Violin Forum/Message Board

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: My latest one "Madalena"

Hi! This is my latest viola, Madalena, 41.8 cms, the instrument pictured in the corner shaping and scroll carving tutorials. The photos are, again, by Andrès Lepage. It passed the "Frowner's Test" today with the viola naipe of our State Orchestra.

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violinarius · Member Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 171

Sweet!

Thanks for sharing! Smile

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

Grazie Signor Violinaro!!!
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ollieken · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: Madalena,

Manfio Beautiful work love your varnish thanks for sharing Ken

Jack H. · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:42 am Post subject:

Bellisima!

Leif Luscombe · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

Manfio,

Your viola is beautiful. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
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Chet Bishop · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:00 am Post subject:

Luis,

Sorry to sound ignorant, but what is a "naipe"? and a "frowners test"?

I love your work, and you are a constant inspiration to me. Seriously, if I could build (and sell, of course) violas as good as yours, I would quit my "day job" and be a full-time luthier.

Chet

Dave Chandler · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: Your latest work

Manfio,
I was inspired to post photos of my recent work, after looking at your photos. I really love the clean edge you make where the edge meets the channel. I've not been able to cut a clean channel edge in one swipe of the chisel, although I'm getting better with each violin.

I really enjoyed the scroll making photos, and tried to incorporate some of your techniques into my own (although my scroll was a bit disappointing when I compare it with yours -- I need to throw away my scroll template and start over.)

I admire your work. I visited Maestronet forum, was going to post my photos there, but the tone of some of the posts there has put me off. I'll consider that the "deep end" of the pool. I'm going to stay in the shallows for a bit. How long have you been making stringed instruments? Where did you train?
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

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Shirley · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

Manfio - As you are aware, I am not well-schooled enough to appreciate all the finer points of your instrument, but it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! I'm sure it sounds fantastic. I admire you so much!

Shirley

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:20 am Post subject:

Thank you all!

Chet, "naipe" is a section of the orchestra, the viola section, sometimes I mix English, with Italian and with Portuguese...

The "frowner's test"... this is the playing test by the professionals, demanding players that usually will frown upon minimal details in sound or building they don't like.

Dave: I've been making instruments since I was 13 years old... the traditional "early musical training + early woodworking training"... I'm reapeating this tested and proved formula with my kids. And yes, sometimes Maestronet enters in expontaneous combustion in a wild way!!!

Ciao! Thank you!
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M.Lange · Member Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 81 Location: Germany

What a great looking instrument!
The varnish really is beautiful. As if it was on fire.
Manfio, I read that you use Alizarine Crimson dark from Kremer pigments, to color your varnish. I have made tests with the same pigment, but the color I'm getting is somehow a little bit pink. Not the kind of brilliant red, you are getting.
Have you ever tried the Alizarine Crimson light? I think there is less blue in it.
Perhaps I should try this one.

Matthias

MANFIO · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

Hi! Thanks Matthias!

I use this Alizarin from Kremer:

236107 Alizarine Crimson Dark in linseed oil,

with some pitch (asphalt, we call it "bitume della Giudea") to make it darker.
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