Tag Archives: violin maker

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.

The apprentice’s studio violin

“This was the first instrument I fully tonally adjusted, and it is the one that I am now personally playing, at least until I make something that I like more.“ – Reuben Grawert “I had a lot of fun adjusting, setting up, and varnishing this instrument, and even if I made a couple of mistakes […]

“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 […]

7/8 Studio Cello update No.3

This is the third update fitting of my 7/8 cello project winter22. Here is a short description about using chalk for fitting the bass bar. This stage is always exciting as that marks the finishing of the top plate. Fitting with chalk takes around 6-8 hours and has to be very fine with super sharp […]

Baroque violin made by Ilja Grawert

Baroque violin by Ilja Grawert violin shop workshop Brisbane Australia

Finally we got around to taking some beautiful pictures of the baroque violin I made years ago and never offered for sale before. This violin has been fully handmade by me following all the old traditions of how the instruments were made 300 years age. It has a couple of hand forged nails through the […]

New Studio violin model ‘Fleur de Lis’

Have a look at the video clip painting of my latest Studio violin. It is so much fun painting and varnishing

Keeping your bridge straight

I have a little clip on YouTube on how to keep your bridge straight. There are many reasons why bridges can warp. Humidity is a very big factor. Very high humidity it does not matter how well made, how seasoned & high quality the timber it will warp fast Badly filed grooves or winding of […]