Talking about the Modern Violin
The size of a violin body must be – in proportion to its tone register – between 35 and 36cm. There are many models in this range with different arching high and form and proportions.
They can all work very well if they are well made and give us different characteristics in sound and behavior when playing them. My best results were by a model of mine, the “Natale”, and that of the famous Guarneri del Gesu model, the “Kochanski”: very flat arching, thin ribs, relatively thick plates, quite asymmetrical shape and small size of the body of 35.1 cm. The bridge remains in the division 5/6 of the belly, typical of Guarneri. All dimensions are based on my design: the “Codice del violino” derived from this instrument.
The Violin
Kochanski/Saade
This violin was born from a project with the soloist Jorge Saade who had the opportunity to study in depth the original Guarneri del Gesù violin “Kochanski” and fell in love with it. We tried to make a “clone with essence”, a clone of the Guarneri’s building concept and while making an authentic instrument making also one that is as close to the original as possible.
Matthias Kayssler’s Kochanski/Saade violin has an “antique” sound that is comparable to high qualified violins such as Guarneri or Stradivari. With the Kochanski/Saade violin you are sure that you will be heard until the last row, without a doubt, it is the ideal violin to play as a soloist in any concert hall in the world.
It is an easy instrument to play, it is very comfortable and light, the sound response is fast with quality and wide projection, it is well balanced on the 4 strings and full of harmonics. After a few days you discover its full potential (which seems unlimited) and also find in it . it’s “own sound” that allows you to express yourself freely, from pianissimo to fortissimo without sacrificing sound quality, which is precisely what every musician looks for an instrument.
Daniel Manjarrez (Peking)
Available for purchase
With each new instrument, the concept is meticulously honed through extensive collaborations with seasoned musicians. We take immense pride in offering to craft a brand new instrument of the same model for you, ensuring the shortest possible turnaround time.
The Violin
Kochanski/Andrea
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Available for purchase
With each new instrument, the concept is meticulously honed through extensive collaborations with seasoned musicians. We take immense pride in offering to craft a brand new instrument of the same model for you, ensuring the shortest possible turnaround time.
The Violin
Ferrari
The key to the sound character of an instrument is the consistency of the varnish, the other key is the musician. Size and weight relations, plate tuning etc. are decisive for the playability, the power and the projection of the instrument.
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The Ferrari violin was played for the first time by the North American violinist Sandi Schwarz before varnishing. Her comment (in Spanish) was very short:
“pre – cio – sisimo!”
The instrument is based on a drawing by William Moennig and John Dilworth of the “Kochanski” violin by Guarneri del Gesu: we did not try to make a copy that was accurate to the millimeter, but rather to follow the concept of this famous violin: very flat arching, thin ribs, relatively thick plates, fairly asymmetrical shape and the small size of the body of 35.1 cm. The bridge stayes on the 5/6 division of the belly, typical of Guarneri. All dimensions are based on the “Codice del Violino” I derived from this instrument.
The consistency of the varnish in its various layers is adapted to the special acoustic characteristics of the instrument. This is not done by means of measurements, but by repeatedly playing the instrument during the varnishing process, done with a combination of resins and pigments in alcohol and in turpentine or oil, concluded with French polish with combined resins (Benzoin, Alcamfor, Rosin, Mastix and Turpentine of Venice).
The color is a not very dark cinnamon.
Belly and back are of one piece. The back made of very finely grained Balkan maple, the belly of fairly broad grained spruce with asymmetrical, hard, red grain. I have had the best experience with this type of wood for the belly. All set up is made of ebony.
“… En el primer momento que lo comencé a tocar sentí su bellísimo tono, puro, caluroso y profundo… Responde muy fácilmente y no se debilita cuando uno toca en las posiciones más altas…Francamente, si yo no tuviera mi antiguo ‘Cuypers’ el violín del Maestro ya no estaría en venta!
Sandi Schwarz
Sorry sold.
With each new instrument, the concept is refined in dialogue with highly experienced musicians. We would be happy to build a new instrument of the same model for you at the shortest possible time.
How it sounds?
The Violin
Lamborghini
Built on the shape of the Kochanski violin it has basically “guarnerian” characteristics – strong basses and bright highs. Comparing it with the “Ferrari” violin, which we build on the same shape and from the same piece of wood – the “Lamborghini” violin, due to its differently crafted arching, gives us a slightly different timbre, deeper fundamental tone, more viola- like.
If we think of a quartet, the Ferrari would be the perfect 1. violin and the Lamborghini would be ideal for 2. violin.
“¡pre-cio-sísimo!”
Sandi Schwarz
Sorry sold.
With each new instrument, the concept is refined in dialogue with highly experienced musicians. We would be happy to build a new instrument of the same model for you at the shortest possible time.
