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36-638: Samuel Zygmuntowicz (born 1956) is a contemporary luthier and is widely regarded as one of the finest violin makers of his generation. He began his instrument making training at age 13, and studied making and restoration under Peter Prier , Carl Becker and René Morel . Since 1985 he has been based in Brooklyn, New York . His early work demonstrates expert skill as a copyist of classic instruments. Later work includes personal models informed by intensive advanced research. Findings from this research have been published in numerous print and digital media. Zygmuntowicz

72-574: A bow maker or archetier. Luthiers may also teach string-instrument making, either through apprenticeship or formal classroom instruction. Early producers of lutes , archlutes , theorbos and vihuelas include the Tieffenbrucker family, Martin Hoffmann and Matteo Sellas . Two luthiers of the early 19th century connected with the development of the modern classical guitar are Louis Panormo and Georg Staufer . Antonio Torres Jurado

108-518: A book written by John Marchese, chronicles the making of a violin for Emerson String Quartet violinist Eugene Drucker. Since 2006, Zygmuntowicz has been the creative director of the Strad3D project, which The Strad Library called "One of the most groundbreaking and comprehensive studies of the violin form ever conceived." It involved the first 3D laser vibration scanning of Stradivari and Guarneri violins, (the 'Titian' and 'Willemotte' Stradivaris, and

144-783: A few years after the master's death. David Tecchler , who was born in Austria, later worked in both Venice and Rome . Luthiers from the early 18th century include Nicolò Gagliano of Naples , Italy, Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi of Milan, and Giovanni Battista Guadagnini , who roamed throughout Italy during his lifetime. From Austria originally, Leopold Widhalm later established himself in Nürnberg , Germany. The Jérôme-Thibouville-Lamy firm started making wind instruments around 1730 at La Couture-Boussey , then moved to Mirecourt around 1760 and started making violins, guitars, mandolins, and musical accessories. The early 19th-century luthiers of

180-673: A few years after the master's death. David Tecchler , who was born in Austria, later worked in both Venice and Rome . Luthiers from the early 18th century include Nicolò Gagliano of Naples , Italy, Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi of Milan, and Giovanni Battista Guadagnini , who roamed throughout Italy during his lifetime. From Austria originally, Leopold Widhalm later established himself in Nürnberg , Germany. The Jérôme-Thibouville-Lamy firm started making wind instruments around 1730 at La Couture-Boussey , then moved to Mirecourt around 1760 and started making violins, guitars, mandolins, and musical accessories. The early 19th-century luthiers of

216-410: A frame. The craft of luthiers, lutherie (rarely called "luthiery", but this often refers to stringed instruments other than those in the violin family), is commonly divided into the two main categories of makers of stringed instruments that are plucked or strummed and makers of stringed instruments that are bowed . Since bowed instruments require a bow, the second category includes a subtype known as

252-644: A guitar maker in Vienna, Austria and Martin & Co. was born, with the X bracing being developed in the 1850s. Martin & Co still produce acoustic guitars. Paul Bigsby 's innovation of the tremolo arm for archtop and electric guitars is still in use and may have influenced Leo Fender 's design for the Stratocaster solid-body electric guitar, as well as the Jaguar and Jazzmaster . Concurrent with Fender's work, guitarist Les Paul independently developed

288-739: A solid-body electric guitar. These were the first fretted, solid-body electric guitars—though they were preceded by the cast aluminum " frying pan ", a solid-body electric lap steel guitar developed and eventually patented by George Beauchamp , and built by Adolph Rickenbacher . A company founded by luthier Friedrich Gretsch and continued by his son and grandson, Fred and Fred, Jr., originally made banjos, but now mainly produce electric guitars. Bowed instruments include: cello , crwth , double bass , erhu , fiddle , hudok , morin khuur , nyckelharpa , hurdy-gurdy , rabab , rebec , sarangi , viol ( viola da gamba ), viola , viola da braccio , viola d'amore , and violin . The purported inventor of

324-604: A string instrument by a living maker at auction, until the record was broken in October 2013. His clients include Leila Josefowicz , Yo-Yo Ma , David Finckel, Cho-Liang Lin, Maxim Vengerov , Joshua Bell , Dylana Jenson , Matthew Lipman and the Emerson String Quartet. In their 2008 recording of Bach fugues, the Emerson String Quartet all played Zygmuntowicz instruments. The Violinmaker ,

360-613: Is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments . The word luthier is originally French and comes from luth , the French word for " lute ". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be used in French for makers of most bowed and plucked stringed instruments such as members of the violin family (including violas , cellos , and double basses ) and guitars . Luthiers, however, do not make harps or pianos; these require different skills and construction methods because their strings are secured to

396-761: Is an active fiddler, playing with several folk music groups. His playing can be heard on the recordings Grand Picnic , and Jump When the Trumpets Blow . Zygmuntowicz was born in Philadelphia to Jewish Holocaust survivors from Poland. He is a graduate of the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City (1976–80) during which time he also worked for Carl Becker. In 1980, a Becker-style Stradivari violin copy made by Zygmuntowicz won two gold medals - for violin workmanship and tone - at

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432-538: Is credited with creating the archtop guitar . The 20th-century American luthiers John D'Angelico and Jimmy D'Aquisto made archtop guitars. Lloyd Loar worked briefly for the Gibson Guitar Corporation making mandolins and guitars. His designs for a family of arch top instruments (mandolin, mandola, guitar, et cetera) are held in high esteem by today's luthiers, who seek to reproduce their sound. C. F. Martin apprenticed to Johann Georg Stauffer,

468-422: Is credited with developing the form of classical guitar still in use. C.F. Martin of Germany developed a form that evolved into the modern steel-string acoustic guitar. The American luthier Orville Gibson specialized in mandolins, and is credited with creating the archtop guitar . The 20th-century American luthiers John D'Angelico and Jimmy D'Aquisto made archtop guitars. Lloyd Loar worked briefly for

504-475: The Gibson Guitar Corporation making mandolins and guitars. His designs for a family of arch top instruments (mandolin, mandola, guitar, et cetera) are held in high esteem by today's luthiers, who seek to reproduce their sound. C. F. Martin apprenticed to Johann Georg Stauffer, a guitar maker in Vienna, Austria and Martin & Co. was born, with the X bracing being developed in the 1850s. Martin & Co still produce acoustic guitars. Paul Bigsby 's innovation of

540-741: The Mirecourt school of violin making in France were the Vuillaume family, Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin , and Collin-Mezin's son, Charles Collin-Mezin, Jr. , Honore Derazey, Nicolas Lupot, Charles Macoutel, Charles Mennégand , and Pierre Silvestre. Nicola Utili (also known as Nicola da Castel Bolognese) (Ravenna, Italy, 1888–1962), beside traditional lute works, experimented the making of "pear-shaped" violins. luthier#French A luthier ( / ˈ l uː t i ər / LOO -tee-ər ; US also / ˈ l uː θ i ər / LOO -thee-ər )

576-480: The Tieffenbrucker family, Martin Hoffmann and Matteo Sellas . Two luthiers of the early 19th century connected with the development of the modern classical guitar are Louis Panormo and Georg Staufer . Antonio Torres Jurado is credited with developing the form of classical guitar still in use. C.F. Martin of Germany developed a form that evolved into the modern steel-string acoustic guitar. The American luthier Orville Gibson specialized in mandolins, and

612-402: The tremolo arm for archtop and electric guitars is still in use and may have influenced Leo Fender 's design for the Stratocaster solid-body electric guitar, as well as the Jaguar and Jazzmaster . Concurrent with Fender's work, guitarist Les Paul independently developed a solid-body electric guitar. These were the first fretted, solid-body electric guitars—though they were preceded by

648-412: The violin family (including violas , cellos , and double basses ) and guitars . Luthiers, however, do not make harps or pianos; these require different skills and construction methods because their strings are secured to a frame. The craft of luthiers, lutherie (rarely called "luthiery", but this often refers to stringed instruments other than those in the violin family), is commonly divided into

684-423: The 'Duport' cello, 'Titian', and 'Huberman' violins of Stradivari, the 'Plowden' Guarneri 'del Gesu' violin, and a 1796 Mantegazza viola. Luthier The word luthier is originally French and comes from luth , the French word for " lute ". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be used in French for makers of most bowed and plucked stringed instruments such as members of

720-442: The 'Plowden' Guarneri 'del Gesu') and included acoustic testing and CT scanning. Zygmuntowicz turned the endeavor into a broad collaborative project, bringing together makers, musicians, filmmakers, acoustical engineers, and other researchers - among them physicist and co-developer George Bissinger, who had pioneered the use of vibration scanning using lasers. According to Zygmuntowicz, "The instruments were gently activated by tapping

756-700: The January 2009 issue of The Strad . Zygmuntowicz is an active speaker at museums, conferences, chamber music festivals, and intensive workshops, on topics ranging from historical and contemporary violin-making techniques to modern violin acoustics and cutting-edge research. Recent engagements include, The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in 2016, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival of 2015-16, Music@Menlo Festival of 2017 , The 2018 La Jolla SummerFest, Banff String Quartet Competition of 2013 , The 2012 EG Conference , and yearly appearances at

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792-795: The Oberlin Acoustics Workshop, and at the Juilliard School in NY. These presentations have been adapted to the various interests of the general public, active string players, scientific researchers, and experienced luthiers. Videos of past presentations can be found on Zygmuntowicz’ Studio YouTube Channel , and videos from the Strad3D project on the Strad3D YouTube Channel . Zygmuntowicz has published several analyses of great classic instruments, including

828-465: The Violin Society of America Competition. The same year, Zygmuntowicz began five years of additional training in the restoration workshop of Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. and René A. Morel . Isaac Stern owned two Zygmuntowicz violins. After Stern died in 2001, both violins were sold at a Tarisio auction in 2003, each violin surpassing the previous record for the highest price paid for

864-421: The bridge, and then three scanning lasers detected the resulting patterns of vibration, which were revealed on screen as a rippling landscape of colour and motion, rather like a motion-capture animated film." The result was the first three-dimensional motion capture of violins in use. The practical value of these scientific investigations continues to emerge. Initial findings were published in an article appearing in

900-622: The cast aluminum " frying pan ", a solid-body electric lap steel guitar developed and eventually patented by George Beauchamp , and built by Adolph Rickenbacher . A company founded by luthier Friedrich Gretsch and continued by his son and grandson, Fred and Fred, Jr., originally made banjos, but now mainly produce electric guitars. Bowed instruments include: cello , crwth , double bass , erhu , fiddle , hudok , morin khuur , nyckelharpa , hurdy-gurdy , rabab , rebec , sarangi , viol ( viola da gamba ), viola , viola da braccio , viola d'amore , and violin . The purported inventor of

936-455: The instrument reading "A&H". Antonio died having no known offspring, but Hieronymus became a father. His son Nicolò (1596–1684) was himself a master luthier who had several apprentices of note, including Antonio Stradivari (probably), Andrea Guarneri , Bartolomeo Pasta, Jacob Railich, Giovanni Battista Rogeri, Matthias Klotz , and possibly Jacob Stainer and Francesco Rugeri . It is even possible Bartolomeo Cristofori , later inventor of

972-455: The instrument reading "A&H". Antonio died having no known offspring, but Hieronymus became a father. His son Nicolò (1596–1684) was himself a master luthier who had several apprentices of note, including Antonio Stradivari (probably), Andrea Guarneri , Bartolomeo Pasta, Jacob Railich, Giovanni Battista Rogeri, Matthias Klotz , and possibly Jacob Stainer and Francesco Rugeri . It is even possible Bartolomeo Cristofori , later inventor of

1008-581: The mid-17th century include Giovanni Grancino , Vincenzo Rugeri , Carlo Giuseppe Testore , and his sons Carlo Antonio Testore and Paolo Antonio Testore , all from Milan . From Venice the luthiers Matteo Goffriller , Domenico Montagnana , Sanctus Seraphin , and Carlo Annibale Tononi were principals in the Venetian school of violin making (although the latter began his career in Bologna ). Carlo Bergonzi (luthier) purchased Antonio Stradivari's shop

1044-471: The mid-17th century include Giovanni Grancino , Vincenzo Rugeri , Carlo Giuseppe Testore , and his sons Carlo Antonio Testore and Paolo Antonio Testore , all from Milan . From Venice the luthiers Matteo Goffriller , Domenico Montagnana , Sanctus Seraphin , and Carlo Annibale Tononi were principals in the Venetian school of violin making (although the latter began his career in Bologna ). Carlo Bergonzi (luthier) purchased Antonio Stradivari's shop

1080-419: The piano, apprenticed under him (although census data does not support this, which paints this as a possible myth). Gasparo Duiffopruggar of Füssen , Germany, was once incorrectly credited as the inventor of the violin. He was likely a maker, but no documentation survives, and no instruments survive that experts unequivocally know are his. Gasparo da Salò of Brescia (Italy) was another early luthier of

1116-419: The piano, apprenticed under him (although census data does not support this, which paints this as a possible myth). Gasparo Duiffopruggar of Füssen , Germany, was once incorrectly credited as the inventor of the violin. He was likely a maker, but no documentation survives, and no instruments survive that experts unequivocally know are his. Gasparo da Salò of Brescia (Italy) was another early luthier of

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1152-447: The two main categories of makers of stringed instruments that are plucked or strummed and makers of stringed instruments that are bowed . Since bowed instruments require a bow, the second category includes a subtype known as a bow maker or archetier. Luthiers may also teach string-instrument making, either through apprenticeship or formal classroom instruction. Early producers of lutes , archlutes , theorbos and vihuelas include

1188-659: The violin family. About 80 of his instruments survive, and around 100 documents that relate to his work. He was also a double bass player and son and nephew of two violin players: Francesco and Agosti, respectively. Da Salò made many instruments and exported to France and Spain, and probably to England. He had at least five apprentices: his son Francesco, a helper named Battista, Alexander of Marsiglia, Giacomo Lafranchini and Giovanni Paolo Maggini . Maggini inherited da Salò's business in Brescia. Valentino Siani worked with Maggini. In 1620, Maggini moved to Florence. Luthiers born in

1224-604: The violin family. About 80 of his instruments survive, and around 100 documents that relate to his work. He was also a double bass player and son and nephew of two violin players: Francesco and Agosti, respectively. Da Salò made many instruments and exported to France and Spain, and probably to England. He had at least five apprentices: his son Francesco, a helper named Battista, Alexander of Marsiglia, Giacomo Lafranchini and Giovanni Paolo Maggini . Maggini inherited da Salò's business in Brescia. Valentino Siani worked with Maggini. In 1620, Maggini moved to Florence. Luthiers born in

1260-593: The violin is Andrea Amati . Amati was originally a lute maker, but turned to the new instrument form of violin in the mid-16th century. He was the progenitor of the Amati family of luthiers active in Cremona, Italy until the 18th century. Andrea Amati had two sons. His eldest was Antonio Amati ( circa 1537–1607), and the younger, Girolamo Amati ( circa 1561–1630). Girolamo is better known as Hieronymus, and together with his brother, produced many violins with labels inside

1296-486: The violin is Andrea Amati . Amati was originally a lute maker, but turned to the new instrument form of violin in the mid-16th century. He was the progenitor of the Amati family of luthiers active in Cremona, Italy until the 18th century. Andrea Amati had two sons. His eldest was Antonio Amati ( circa 1537–1607), and the younger, Girolamo Amati ( circa 1561–1630). Girolamo is better known as Hieronymus, and together with his brother, produced many violins with labels inside

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