friend, Now your In Gods Hands.

[@paulhopkins1905]

Why not use hot hide glue or fish glue instead of titebond and CA?

[@chriscrilly8807]

This amateur "restorer" has provided us with a fine example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

[@serhanaytan8329]

This is carpenter works not luthiers…

[@arturkuznecov154]

Всегда с уважением отношусь к людям умеющим что либо делать своими руками - МАСТЕРАМ !

[@islandfunhouse]

I wouldn't let this guy go near a quality violin or archtop guitar.

[@KenPlaysBass02]

When they were adding the whiles for the strings in the tuning pegs, the narrator called the scratch awl a screwdriver💀

[@franciscosiqueira7723]

a obra mais perfeita que foi inventada pelo homem 😍🎻

[@kjtilka]

The Luthier should have cleaned and repair all of the violin before starting fret board.

[@nigel900]

Hide glue…Hide glue.

[@phpn99]

This is not a luthier. Some guitar repair shop. Workmanship is mediocre.

[@ositoCastro]

I only saw a set up, a true restoration is something that concerns the structure of the violin

[@maxfamularo9486]

He’s back

[@m.f.5984]

is he ?

[@michaelcox-pq2jm]

I agree with mrbassman49. I have an old violin (Circa 1796) with a fingerboard that had been replaced with one attached with white glue. I had it replaced, because frequent playing had gradually worn down the original fingerboard, with a new one using an animal hide glue. I winced as the first fingerboard was removed leaving shreds of wood still attached . The animal hide glue is much more forgiving and can be softened with heat to make repairs. We're just custodians of these old masterpieces. I needed to add wooden bushings, and repair the cracked pegbox. I keep it in a humidified case.

[@dflo4165]

I am no professional violin player. But I agree with others about when to put on the fretboard, the glue used, and never heard enough of the violin. I definitely heard enough of the damn piano!! Especially while the violin was played, and not long enough!!

[@berry.1uvr]

It’s a fingerboard…violins don’t even have frets💀

[@dflo4165]

@@berry.1uvr thank you, I stand corrected. Too used to guitar talk! Be safe!

[@gtmtnbikr]

My first thought was Hide glue. My second thought was Forsooth!Methinks he overindulgeth in Tofu, Mungbean sprouts, Wheatgrass smoothies, and Herb. All the while wearing leather sandals. Just my $.02.

[@michaelwhisman]

NOt a very well made one is it. Look how far apart the spruce growth rings are. The fingerboard would be one of the last things I would do. It's just in the way.

[@davidcouch6514]

I remember a beer commercial 60’s or early 70’s a guy was crafting a violin, making little notches in interior support joining pieces that didn’t seem to serve a structural purpose and his pal saying “why?…whose gonna know?” He replied “I’ll know”. Tied into special care brewing angle. I remember the notches but not the beer.

[@cadcncengineeringfabricati3497]

The tool at 10:56 is not a screwdriver. It is an awl.

[@TedCornish]

Bonus like for having Kelly’s Cornish ice cream 👍👍

[@Joe-ux3ul]

Our family inherited a violin that was made in 1835 and came into the family in 1855. It had a repair made from damage that happened when someone burst into place and yelled jessy James just robbed the Glendale train.I'm 1980 grandmother took it to pro restorer and when they got it back the repair looked different and the label inside now stayed made in country that came to be in the 1920's indicating it had been switched with a cheap knockoff.I know it was not a stratavrious but had to be worth something for someone to forge a replacment.always wonder it's true value for someone to take the time to duplicate the repair and then refinish it

[@cathysmith1796]

That is very sad.

[@ElderedAmbrose]

Nice job with the background music drowning out the violin being played.

[@ReiMonCoH]

The amateur hour. Hack job

[@dougscott9524]

Enjoyed your work and expiation of what you are doing but I think I'll stick to repairing and building furniture, 38 years and I enjoy putting smile on customers faces , when they find that it can be fixed.

[@jimbullock4156]

Perhaps the background music could be removed while the finished violin is being played?

[@RobbieHatley]

The "refurbishing" shown in the video was _not_ how an actual luthier would refurbish a violin, so I doubt the "finished" violin was playable, which would explain why we never saw or heard anyone playing it at any time in this video. Instead, we just hear a mix of two pieces of royalty-free music (piano + violin) in incompatible keys and meters mixed together at the end, and we never see or hear the violin being played.

[@stephenleitschuh5857]

As a new student, understanding how a violin is put together and what gives it its unique sound helps you understand why finger placement is so critical.

[@GaryGP40]

Mechanically yes, but this is not how a master luthier builds or restores a violin. Mine was built by a master and it shows in the love they put in every step of the way. Banging the end pin into a bench is one thing a master craftsman would NEVER do. Ever.

[@mariuspuiu9555]

All he did was give it an external cleaning. Why? The insides are still crap and the glue used makes it harder for somebody with real violin repairing skills to be able to properly service it :) Sorry people but this is just a fake restoration.

[@kdtrimble]

Jeez, the piano.... I wanted to hear the sweet sound of this violin.

[@johnnyparker9928]

It was a 150 year old cheap violin that got some much needed TCL. Now sells for $600.00

[@Boollish]

Yeah, but "fairly worthless German trade violin costs three times as much to repair as its value" probably wouldn't get you to click on it

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Johnny Parker... No fair posting facts... blows the BS story. This is a typical inexpensive copy likely made in a large shop or factory by apprentices.

[@hackerguitar]

Probably a Mittenwald or Mirecourt copy; there are lots of them. Some are credible but many are blockless crackerboxes, unfortunately. Paul Schuback describes such copies in the GAL red books, as he trained in Mirecourt as a child.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@hackerguitar I suggest German or Czech as the purfling does not look French.

[@hackerguitar]

@@jeffhildreth9244 yes - why I led with Mittenwald. MIrecourt is def a stretch but there were a lot of odd midcentury designs coming out of there, and the top carv4 looks a bit too good to be further east - though I could be wrong, I haven’t seen a huge number of old Eastern European violins.

[@GetInLifesCar]

Here for the fellow musicians who suffered listening to the poor combination of piano with the violin

[@TheVergile]

As a restorer and luthier (yes, state certified) this comment section is just hilarious and a perfect example of the dunning-kruger effect. People with just enough knowledge to feel like they are masters in the field proudly telling everyone how wrong the maker of this video is. Probably have seen a few youtube videos or talked/watched their local luthier do their work for a bit. And now roaming the youtube comment section. Telling everyone about reconstituted hide glue, turpentine and CA glue. marvelous.

[@LadyLeigh]

Beautiful restoration and so informative.

[@GiuseppeAlonci]

Terrible violin, terrible work by the luthier, terrible editing at the end of the video. Also, I doubt that the person playing the video at the end was a professional violinist. Despite the obnoxiuos background music, one can still hear the atrocious sound of this cigar box.

[@OmarFernandesAly]

Thank you for this beautiful video that shows the 19’s violin restoring.