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New 7/8 Studio cello started Feb2024

7/8 studio cello at Ilja Grawert Violin maker Bespoke cellos violins violas and double basses

I just started my new project… another 7/8 studio cello as my other one in my web-shop sold recently. There will be a pre-purchase option with a lower order price and a finished product price again like the last times ( link to the last 7/8 studio cello). If you wish to order in the early stages of the building process you can influence some parts and measurements to make it a bespoke made cello directly for you. If you order in the later stages there will be lesser options for special requests as some parts will be already finished. The time frame to finish this cello is highly dependant of the wishes on the musician if pre-purchased, and/or all the restoration and repairs which are urgent for other players.

Update March 2024: THIS 7/8 CELLO HAS BEEN PRE-SOLD! If you would like to order one there will be now a around 6-9 month waiting time

Another 7/8 Studio cello project of Grawert violin making in Queensland Australia

This 7/8 cello has been prepared in the European Union from well seasoned European flamed maple and fine grained spruce. The top & back have been left very thick (nearly double the thickness from the finished product) to ensure I have the space to achieve the best possible shape and thickness for the arching of the plates. I can adjust the height of the sides if needed for good sound and the neck can be adjusted to your individual hand size. This cello and all other studio instruments will be varnished using only natural products which were available 300 years ago. Fleur De Liz paintings are available on request. 

The studio cello, violin, viola & double basses are a special line of bowed stringed instruments prepared to a point an apprentice would have done 300 years ago and the I apply my masterly craftsmanship and 42 years of experience to the instrument, tune the plates with the special Ilja Grawert – violinmaker sound-system to ensure a beautiful warm, still carrying and even tone to each single instrument. 

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New 7/8 Studio Cello March24 update No 1

For the last seven days I have been working  firstly correcting the outside arching of the 7/8 size studio cello changing all around the f-holes and in the middle of the top. Then I was removing lots of material from the inside of the top plate with the little thumb planes preparing the plate for the fine tuning so the cello will sound beautiful. Go down to video

Next will the fine-tuning of the top plate start and the bass bar. There will be another update for that.

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Pete’s Fiddle: Lining

Petes-fiddle-lining in the workshop of Ilja Grawert & son master violin maker and luthier in Brisbane Australia The Gap and North Queensland

The lining on a bowed stringed instrument is a bent piece of wood, usually willow or spruce, which is glued to the top and bottom of the ribs to reinforce the ribs and create a larger glueing surface for the plates. Here is a short video clip of the process.

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Left hand studio violin ready to varnish

I have been building a left hand violin for an order and it is finally ready to be varnished. Hand made left hand studio violin built in the workshop of Ilja Grawert & son master violin maker and luthier in Brisbane Australia The Gap and North Queensland near Whitsundays in our beautiful workshop surrounded by rain forest, fruit trees, gardens and a clear Mountain creek…

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Stamp making

hand made stamp Ilja Grawert & son master violin maker and luthier in Brisbane Australia The Gap and North Queensland

Currently as a little side hobby I learning to stamps on wood. So far I am getting closer to acceptable quality with every new attempt. When I am happy there will be new, traditional stamped labels in my violins. beautiful look and no printing involved…very traditional old craft, old time. Stamp No1 was the first trial ever in rubber and is just not good enough, and No2 is done in a soft rubber and a little bit better but triggered a material change and Stamp No3 is my first trial in end grain hardwood. I am still improving the method and am already getting better results.

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New violin

middle joints done for new handmade violin

I finally got around to do the middle joints for the plates. It is always good to get that done as you feel that you have started a violin. The next steps will only happen when I get back from my Brisbane workshop and have time to fully dedicate myself to this new violin. As I drew a new model I am even more excited about the violin.

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3/4 violin update No 3

The varnishing process is nearly finished…what a beautiful amber colour

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3/4 Studio violin 1

The 3/4 studio violin which I am building at the moment is ready to be closed. The plates are tuned, the bass-bar fitted, glued and tuned, all thicknesses and sound proportions are right….The ‘Ilja Grawert – Sound System’ has been applied. The next steps will be to clean the violin outside again and prepare the foundation varnish.

3/4 studio violin at Ilja Grawert violin maker and son in Brisbane and Whitsundays
3/4 studio violin at Ilja Grawert violin maker and son in Brisbane and Whitsundays