Ep. 73: My and Strad's woodpreparation

Рет қаралды 18,027

Edgar Russ Distinguished Violinmaker

3 жыл бұрын

Dear Friend,
Here is another great secret of violinmaking.
It is my secret wood preparation and very likely it has been also the one of Stradivari, Guarneri and the rest of the Great Masters after 1686. Exactly in this year, you can see that makers in this area here in Italy started to use a different wood preparation in order to avoid that their oil varnish penetrates into the wood.
This Casein and Calcium wood preparation, which leaves a very thin layer of protein I believe, is the key point why we hear so much about the secrets in violinmaking.
So in one way it is actually true and in another I believe there is no shortcut to avoid master's ability to create a great sounding and magic instrument.
Some of my colleagues are already worrying that there will be no more secrets in violinmaking.
But there are soooooo many tiny things which make the huge difference that there will be much more to come.
Enjoy my videos and feel like a master, and don't forget that there are no long-lasting shortcuts in life. In one way or another we all know very quick a lot of interesting things, but for real mastery you need many years.
all the best from Cremona
enjoy
Edgar
My Live Q&A transmissions on KZfaq are only for my patrons!!!!!
Check it out here on Patreon
www.patreon.com/user?u=34343314
Starting from 3 Euro per month you make part of it.
And I will answer all of your questions.
Searching the right Violin🎻, Viola🎻, Cello🎻 or Doublebass🎻 ?
Write me an eMail: edgar@eruss.it
Or visit my Online Shop 🛒 here: violincellomaker.shop
Want to know more about me and my work?
Check out my website:
www.violincellomaker.com/
📬 To be always updated when something new is coming sign up here for the NEWSLETTER: bit.ly/2kfVWQA
☀︎ Check out another great creation of mine. A greta gift idea by the way!
VIOLIN - Eau de Parfum
Enjoy the Secret
www.violinfragrance.com
Get in touch with me:
Facebook: Edgar Russ - Distinguished Violinmaking bit.ly/2lQjBHt
Instagram: @edgarrussviolinmaker
@violin_fragrance

Пікірлер: 86

@shawncarlson5032 Ай бұрын

Excellent video. I am a luthier and while I have built violin family instruments, I mostly build classical guitars. Because my first master was a very traditional Italian maker, those are the techniques I use. Along with your concise explantion of the materials and process, for me it reinforced what I know and do and I am very grateful for your sharing this. Best regards and I wish you much success.

@mkdijkstra4855 Күн бұрын

i just think there is no secret "stradivari, or Guarneri", it is just that they both made very good instruments, and they made such a lot , that the violins that do still excist , and are well played over time , sound that good.

@HenJack-vl5cb 2 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful profession!It is a privilege to be able to have a look inside the process of creation of an instrument.Thank you for the wonderful videos!

@donbachmeier7617 8 ай бұрын

Again, I am so very much impressed. Thank you, thank you.

@Snowy0123 2 жыл бұрын

I have never touched a violin but I love watching luthiers build...

@castingstorms 3 жыл бұрын

I was reading the info card and I feel that information like this helps to explain to people the cost of master insturments and the time and detail that goes into making instrument a forever insturment.

@philipgregorysougles1744 3 жыл бұрын

Today I heard something that I hadn't really considered. For some reason I used to believe that the louder an instrument is the better it's going to be. I now understand that some makers choose to sacrifice a portion of the volume in order to get the best acoustic properties. An insecure maker will choose to maximize loudness because it's an easy aspect to notice and impress.

@umiviolalefut1593 2 жыл бұрын

Some violins are too loud and garish/ shrill... louder is not always better

@andrewsnow1933 7 ай бұрын

We are living in a new golden age of violin making. There are really good makers out the. The difference is that they are sharing their “ secrets “ with each other. Not like the old makers from 300 years ago.

@lekyleo9972 2 жыл бұрын

Edgar you are the best! I love your videos! Barvooooo 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

@stephenwan5898 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you to be generous and share ideas to improve the Word. We need more people like u to create a better World.

@ezraschwartz5201 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Edgar, for another interesting and informative video, and a ‘behind the scenes’ view of how you work. It is dealing with the small details, that makes a big difference in what distinguishes true art and artisanship.

@EdgarRuss 3 жыл бұрын

Exactly, this is it all about here. all the best and enjoy Edgar

@LorenzBaum 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Edgar, thanks a lot for all your great videos. I really enjoy watching them.

@TonyStedge 3 жыл бұрын

I love the care and attention you bring to your instruments. Thanks for sharing this information!

@user-ps9bq1nu6l 3 жыл бұрын

i do believe all the secret is in minerals put to preserve the wood and the varnish

@BadChizzle 3 жыл бұрын

Very nice. Thank you. ✨

@masterchief586 3 жыл бұрын

Very informative, great video.

@Slipsch 2 ай бұрын

I believe when Stradivari apply the solution is more for preserving the wood from getting worm. Historically, you know that he used to work with a famous woodcarver, i'm pretty sure he pick up a thing or 2 from there, And making the sound better could just be coincidental

@roymercer3912 3 жыл бұрын

Now that I know the secret, I'm going to make a Master Violin out of an old whiskey barrel. LOL Thanks, I really enjoy your videos.

@Aecarvalho007 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting video maestro, I think I have one which has also been pretreated on the inside with casein sealer as it has a very distinct white sheen, even the blocks and neck seem to be stuck with casein glue as there is a white paste like residue on the inside where the parts meet

@rezarezanaghibi Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this information!

@EdgarRuss Жыл бұрын

You are welcome. Thanks for your comment. Edgar

@tgroppi 3 жыл бұрын

Merci Edgar

@lynnhooley7608 3 жыл бұрын

Grazie milli

@nurgulcomak2460 2 жыл бұрын

Sei così dolce, Edgar. Saluti da Istanbul.

@florascent9ts 3 жыл бұрын

isn't it in the modern age, we should commend such information sharing?

@hasanmohammad3589 3 жыл бұрын

Another very informative video. You have been telling a lot of information on violin making. I wonder, what information you kept as your own violin making secrets? 😊

@josephmagil1149 3 жыл бұрын

The late David Rubio has a website that details a surface preparation using waterglass (potassium silicate) and calcium lactate. He created his formula from examining some microphotographs of the varnish of old Italian and Dutch instruments that show a thick mineral layer under the varnish. He applied it to the outside of his instruments but not to the inside. Some violin makers apply a mineral ground to the outside of their instruments, but they seal the inside with Simone Sacconi's vernice bianca. Does Maestro Liutaio Russ apply his casein-calcium mixture to the outside of his instruments too?

@cbhatchel8264 2 жыл бұрын

@zitnbit 2 жыл бұрын

Well. As I know, Stradivari doesn't apply a mineral layer. According to the article, "The analyses revealed that Stradivari used two layers of varnish: a simple drying oil that penetrates up to a tenth of a millimetre into the wood of the instrument and was probably used as a sealant, and an upper layer that lies above the wood and is made up of oil, pine resin and pigments."

@1celloheaven 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Edgar...by the way, 'balance' in english is 'scales'...:)

@user-zq9sl7qb5i 10 ай бұрын

Some people believe that strad used ground up rubies under his varnish due to microscopic sparkling. My father found by accident that rubbing a little hide glue all over his plates that he obtained the same sparkling effect under his varnish. He thinks the ruby theory is bull and strad may have done the same thing. Sorry to get off subject but what do you think? Great video by the way. You are definitely very knowledgeable.

@DrTodd13 Жыл бұрын

Dear Edgar, have you ever tried treating the soundpost the same way? Please do a video where you play an instrument then take the soundpost out and treat it with casein+calcium and then put it back in and see if it makes a difference.

@EdgarRuss Жыл бұрын

Hei DrTodd13, that is a great input. I will make it and let you hear. Very interesting! All the best from Cremona Edgar

@amezcuaist 2 жыл бұрын

If you use casein glue and it gets on the end blocks , as in the video , would that make the surface too waterproof for the hot hide glue to work properly ?

@user-zq9sl7qb5i 10 ай бұрын

Someone said something about microscopic organisms in strad violins. I think he soaked his plates for bending and thats where these organisms originated.

@kennethbrush7300 Жыл бұрын

I read of a guy in Texas who was convinced of this concept being the secret to Stradavari’s great sound. Was it not for parasite damage to the wood? I seem to recall Boron being part of the composition…

@christianklein5774 2 ай бұрын

Ich habe das finish in der letzen 3-4x tranparent schicht mit ovalit öl metalschutz/ blätterschutz 1/3 aufgemischt bei einer ebay geige für 80 eure die sowiso in eine elektro geige umgebaut wird egal wie kein fehler .

@cyrildarmanin2669 3 жыл бұрын

Hello. What's color dictum in caseine ??? Thank you so much Cyril Darmanin.

@garykaasa6997 Жыл бұрын

Coating to impregnate porosity of wood to improve the tone

@doarelkt7513 Жыл бұрын

Hello, thanks for the helpful advice. I would like to ask, I have a 200 year old Hopf violin, it has a dent in the bag where the legs of the bridge are, which causes the contact with the bridge to be imperfect. How to solve the problem of the dent. Thank you again.

@CelloSounds1 Жыл бұрын

Have you tried just using water soluble minerals? It’s simple.

@laurencelebeustclair6844 2 жыл бұрын

which is the best for tone and all round playing a back cut on the slab a whole back or a split back ?

@MarcDesilets 2 жыл бұрын

Why is it not applied to the top? Thx for the recipe!

@Tostra1997 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting stuff... I haven't treated any of mine, but I think I'll try it on my current violin. This is just a surface sealing layer, right, it doesn't soak into the wood? Should you avoid getting it on the gluing surfaces?

@castingstorms 3 жыл бұрын

From what I saw in the video he didnt spare them

@Tostra1997 3 жыл бұрын

No, but he didn't go over the edges, did he? And he left the blocks and rib tops, so that's why I thought it might affect the glue somehow

@lynnhooley7608 3 жыл бұрын

My take on this was, that he used it to treat the wood before he applied the varnish. I think this only applies to new construction.

@Tostra1997 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I was talking about new instruments too. I don't think he varnishes the inside, the question was rather if the treatment should be kept from the gluing surfaces in order to glue it together well, or if it doesn't affect the glue if the wood is treated or not.

@castingstorms 3 жыл бұрын

Oh I see what your question was now that is an interesting thought. I dont see how it would interfere with the gluing process as mostly collagen and other processed proteins from what I have read about it. I'm interested now as to the reasoning for not putting it on the top of the blocks as well

@user-pl2jx9kr9r 3 жыл бұрын

How about applying to the bridges ?

@EdgarRuss 3 жыл бұрын

Great question! Need to try it out! Thanks for the idea! Never thought of this! 🤔🤗👌🏼🕺🏽

@kongyinyeung878 3 жыл бұрын

@@EdgarRuss Please make a video after try, thank you Sir!

@user-pl2jx9kr9r 3 жыл бұрын

👍

@kbadenoch3883 3 жыл бұрын

@@kongyinyeung878 do you apply this to the outside of the violin before varnishing ?

@MOHANMSHARMA Жыл бұрын

Can we put one coat of shellac spirit polish inside of violin or guitar?

@EdgarRuss Жыл бұрын

You can do everything. But actually you do not want to soak the wood with something and you don't want to make it heavier than it is already. That's why we don't "varnish inside"

@ghlscitel6714 3 жыл бұрын

Why don't you use Propolis instead of Wasserbeize? As far as I can remember rumors Stradivarius used Propolis.

@josefgajda2062 3 жыл бұрын

Is there any reaction between propolis and casein?

@TNungesser 5 ай бұрын

why put the casein/calcium just on the inside of the violin? You say it is put on so the oil varnish doesn't penetrate the wood. But you only put the oil varnish on the outside of the violin, right? So why not put the casein/calcium mixture on the outside of the violin prior to putting on the oil varnish?

@bluehoo0 3 жыл бұрын

The casein is it the same as used by bodybuilders?

@amezcuaist 2 жыл бұрын

Yes but you have to find one that is not chocolate flavoured or with added sugar .There is one that is simple pure casein without additions. Best to buy some and test it yourself . If it`s no good drink it .

@bluehoo0 2 жыл бұрын

@@amezcuaist Will I become fat 😆😆😆

@bennyblanko3 2 жыл бұрын

@@bluehoo0 eventually, unfortunately ... unless you have a horrible accident, or other sickness prior ... but I believe Edgar is aging beautifully ... so I imagine he drinks the chocolate flavor, and not the one with added calcium ...

@laurencelance586 3 жыл бұрын

I'm thinking that this casine - calcium mixture serves as a sanding sealer which enables a more even coat of stain and later varnish, with the goal of preventing blotching