The high temperature and humidity of Southeast Asia can result in the distortion of the belly arch and a diminishing of the distance from the end (widest part) of the fingerboard to the belly. After three months here in Hanoi the projection on one of our violins had fallen below the acceptable limit and had to be repaired. In Japan, I am told, string players keep a spacer between the end of the fingerboard and the belly when the instrument is not in use just to help prevent this change. Some people use business cards stacked up to the necessary depth but I like to use wood so I made spacers for all three violins out of balsa. Looks like this:

Make a plan.

With that in mind...

The shop will close its doors for one year starting in January of 2016 so that Beth and I can travel in Southeast Asia. I am threatening to write two books during that year, one about the past in music and one of violin 'recipes' including some varnish techniques and this reverse carving protocol on which I have come to depend.  The studio will reopen in a new location in 2017 and will concentrate solely on making new instruments.

Due to a recent facebook thread I felt this link might be useful for those who have questions about choosing violin strings.

 Changing Strings

A lot of the tools that I use are built here in the shop to meet some specific need. This is one of the more amusing ones. It actually works, although it could benefit from a more powerful laser so I wouldn't have to use it in nearly total darkness.

Any guesses?

The silver tags that accompany each instrument continue to evolve. Here is the latest one.

After being prodded and cajoled for a number of years, I've given in. From this week on I will be working on cellos as well as violins and violas. It seems like a small thing but everything is different with cellos and there's a whole bunch of new tools I will get to play with. It's a little like learning to drive again; excitement mixed with a little terror.

Portland was a wonderful weekend. Tons of people playing tons of tunes, a visit to David Kerr's violin shop in the rain (wonderful people there) and an over-the-top dinner on Saturday night/Sunday morning at the Gilt Club that changed my understanding of cuisine.

Ela (a Strad model) found a new home in Berkeley in the same house that Rosalie (a D'Egville model) lives in.