Notes from the workbench.
Practical, honest writing from the atelier — sizing, setup, costs and what to listen for when choosing an instrument.
26 July 2026 · 12 min read
How to Become a Luthier: The Path to Making Violins and Cellos
A practical guide to becoming a violin or cello maker — luthier schools, apprenticeships, bench hours, and what the profession actually looks like day to day.
All entries
- 0226 Jul 2026 · 10 min
How to Choose Violin Strings: A Luthier's Guide
A practical guide to choosing violin strings: gut, synthetic and steel cores explained, plus how tension affects tone, response and playability.
- 0315 Jun 2026 · 10 min
Viola Size Chart & Measurements by Age | Free Calculator
Viola size chart and measurements from 12" to 16.5" by age, height and arm length, in inches and cm. Our free calculator recommends your size in one minute.
- 0414 Jun 2026 · 12 min
Violin & Cello Repair Costs: A Luthier's Honest Price Guide
An honest breakdown of what violin and cello repairs cost — bridge cutting, soundpost work, crack repair, peg fitting, full restorations — and how prices differ for student setup versus professional restoration.
- 0513 Jun 2026 · 11 min
How to Know If Your Violin Needs a Setup
Learn the signs your violin needs a professional setup, including high strings, slipping pegs, bridge problems, buzzing, poor tone and difficult playability.
- 0612 Jun 2026 · 10 min
How Much Does Violin Repair Cost?
What affects violin repair costs — from bridge adjustment and peg work to cracks, open seams, soundpost issues and full setup.
- 0710 Jun 2026 · 9 min
Luthier vs Music Shop: Who Should Adjust Your Violin?
Should you take your violin to a music shop or a professional luthier? Learn when a luthier is the better choice for bridge, soundpost, peg, string and setup adjustments.
- 0820 May 2026 · 7 min
Violin Bridge Placement: A Luthier's Setup Guide
How to place, align and check a violin bridge — centering between the f-hole notches, vertical alignment, and spotting warp before it ruins the sound.
- 098 Apr 2026 · 6 min
Cello Size Chart: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or 4/4 — How to Choose
Cello size chart with age, height and arm-length measurements for 1/4 to 4/4 cellos, plus a luthier's guide to measuring a child or adult properly.
- 1022 Mar 2026 · 7 min
How Much Does a Handcrafted Violin Cost? A Luthier Explains
Handmade violin prices range from €3,000 to €100,000+. Here's what actually drives the cost — wood, hours, varnish, and provenance.
- 1114 Feb 2026 · 5 min
What a Luthier Actually Does During a Violin Setup
The setup is what turns a violin into a playable instrument. Here are the seven adjustments every serious player should know about.
- 1230 Jan 2026 · 6 min
How to Choose a Cello Bow: What Actually Matters
Weight, balance, stiffness and wood — a working luthier's guide to choosing a cello bow that suits your playing.
- 1312 Jan 2026 · 7 min
How to Choose a Good Cello: A Luthier's Buying Guide
What to listen for, what to inspect and what to ignore when choosing a cello — practical advice from the workshop.
- 1414 Jun 2026 · 12 min
How to Choose a Beginner Violin: A Luthier's Guide
A luthier's guide for parents and adult beginners on how to choose a first violin — why setup matters more than brand, how to size correctly, and what to avoid.
- 1515 Jun 2026 · 12 min
Violin Bridge Problems: How to Tell If Your Bridge Needs Adjustment
Learn how to recognize common violin bridge problems, including leaning, warping, poor string height, buzzing, weak tone and when a bridge may need professional adjustment.
- 1616 Jun 2026 · 13 min
Violin and Cello Appraisal: A Practical Guide to Valuing a Fine Instrument
A luthier's guide to violin and cello appraisal — the difference between insurance and market valuations, what is examined, what provenance means, and what an appraisal typically costs.
- 1720 Jul 2026 · 11 min
Violin & Cello Humidity Guide: Seasonal Maintenance and Climate Care
A luthier's guide to violin humidity control and cello winter care — how tonewood reacts to seasonal changes, recommended hygrometers and case humidifiers, and how to tell when an instrument needs a seasonal setup adjustment.
- 181 Sept 2026 · 9 min
Violin, Viola or Cello: Which Instrument Is Right for You?
A luthier's guide to choosing between violin, viola and cello — size, physical fit, repertoire, cost of ownership and how each instrument sounds and feels to play.
- 193 Sept 2026 · 8 min
Violin Size Chart: Measurements by Age, Height & Arm Length
Violin size chart from 1/16 to 4/4 with measurements in inches and cm by age, height and arm length, plus how to measure a child and the signs a violin is the wrong size.
- 205 Sept 2026 · 7 min
Violin vs Viola: What Is the Difference?
Violin vs viola compared by a luthier — size, tuning, clef, string tension, sound, repertoire and which instrument suits which player.
- 217 Sept 2026 · 10 min
How to Tell If a Violin Is Good Quality: A Luthier's Checklist
How to judge violin quality before you buy — wood, purfling, edgework, varnish, fittings, setup and the sound tests that actually reveal a good instrument.
- 229 Sept 2026 · 9 min
How to Buy a Used Violin Safely: A Luthier's Checklist
How to buy a second-hand violin without getting burned — condition checks, provenance questions, trial periods, fair pricing and when to walk away.
- 2311 Sept 2026 · 7 min
Violin Rental vs Buying: Which Is Better for a Beginner?
Renting or buying a first violin — costs compared, when rental makes sense for growing children, rent-to-own terms, and when buying is the better decision.
- 2413 Sept 2026 · 8 min
Violin Setup Cost: What Is Included and What It Should Cost
What a violin setup includes and what it costs — bridge cutting, soundpost adjustment, peg fitting, nut grooves, fingerboard dressing and string fitting explained.
- 2515 Sept 2026 · 8 min
Insurance Value vs Market Value for Violins: What's the Difference?
Why an insurance valuation is higher than market value for a violin, viola or cello — replacement cost, auction value, retail value and how to insure correctly.
- 2617 Sept 2026 · 9 min
How to Sell a Violin, Viola or Cello: A Luthier's Guide
How to sell a string instrument for a fair price — valuation, condition and setup, choosing between dealer, consignment, auction and private sale, and paperwork.