A (slightly belated) Thanksgiving Post

Happy Holidays!

We're thankful for new creations by living makers...

We are consistently impressed by the quality and beauty, both in sound and appearance, of instruments by living makers such as Christopher Jacoby (above) and Dirk Henry (below).

These instruments are in high demand. For instance, we bought a beautiful violin by Christopher Ulbricht at VSA a few weeks ago and it is already sold!

Two of our recent arrivals in the shop are new violins, both by young American makers. Christopher Jacoby lives and works in Salt Lake City, while Dirk Henry works in our very own Omaha shop. It is our desire to encourage and promote the standard of violin making worldwide and these two instruments are excellent examples of the marvelous and beautiful work being done by living makers.

Both of these stunning instruments are currently in our Omaha shop and available for purchase. If you would like more information, please give us a call, toll-free, at 1-877-838-6222 or send us an email at acvsales@gmail.com

Top 5 reasons why we love instruments by living makers:

5. They are a great investment

4. They can be repaired and adjusted by the maker

3. They are more stable and less likely to have damage

2. Instruments are of exceptional quality for the price

1. If it is well-cared for, an instrument by a living maker will last a life-time and beyond

Tons of Terrific Tonewood

Beautiful Backs from Bosnia

We recently received a shipment of gorgeous Bosnian maple tonewood. It is very light and strong with a beautiful flame. The one-piece violin backs are particularly spectacular. These pieces will go quickly, so contact us immediately if you are interested.

Additionally, we have over 100 Sitka, Engelmann, and Italian spruce violin tops available. Contact us to learn more:

acvsales@gmail.com or call toll-free 877-838-6222

Fit(tings) for a Maker

Our "Maker's Level" premium fittings made from Sri Lankan ebony and Indian rosewood have been hand-polished to a beautiful finish. The fittings are currently available in outfits for violin only. We will have "Maker's Level" fittings available for sale at our Violin Society of America booth.

Speaking of VSA...

Will you be in the Baltimore area between November 3-5, 2011? Stop by our booth at the Violin Society of America Convention in Timonium, MD. While you're there you can see our beautiful tonewood and Maker's Level fittings and learn more about the Art of Sound 2012 Violin Making Competition and Exhibition. We look forward to seeing you at VSA, or in our Omaha or Philadelphia shops.

See more pictures and read the entire post here.

Sincerely,

Alex and Mark

Spring Clearance Sale!

Hello friends! Right now we have an amazing storewide Spring Clearance Sale going on until the 1st of June. We have already had a great response during this sale and have been able to equip players of all ages, from the beginner to the performing artist with beautiful instruments, cases, and bows while they SAVE BIG! We are very excited with the outcome so far and want to make sure every player out there knows about this wonderful sale.

Below are some examples of qualifying instruments. We hope that this opportunity will fulfill the needs of the player in your life. Please contact us directly for more specific information on qualifying instruments.

Sincerely,

A. Cavallo Violins, LLC

Used Violin Outfits Each of these instruments are hand-carved under the supervision of a European master by fine craftsmen in Beijing, China. They have all of the features of a professional instrument, from the ebony fingerboard and pegs, the aged Himalayan spruce and maple, the hand-applied multi-layered spirit varnish, the tailpiece with four fine tuners, the Dominant, Vision or ProArte strings, and an Aubert French bridge. Each outfit is fitted in Omaha by the experts at A. Cavallo Violins, LLC. The outfit includes a suspension case and brazilwood bow that has an ebony frog and Siberian Stallion horsehair. Outfit includes: Violin, Bow, & Case A. Cavallo Retail: $500 Clearance Price: as low as $200

Concert Series Instruments We specially select these instruments for the advancing student and serious amateur. Each instrument features straight-grained spruce tops, complimented by handsomely flamed maple back, sides, and scroll. The hand-finished shaded or antiqued varnish gives each instrument a striking appearance. Examples of our concert instruments that will take the student to the next level! Violin A. Cavallo Retail: $1,750 Clearance Price: $900 Viola A. Cavallo Retail: $1.900 Clearance Price: $800 Double Bass 35% off select instruments (These instruments are sold without case and bow.)

Artistic Level Instruments Master Instruments Master Instruments are up to 50% off, such as Wojciech Topa, Gunther Lobe, Dimitar Dimitrov, Tansin Diedenbeck, Pavel Onoaie, and Janxin Wu. Violins finished by American Makers These instruments are finished by American makers specifically for Musaica Imports. A. Cavallo Retail: $4,000 Clearance Price: $2,000 (These violins are sold without case and bow.) Cello by Clement & Weise By Clement & Weise of Germany this cello is one of the standards of excellence for tone production and quality among current makers. It is based on a classic Stradivarius pattern with highly accurate measurements, wood thicknesses, and attractive and faithful antique finish. This results in an instrument which can carry the player well into the advanced stages of performance with a minimum investment. This is the introductory instrument in the Clement & Weise line but is in no way a compromise in tonal quality. A. Cavallo Retail: $4,950 Clearance Price: $2,500 (This cello is sold without case and bow.)

Anderson Music Stand This beautiful Anderson Music Stand by Lotus Design is a rich blend of classic beauty and performance. Several patented mechanisms were created to achieve a unique combination of portability and functionality. Handcrafted from the finest Brazilian Cherry or walnut, the Anderson Music Stand will enhance the joy of your musical experience. The desk height varies from 20" - 52" while the exclusive snap-and-lock mechanism allows you to choose six different desk angles and the extra-deep shelf accommodates heavy books or folders. It features aluminum hardware which has been anodized in a rich gold color coating that is extremely durable and will never tarnish. The stand comes with a handy durable padded carrying case with an adjustable shoulder strap. A. Cavallo Retail: $295 Clearance Price: $250

Accessories Discount Receive 25% off cases and bows with any instrument purchase. All accessories are sold at the lowest possible price (Between 10-30% off list price)

Hear It from the Master

Last weekend we were graced by the presence of Stephanie Voss, Certified German Master Violin Maker. She has been crucial to A. Cavallo Violins, LLC over the years for her expertise, wisdom and business experience.

She spent Saturday with us, often helping with the hordes of customers we saw. At one point we had 5 different groups of people looking and trying instruments, a record for the shop. She answered questions about instruments people were looking at, the violin business in general and her personal journey as a violin maker.

That evening, about 30 people convened for the "Hear it from the Master" discussion and wine tasting. There were three segments of discussion, interrupted by three courses of wines, including a German wine, and Italian wine, French wines and American wines in keeping with the diversity and style differences present in "The Art of Sound" exhibition.
Here are some of the questions, answers, and points of discussion that were brought up:

• Q: What is the difference between a "Stradivarius" and "Guarnerius" model violin and what are the reasons for the distinction? A: The biggest visible difference is in the shape of the f-hole and the edge and purfle work. The Guarnerius f-hole is more upright with a teardrop instead of a circle at the top, and is often larger and more open. The Strad corners are often squarer and less rounded, and the c-bouts are more perfectly proportioned, as well as the bee sting from the joining of the purfle always goes to the inside of the c-bouts. Stradivarius model violins tend to be very responsive and have a more silvery clear quality of sound, and Guarnerius violins tend to be darker and more muscular in sound and response.
  

• Q: Was the wood the golden age makers the secret to the great sound? Did it come from a period of mini ice age as many people have suggested? A: The wood in Stradivarius' violins is often not even great (and in his early works not always maple, using a cheaper substitution), and there is great wood available today. One of the neasures is how wide the "winter" grain is, not only the measure of the width of the grain. There is great wood coming from European Alpine, American, Carpathian, and even Chinese enviroments. The distinction of quality is often more about the age and treatment of the wood.

• Q: What about the "Secret of Stradivarius?" Was there such a thing? A:Stradiviarius was an artist! He was just a darn good maker, as good as any, and combined the skills of carving, form, varnish, and inlay to a very high level. His instruments are works of art, and it is not possible to reduce his sucess to a "secret," in fact it does him great injustice!

• Q: Are modern makers inferior to old makers? A: We are in a golden period right now! The level of artistry, worldwide communication, and technical expertise is unrivalled in history. New instruments are very possibly the best investment.

• Q: Are there significant technological innovations in construction changing the violin significantly? A: There have always been experiments historically, but the basic form of the instrument has not changed significantly since the days of Stradivarius. It is overwhelming to think of how such a perfect form was arrived at in 1700!

Everyone left with a good feeeling of violin fellowship, nice wine and gourmet appetizers. They all learned something and incresaed their excitement about the individual creations available from old makers and makers today! -A.

Show Opening

Hello friends! It has been some time since our last post due to preparations for the opening of The Art of Sound: An Exhibition of Today's Master Violin and Viola Makers. Good news is that everything went off without a glitch on Saturday for our opening event. With the show room revamped, the instruments displayed across the shop, a complete catalog of makers and instruments, a price list finalized, and a deep cleaning of the shop we were finally ready. We filled the shop with friends, food, and good performances, accompanied with a wine tasting.

Earlier in the day on Saturday we sold the first violin from the exhibition. Vladimir Logashov's violin finished in 2008 found a home. Throughout the evening we also spoke with a couple of potential buyers. Our point in telling you this?!?! If you're interested in purchasing you best stop in sooner than later because the interest level is high!

Also, if you would like to join us for our event this weekend there are still some seats left, just contact us directly. "Hear from the Mater" will be hosted by Stephanie Voss who is a Certified German Master Violin Maker and will be speaking about styles and methods of violin making.

On top of all this, we were featured in the Sunday Omaha World Herald. To read the story, follow the link.

If that isn't enough to get a violin/viola lover inspired to join us, then I don't know what would be. This is a rare opportunity to see 102 instruments by living makers in the same shop!

Contact us at:
1.877.838.6222
acvsales@gmail.com

Warm regards,
Cassandra

General Manger

2009 Exhibition Opening Event

The Art of Sound:
An Exhibition of Today's Master Violin and Viola Makers

OPENING EVENT:
Wine & Instrument Tasting
Saturday, March 14
7 pm
A. Cavallo Violins, LLC

Come and enjoy an evening filled with music, wine, and appetizers. William Wolcott and other artists will perform on instruments submitted to our exhibition. Three flights of wine will be presented throughout the evening.

Tickets: $28.00 (+ tax)
Tickets must be purchased in advance and seating is limited!

A. Cavallo Violins, LLC
8705 Shamrock Rd.
Omaha, NE 68114
Please contact us with any questions regarding our upcoming instrument exhibition.

402.827.9270
Toll-free: 877.838.6222
acvsales@gmail.com

Polish Maker's Spotlight: Szlachtowski, Koscielny, & Cracovia Workshop

For a number of years, the shop had been investing its time in locating world class contemporary makers from abroad such as Italy or Germany. However, it seems like the boss recently has had an interest in the up and coming makers of Eastern Europe like Poland, Czech Republic, or Romania. If you've kept tabs on my Twitter account, you may have heard about the arrival of some new instruments. Two of these will be the topic of today's entry as I show off some nice photos of the makers, talk more about their background, and a bit of history on Polish violin making.

Jan Szlachtowski was Born in 1951 in Nowry Targ, Poland. In 1970 he finished school in violin making in Zakopane where he worked under one of the old Polish Masters Jozef Bartoszek. From 1987 to 1988, he worked at W.H. Lee firm in Chicago. In 1988 he returned home to his birth city where he opened up shop and can still be found working today. His main area of work is cello which have established quite a reputation amongst dealers in the U.S.



The workshop of Master Jarek Koscielny in Czetochowa, the town of the famous Black Madonna which is frequently visited by Catholic tourists and pilgrimages. His violins are made in the Stradivari and Guarneri patterns with an antiqued varnish look.



The Cracovia Workshop was established about 6 years ago in Southern Poland. Polish Master Ryszard Florek runs the shop with 4 assistants in the town of Bielsko-Biala. All the instruments are "aged", antiqued, and treated in spirit varnish.


As you can see, some of the best contemporary makers are coming from Eastern Europe. You may think that violin making in these countries are a relatively new cultural phenomenon but not so! According to an article in the the Warsaw Voice, a majority of the Polish violin makers are members of the-oldest, after Italy's, organization of violin makers in Europe. The Association of Polish Artists Violin Makers (ZPAL) is reported to have 113 members and is celebrating its 54th anniversary this May.

In fact, Poland has had a richer history of violin making that dates as far back as the 16th century. The first great makers of that era, Marcin Groblicz I (1530-1609) and Baltazar Dankwart (mid-16th century - 1622), started two dynasties of outstanding violin makers which lasted until the 18th century. Some scholars even believe that the prototype of the violin originated in Poland. Relics such as a primitive fiddle from the 11th century, a five-string instrument from the 12th century and a six-string instrument in 15th-century serve as some of the strongest evidences for their case. A collection of these instruments can be found at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Poznań.

Many of today's Polish makers go through secondary school whose curricula include the art of violin making. There are currently two in the Poland that offer such programs: High School of Fine Arts in Zakopane and High School of Music in Poznań. These schools' graduates have an opportunity to continue their studies at the Violin Making Department of Poznań's Music Academy. This means that Poland is the only country in the world where violin makers can receive a university-level education.

After years of training and apprenticeships, many of them have established their workshop in the mountainous region of Poland. Due to the low cost of labor in Eastern Europe, a favorable currency exchange rate for the US Dollar, and a tradition of highly trained makers, these instruments can be compared with others that are worth two or more times their market price.

NS Design: Arrival of the new Ned Steinberger Electric Cello

The long awaited electric instruments finally arrived at the store: A 5 stringed electric violin and a 4 stringed electric cello. We haven't had a whole lot of success selling electric violins in the past (i.e., Ted Brewer Violins) but that may change with our new addition of Ned Steinberger instruments.

Bask in the glow of the CR4 Ned Steinberger Electric Cello.

We first stopped by our local electronics store Rainbow Music to get ourselves an SWR California Blonde amp. We got the amp system hooked up and Alex had to rock out on his new toy!

Alex was impressed (stick to the violin though, Alex). When I first held it to play, I was anticipating a massive bulky feel and visual confusion where the body of a traditional cello would rest on me. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised at how light the instrument felt. The cello was carved from beautiful Croatian maple and had a very light head stock. The cognitive dissonance wasn't an issue, thanks to a small metal pin placed in the upper back of the instrument. This helped simulate the division between a neck and body.

Whenever a new instrument comes into the shop, I have to document it with a paper trail and a personal photo shoot downstairs. NS Design actually had their own photos for many of the instruments. However, I had Matt stand in as a model to show how the gig bags worked. Matt wasn't too fond of his back side.

Maker's Spotlight: German Bow Maker Otto Pfretzschner

It seems like our online auction has experienced a resurgence with a slew of great makers' works coming into our hands. This week, we are privileged to offer a very fine bow probably made by Otto Pfretzschner.

The Pfretzschner family was one of the most prolific and well known bow making families in the late 19th to twentieth centuries. Otto Pfretzschner is one of the lesser known members of that family, referred to in the Roda "Bows for Musical Instruments" as the son of Hermann Richard. The workmanship of this bow is top caliber, with lovely graduation and a elegant "swans" head. The wood in these older bows is often unrivaled for strength and response. We estimate this bow to be made around 1950 and has all of the original parts.

This bow has a solid feel in the hand, producing a rich colorful tone, and is warm and resonant in sound quality. It is a very quick and agile bow that sacrifices no strength in the stick for lightness of touch. It would make a great Mendelssohn or Bach bow for the artist.

This bow has a beautiful octagonal pernambuco stick that has perfect camber. It is set in silver and ebony, with a plain eye and divided button. It weighs 74 grams when haired. This bow is in excellent condition, with no issues to be concerned about!

Once again, it was brought to us for consignment by a very serious amateur cellist who loves it but is ready to move on to a different type of stick. German silver mounted master made violin bows of this quality are seldom seen on eBay. Bows like this are often offered at $3,000.00 and above routinely. There will be a great home for this outstanding bow with a lucky cellist somewhere!

Maker's Spotlight: English Bow Maker Arthur Bultitude

This month, on our online auction, we are privileged to offer this very fine bow probably made by one of the finest English makers of 20th Century. Arthur Bultitude (1908-1990) was an English musical instrument bow-maker, who was one of the best known makes that worked for W.E. Hill & Sons.His bows were known to be marked with a number 6 on the tip under the bow hair and the frog decorated with a silver Tudor Rose.

[Tudor Rose]

Gold Mounted master made violin bows of this quality are seldom seen. A fine professional violinist brought us this bow for consignment. You can always help out a starving musician by bidding on this bow for him:)

The workmanship of this bow is top caliber, with lovely graduation and a elegant head. We estimate this bow to be made around 1950 and has all of the original parts.

This bow has a solid feel in the hand, producing a rich colorful tone, and is warm and resonant in sound quality. Sautille and Spiccato a breeze with this beautiful stick. It would make a great all around bow for the artist.

This bow has a beautiful octagonal pernambuco stick that has perfect camber. It is set in gold and shell, with a French eye and divided button. It has a unique faux whalebone winding. It weighs 61 grams when haired. This bow is in excellent condition, with no issues to be concerned about!

Bows like this are often offered at $5,000.00 and above routinely.

The Economist: Italy's Violin Cluster

"Having come back from the dead, Cremona's instrument-makers, like many others in Italian industries, hope that an emphasis on quality, tradition and craftsmanship will keep cheaper foreign rivals at bay."

-The Economist (Italy's Violin Cluster)

Here's another great short article about the violin making business. It comes from the print edition of the Economist but it's published online at the Economist.com (one of my favorite magazines but out of my price range for an annual subscription).

Their's plenty of labor in China to churn out great makers but what's surprising is that for a little country like Italy to have the highest concentration of makers in the world. Alex has been telling me that while China now produces the bulk of commercial stringed instruments, old world European countries such as Italy have been able to compete by increasing the quality of their instruments. It's a similar business strategy you see with the popularity of high-end luxury goods like Gucci or Armani.

Specifically, we're talking about the region of Cremona. This is place where greats like Stradivarius and Guarneri were located. Despite the recent economic trends of a stronger Euro towards the US dollar, the surplus of Italian makers has resulted in the production of world class instruments at competitively low prices in the area. There's not enough of a demand over there but plenty across the Atlantic. Here in America there isn't as big a pool of world class American makers in production, partly due to the very competitive market of Chinese instruments, but many of their works are a bit over priced for the market. It's one of the reasons why some of our top Italian violins that we sell like Maurizio Tadioli or Ada Quaranta consistently beat out the competition. Plus it also helps too when we're located in Omaha Nebraska where the cost of living is cheap and and there aren't as many competing violin shops like the big New York City or Chicago

The article cites some more historical examples as to what lead to the revival of Italian violin making. A new school for making was opened in the late 1930s and the article cites Cremonese maker Hildegard Dodel who credits the renewed interest in Baroque music in the 60s and 70s helped sustain the demand for violin making.

I didn't realize Italy's violin making tradition had a significant period of really bad years. The 19th century seems to drag in low quality. If I were to guess why, it may have been those competitive commercially made German instruments that were hitting the scene at the end of the 19th c. and early 20th century. Honestly, I don't know, need to probably ask Alex some more about this.

Another interesting thing I've found in this article is that these craftsman schools are increasingly becoming international. A little more than a third of them are coming from where? Developed Asian countries.

Related Posts or Links:

• Economist.com, Italy's Violin Cluster
  
• Mauizio Tadioli, Master Violin Maker
  
• Hildegard Dodel, Master Violin Maker