Books › Chats on Violins, 1905 › scan 79
Scan 79
Chats on Violins, 1905
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 61. See the scan on archive.org.
1breaking away from tradition was in altering the old manner of cutting the wood. Heretofore it had always been the custom to cut the wood for Viols in what is termed "slab fashion." Da Salo followed the ancient custom, and made his violins in this way, but Maggini with Herculean strength, threw aside tradition and custom and cut the wood wedge-ways; just as one cuts a slice out of a melon. Soon he attained more finish in his work, made his models larger than da Salo's, his ff's much smoother, and introduced corner blocks and linings such as are now used. His varnish was of an excellent quality, with pure orange and yellow tints, and also a touch of brown in some of his earlier instruments. Most of his fiddles are double purfled, which gives them a certain distinctiveness, and makes them look larger than they really are. As to the tone, it is powerful, but has neither the purity of an Amati nor the brilliancy of a Stradivarius, and the muffled quality is somewhat suggestive of a Viol.
3No certificate of Maggini's death is as yet forthcoming, so it is conjectured that he died of the cruel plague which
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