My first months at Alf Studios have turned out
to be really eye-opening.
The two violins I'm building are quite
different stylistically. The first is
based on the Lady Harmsworth Stradivari of 1703. Gregg has challenged me to emulate the
cleanliness of Strad's work, while trying to capture some of the stylistic
aspects as well. Everything is so
beautifully carved and graceful.
Obviously, Antonio really knew what he was doing. With the other violin, I'm going for a more
close representation of the Ole Bull Guarneri Del Gesù of 1744. It's difficult to get the looseness and
almost sense of reckless abandon that is seen in late Del Gesù violins without
just making them sloppy. A lot of attention can still be put into how the
stylistic aspects of the various tool marks and kinked purfling are done. And the long f-holes and emaciated scrolls
have a certain slender elegance that
must be balanced with major features, such as a carefully shaped arch.
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| Ole Bull top |
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| Ole Bull back |
Making the two different models at the same time has brought some
additional things to mind. I certainly don't want the two to have the same look! And yet, it's hard to go from the mindset of
how a late Del Gesù would have been made to a similar mindset for a
Stradivari. One the one hand, it might
be easier to work with one model at a time.
That way I could really get into the way of thinking most conducive to
the style before me. On the other hand,
the two diverse styles sort of keep each other in check. The Strad's refinement keeps me from becoming
too inattentive with my Guarneri. At the
same time, the Guarneri's looseness may help my Strad from becoming overly
stiff and polished.
Was this what Gregg had in mind for me? I don't know, but you can
see for yourself as my first instruments at Alf Studios go online at the alfstudios.com
gallery later this month.
- Eddy
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| Strad top |
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| Strad back |
