On a recent trip  I visited the National Music Museum in South Dakota to study and measure the 1693 Stradivari. Over the winter I’ll be making a copy of  this violin for a client.

To copy an instrument I begin by taking as much information from the instrument as possible. Below are various  tools laid out on my bench before I set off.  All the tools are in plastic not metal, to avoid marking the instrument in anyway.  The red gauges shown are for taking the shape of the arching.       I also brought spare tools as well in case a tool gave a problem.

The National Music Museum Shrine is in the small town of Vermillion and I stayed at the friendly ‘Prairie Inn’ close to the Museum. (below on the left)

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It took a full day to measure, take notes and photograph the Stradivari. The next day I also measured an Andrea Amati violin made about the year 1560 in Cremona. Now that I’m back in Ottawa, I’m completing some other instruments and then I’ll begin making the Stradivari 1693 copy.

(Photograph by Bill Willroth Sr)

For information on our workshop go to : Guy Harrison Violin Maker

Below is one of the beautifully cut f’holes by Antonio Stradivari from 1693.