Tag Archives: Ilja Grawert – violinmaker

The keys on my piano are stuck

Here is a little hobby Sunday project. The keys of our student piano are stuck. I first thought it might have been due to high humidity as this piano lives nearly outside. It ended up to be cockroach dirt stuck in between the keys. It was fairly easy to clean all that. Now the keys […]

7/8 cello update No 6

After closing the cello the cello was ready to have the neck fitted. I was so lost in the work on this cello that I totally forgot to take photos . It is very important that the neck is in the right position, in the right angle overlapping the top plate the perfect amount to […]

15.5″ Studio Viola project update No 1

A 15.5 inch studio viola. thicknessing the top-plate is finished, the bass bar wood is prepared to the right thickness. I chose a high quality, well seasoned, split peace of spruce. After checking all the proportions, lots of measuring & calculating I could mark the final length and exact positioning for the bass bar to ensure most vibration of the top

7/8 cello update No 5

7/8 studio cello at Ilja Grawert violin shop workshop Brisbane Australia

Each cello carries a song of its own, telling a story of its proportions, the tools and the hands shaping it from a block of wood into this beautiful creation of sound.

7/8 Cello Winter22 Update No4

I finished fitting the bass bar and glued it to the inner surface of the top plate in its proper position. Gluing is usually a high stress situation as the glues we use are one hundred percent natural hide glue. It needs to be heated and after application the clamps will have to be put […]

“Kaffee Kantate” by J.S. Bach

“Coffee…Coffee…I must have….” Lieschen, Schlendrian’s daughter “…if three time a day I can’t drink my little cup of coffee then I would become so upset that I would be like a dried up piece of roast goat…” “Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, smoother than muscatel wine.” I totally agree…without coffee […]

Weekly wisdom 30

Cleaning cloth by Ilja Grawert violin shop workshop Brisbane Australia

Clean your violin every time after playing with your microfiber cleaning cloth. If you clean your violin everyday after playing you will save money your strings will last longer your bridge will stay straight longer the violin does not need to be professionally cleaned by a violin maker as often the bridge feet are less […]

Strad model ‘Beckerath’ made by Ilja Grawert

Beckerath stradivari copy handmade violin by Ilja Grawert violin shop workshop Brisbane Australia

I made this violin years ago and never offered it for sale before. This violin has been fully handmade by me following all the old traditions of violin making. It has a beautiful warm tone and is very pleasing to play. A good friend for the violinist. The varnish is an old traditional recipe with […]

7/8 Studio Cello No.2

After fitting and gluing the little wooden placement blocks to hold the bass bar in exactly the same position while fitting, I started with the rough fitting of the bass bar. I place the bass bar in the right position check the fit and use my little thumb planes to shave away some wood. I […]

7/8 studio cello No.1

7/8 studio cello at Ilja Grawert violin shop workshop Brisbane Australia

One of my current projects is to build this beautiful studio cello. It is a 7/8 size, which is a very good size for cellists with smaller hands or those who love to have the ease of playing a smaller cello combined with the strong sound of a full size. If you are interested in […]