Stradivarius and Guarnerius Violins / Beautiful Magical Maple (The Art, Secrets, Myths and Legends)

[@gonrico]

I love watching your videos and comparing the grains and details with my instrument that I just bought. Got it at a pawn shop and it's beautiful.

[@kevinleeluthier]

It's truly rare, but there are still a few gems out there waiting to be discovered. Congratulations!

[@medievalmusiclover]

Hi Mr. Kevin. Thank you for the excellent videos. ❤ Could You please talk about Gagliani Violins. I have one that sounds amazing. Yet, there is not a single video on youtube that has the profound analysis of Gagliani that You do on Stradivari or Guarnerius.

[@kyproset]

Thank you, maestro.

[@jdsimons3222]

Oh my goodness you're right! I didn't realize it, but now that I think back on my collection of violins and how my favorites sound, it's perfectly in line with your description when the figure of the maple back is considered. So cool!

[@kevinleeluthier]

The more one learns about violins, the "cooler" they become. :) Thanks for your comment!

[@nihaimamoniquestamper7670]

Thank you for this video ❤

[@anjinsanx44]

Love to learn from your videos and the romantic school of music Thank you

[@django483]

The maple is truly a magical tree: its foliage makes autumn walks more beautiful, its sap excites the taste buds of gourmets, its wood is useful to hard workers, its flames seduce the art amateur, and of course its tonewood pleases the ears of music lovers. But above all, its fruit is great fun for children :)

[@kevinleeluthier]

It sounds like you love maple trees as much as I do!

[@michelnagumaqmorton]

Super nice video , thank you Kevin . My violin has the Guarnerius flame , and was even appraised as sawd by the Guarnerius familly before the shop was sold . I call my violin the Captain , because it was given to me from a sailer named Captain cleat , he gave it to me up in Alaska , said it was from New York . It had the sweetest sound , anyone who played it agreed . Now, after 20 years, unfortunatly it got badly damaged I dont want to say smached , cracked and badly bent from falling off a piano . I am restoring her beauty now and just wanted to say thank you for all your amazing videos . I am learning a lot , Captain Cleat is getting cleats and I am just not sure if it needs a sound post patch or not . I really need to get it all good so I can play . Dont worry I know I know , I had a violin maker teach me how to restore, he unfortunatly died couple years ago , now I follow your teachings , merci . I want to do everything it needs before closing up and set up ...Then , play :o)

[@FindingAlabama]

Great episode ❤❤

[@windalkaid7088]

Beautiful creatures in the world ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kevinleeluthier]

Yes they are, and it's even more amazing how they come to life in the light. :)😍

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Dear Mr. LEE, I LOVE THIS DETAILED EXPLANATION OF FIGURED MAPLE. I HAD NO IDEA THIN BANDS EQUALED BARATONE AND WIDE BANDS BASS? AM EXPERIMENTING WITH OCTAVE STRETCHES TO ENRICH THE G STRING ON MY PRACTICE INSTRUMENT. LOVE THIS VIDIO ON MAPLE BACKED VIOLINS. MY GREAT GRANDFATHERS WAS ARISTOCRATIC RIBBONED MAPLE BACK. I NEVER HAD THAT VIOLIN ACTUALLY SINGING BUT IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE PLAYED ON TWO GERATIONS BACK. EVEN IF IT WAS A SEARS AND ROEBUCK COPY OF A1720 CREMONA, I STILL WISH I HAD IT KNOWING NOW WHAT.I DID NOT THEN. THANK YOU FOR THESE LUXURIOUS STUDYS INTO THE REALM OF STRADIVARI AND GUARNIERI ETC. IM JUST EATING IT ALL UP. I WISH THERE WERE AN INTERNET IN 1970. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ANY AND.ALL INFORMATION ON A FASTENATING INSTRUMENT. IM SO GLAD I DISCONTINUED ELECTRIC GUITAR. NATURAL AMPLIFICATION IS SO MUCH MORE PRACTICAL. WITH DEEPEST APPRECIATION.

[@MrZerRap]

Awesome video as always, Maestro! Love your videos and your unique style. On the matter of wood curing time, what exactly are the physical processes involved? I`m an engineer and, by nature, we tend to think of "speeding things up" when only physical phenomena are thought of, maybe this could be done by fine tuning humidity and warmth. Although, now that I think of, there isn`t a way to speed up the maturing of a violin's soul :-)

[@finemasterviolins]

Greetings Kevin, i know you had back trouble for a while…but i see lots of new content…everything must be going well ? I always found your videos interesting 😊 Violin making is truly an Art and Science and grace…all required. I didnt know of that quote of Stradivari about god and the significance of the cross on this label.

[@johncebasek6252]

@kevinleeluthier: Wonderful video. My violin has a one piece quilted maple back (and ribs) and I love its sound. If you have a moment can you define "tangential" cut (or section) with respect to violin making?

[@kevinleeluthier]

The term is synonymous with slab cut, which is the most usual way of cutting quilted maple. = I probably should have mentioned that there are many more terms for each of the cuts I mentioned in this video. My father and I invested in a fine, one-piece back Paolo Maggini violin (very old copy) that was one piece "quilted" maple and it also was wonderful. Thanks for commenting!

[@johncebasek6252]

@@kevinleeluthier Thank you for the information. My violin is only 5 years old so it has a ways to go to catch up with the Maggini.

[@markthomas9441]

Good info. I was tutored by Hans in LA (mid 80s) before he passed. I showed him the first violin I made. I had showed someone else the fiddle. As a joke this guy sent me over to see Hans. He said to tell Hans he sent me. So, I had absolutely no idea who Hans was when I walked in his shop the first time. He liked my fiddle, we hit it off. He had me buy the HS Wake book and Sacconi’s Secrets. He said to disregard the entire varnish section in Secrets. He then showed me the triangle plate layout proof thing, or whatever it is. And he went over the section on plate graduations with the diagrams on thicknesses. He said go away and start another fiddle, come back when you get done with x amount. When I came back, he looked at what I had done and gave his breakdown of it. He then asked what I thought of Strad’s triangle plate layout thing. I told him I thought it was Stradivarius’s way of saying leave me alone, don’t copy me and go do your own thing kid. Hans looked at me and said slowly “ zis is zee correct answer”.

[@kevinleeluthier]

I miss Hans. Thanks for bringing back some old memories. And yes, each piece of wood is different and though a lot of them are similar, they all need to be treated/graduated differently.

[@markthomas9441]

I also covered the candling of the wood with Hans. He asked me every time I came in how I thought Strad came up with such different thicknesses on the plate. I finally guessed it. So, Hans and S both figured that the masters probably did use sunlight during the day and they used candles at night. I believe Hans said he and Simone saw evidence of soot on the plates on the restorations they did at Wurlitzer. Maybe he covered that in his book. I never bought it. Cheers

[@Slipsch]

Hey Kevin, based on all that you have learn, what configuration would be the "perfect" violin to you? In terms of sound and looks. Just curious. And how much would one of those go for?

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Forgot your name! 15 min search and whaalahh!

[@michaelblaney4461]

Lots of marketing here

[@reekreeks]

love it