Ilja Grawert of Queensland, Australia, is crafting a 7/8 studio cello, customizable during early construction. Prepared with seasoned European woods, it offers options for personalization in measurements, varnishing with natural products, and potential Fleur De Liz decorations. Completion time varies based on client specifications and urgency. Grawert’s 42-year experience guarantees a unique, masterly sound.
Category Archives: Current Projects
Over the past week, I’ve reshaped the exterior and interior of a studio cello’s top plate, preparing for fine-tuning to enhance its sound; update to follow.
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.
Now we are further along with the varnishing process on the left hand studio violin. the first picture is the ground coated violin and then you see with the colour varnish applied.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The varnishing process is nearly finished…what a beautiful amber colour
Here are some pictures of the 3/4 studio violin which is now ready for the ground coats. From the first picture which is the still raw wood then to ground preparation one to three.
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 […]

Exceptional 3/4 Size Istvan Nemez (Stefan Nemes) Violin – Immaculate Condition, Big Warm Sound, Professional Setup





