All Lutherie articles
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NewsObituary: British luthier Colin Irving (1945–2025)
The instrument maker, who began as an engineer in the 1950s, became best known for his cellos
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Premium ❘ FeatureChanging of the guard: French transitional period – part one
The ‘transitional period’ in French lutherie usually refers to the period of change from the Baroque bow to the Tourte model. In the first of two articles, Florent Boyer illustrates how violin making also underwent a seismic shift through the 18th century and into the 19th
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BlogsWhy did the violin stop thinking? The Renaissance, Japanese aesthetics and the search for sound
Why do we value beauty, and where does it come from? Violin maker Yoshiharu Ito traces a path from Stradivari to Japanese concepts of shadow and impermanence in search of what the violin is still capable of becoming
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrank Kovanda: bow man to the stars
Frank Kovanda is acknowledged as one of America’s finest 20th-century bow makers. Gennady Filimonov tells his story and examines some examples of his work
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Charlo Xuereb’s Marsaskala workshop
The luthier presents his Maltese shop
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BlogsLearning the art of bow rehairing: the RAB Trust Bow Course
Held from 28 June to 2 July 2026, Libby Summers reports back from the inaugural RAB Trust Bow Course, where a cohort of students were hand-picked to learn the art of rehairing a bow from scratch
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Wood treatment in ‘golden period’ Stradivari violins
Stewart Pollens reveals the results of tests on wood shavings from two ‘golden period’ violins by Antonio Stradivari, which sought to discover any evidence of wood treatment
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: An innovative varnish recipe
Johannes Jacobs presents a method for making and applying both the ground coat and an emulsion varnish
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FocusA 1911 cello by luthier Władysław Baczyński (1866–1935)
While the Polish luthier made more than 200 violins during his lifetime, only a handful of cellos are known. In the second of two articles marking the 160th anniversary of his birth on 25 June 1866, Grzegorz Kaproń looks at his limited forays into cello making, while Henry Riedstra examines ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A 1757 violin by Joan Guillamí I
Jordi Pinto examines the mid 18th-century instrument
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FocusA 1908 viola by luthier Władysław Baczyński (1866–1935)
In the first of two articles marking the 160th anniversary of the Polish luthier’s birth on 25 June 1866, Grzegorz Kaproń gives a brief overview of his life while Henry Riedstra examines a typical viola by the maker
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Premium ❘ FeatureOut of the dark: the 1742 ‘Rovelli’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
The ‘Rovelli’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin of 1742 was once believed lost – and its rediscovery in 2002 was a heart-pounding moment for the experts. Frédéric Chaudière recalls the compelling story of the instrument’s authentication
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Examining a rare James Dodd II bow
Philip Kass looks at a rare 1839 bow that exhibits all the hallmarks and idiosyncrasies of its maker, James Dodd II
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A 1718 violin by Francesco Gobetti
Michel Samson on the Italian maker’s late-period instrument
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Premium ❘ FeatureBig is beautiful: violoncello da spalla
After decades of relative neglect, the violoncello da spalla is undergoing a resurgence of interest. Daniela Gaidano, who has made several examples, looks into its history and explains its appeal for both players and makers
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BlogsCrafting a violin for Alican Süner: a maker’s story
Violin maker Nurgül Çomak explores craftsmanship, emotion and serendipity through the story of the instrument she built for Alican Süner
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Blogs‘Where the scent of wood mingles with gunpowder, I crafted a cello’ – An Iranian luthier tells his story
Tehran-based luthier Mohsen Shamloo shares with The Strad a powerful account of how creating a cello has brought hope to life under bombardments
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Premium ❘ FocusAuction Report June 2026: Room for optimism
Kevin MacDonald discovers a plethora of ‘golden age’ instruments and a fine selection of bows at this season’s London sales
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Premium ❘ FeatureMysteries of the soul: soundpost acoustics
Often called the violin’s ‘soul’, the soundpost is possibly the least understood part of the instrument. Joseph Curtin details a series of experiments that shed light on the acoustic role of this tiny piece of wood
