Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out the 2024 Fiddlerman Group Christmas Project here.

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Guarneri patterns vs Strad patterns, pro's con's?
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
Avatar
EricBluegrassFiddle
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 11:55 am
Member Since: August 18, 2014
Forum Posts: 183
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I'm just curious..

I Know in today's world this doesn't really mean much because there has been so much variation between the original designs. Overall Guarneri "stylish Violins have a wider lower bout and also upper c bout right? Whereas generally the Strad is longer but thinner?

I've heard that Strads tend to focus the mids and high a little more, with more clarity, more piercing, whilst Guarneris the mids and lows are more pronounced and the response and projection is more apparent...generally.

Is this the case?

But then their are those that say, you can't really tell any real inherent differences in fiddles made from one pattern or another anymore.. It seems no 2 Guarneris or Strads that you see are even remotely alike LOL

 

i'm just curious on everybody's thoughts?

" I just keep telling myself...."It's all about becoming one with your bow"

Avatar
ElisaDalViolin

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 12:58 pm
Member Since: November 26, 2014
Forum Posts: 209
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

What I know about it you have already listed: some physical details in the shape also including the F-holes and the sound. Not only the lows being more characteristic of a Guarneri there's also the warmer/bright comparison in between. Some even say that a Guarneri tend to "growl" a bit while Strads are almost "surgically clean". This can be adjusted with the strings of course (or even the materials if we are talking about modern replicas) but let's say we are talking about the natural predisposition of both models.

I don't know much about it because my interest goes to earlier models such as amati, but I'm also curious about other thoughts on this :)  

 
Avatar
LyleA
Little Rock, AR

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 1:52 pm
Member Since: January 28, 2012
Forum Posts: 207
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I wish I knew more about this subject.  I know that I have gravitated towards "Guarneri" style instruments because of the warmer, mellower reputation they have, but I have never played on a Strad replica.  I would wonder how noticeable the difference is, or if there even is one on instruments made by GCV or even on a Ming Jiang Zhu which has S & G variants of their models.

No doubt the true original works by G & S have different, appreciable qualities to those with trained and experienced ears, but does that trickle down to a modern $1,200 Chinese instrument?   

Never mind maneuvers, just go straight at them.

Avatar
ElisaDalViolin

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 2:15 pm
Member Since: November 26, 2014
Forum Posts: 209
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I think it can be noticeable on chinese instruments until a certain point. Maybe not with the same proportions that we think of the original models of course but still enough to have a certain characteristic of its own and differentiate the two models sound wise.

 
Avatar
EricBluegrassFiddle
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 2:30 pm
Member Since: August 18, 2014
Forum Posts: 183
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Well, I'm kind of just leaning towards basic differences and generalities. Although I read on other threads from experts that below about the $5,000 dollar level, it really doesn't matter. There are Strads that are deeper and mellower and Guarneris that are brighter and more trebly, they say it only really matters when you get into really high level instruments.

But as a general rule of thumb ( right?

Strad patterns - More mid range, high's

Guarneri patterns - More mids, deeper lows, smoother

" I just keep telling myself...."It's all about becoming one with your bow"

Avatar
ElisaDalViolin

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 2:42 pm
Member Since: November 26, 2014
Forum Posts: 209
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Of course, among the generic patterns Guard/Strad you still have specific models that may escape a bit of those  general "brand" conceptions.

But in the end you can sum it like that  :)

 
Avatar
Uzi
Georgia

Honorary tenured advisor
Members

Regulars
March 4, 2015 - 3:54 pm
Member Since: January 19, 2014
Forum Posts: 973
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

It might help to compare the real deal.  Even then, no two are alike.  Some will tell you, as in wine tasting, "This violin has the tintinnabulation of a crystal glass intermingled with slightly woody overtones, at once exquisite and yet slightly presumptuous..."  I don't find that at all helpful. It's better to just hear it for yourself.  Here's  three  examples.  The first is a 1716 Strad vs a 1743 Guarneri.  The second, is the "Soil" Strad played by Itzhak Perlman and the "Puskin" Guarneri played by Pinchas Zukerman.  Bonus Points: In the second one, see if you can tell which is which.  Finally, the third is a duel between the 1694  Strad vs the 1731  Guaneri.  Which one wins?

http://youtu.be/Z4LFjuWvwzw

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

Avatar
EricBluegrassFiddle
Members

Regulars
March 5, 2015 - 1:08 pm
Member Since: August 18, 2014
Forum Posts: 183
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks for posting Uzi

" I just keep telling myself...."It's all about becoming one with your bow"

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 5, 2015 - 1:10 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16535

I used to think that I knew the answer to that question but I really do not. The more I sell and test instruments and we sold over 2000 violin just in 2014, the more I realize that a violin is a commodity and no two sound alike just like Uzi said.
Some Strads are dark, deep and powerful and some Guarneri models are bright and brilliant. Obviously the same goes in reverse.
Sorry for not being able to help clarify the difference. :(

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
EricBluegrassFiddle
Members

Regulars
March 6, 2015 - 10:28 am
Member Since: August 18, 2014
Forum Posts: 183
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Fiddlerman said
I used to think that I knew the answer to that question but I really do not. The more I sell and test instruments and we sold over 2000 violin just in 2014, the more I realize that a violin is a commodity and no two sound alike just like Uzi said.
Some Strads are dark, deep and powerful and some Guarneri models are bright and brilliant. Obviously the same goes in reverse.
Sorry for not being able to help clarify the difference. :(

Well their may not be much to clarify...I mean I know that Guarneri style Violins have a larger lower bout and a diff f-hole design than Strads, but I guess unless we're comparing super high quality, expensive bench-made Violins, they say it's kinda really hard to tell them apart and their are no real hard and fast rules I guess.

I'm curious fiddlerman which pattern do you prefer or think lens to one or the other? In your opinion?

" I just keep telling myself...."It's all about becoming one with your bow"

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 6, 2015 - 11:06 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16535
11sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I lean more torwards the Guarneri patterns. More frequently than not, they are slightly darker sounding and appear to be quite powerful just the same. :)
But as I said earlier, it could be completely the opposite at times.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 77
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming fryserisnon8, Shell, Schaick, GlassTownCur, Violinista Italiano, VirginViolinist, CarolineNH, Cearbhael, JamesRSmithJr, SethroTull86, celeigh87
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8817
ABitRusty: 4302
Mad_Wed: 2849
Gordon Shumway: 2731
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
DanielB: 2379
stringy: 2364
Mark: 2272
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31779
Moderators: 0
Admins: 8
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 84
Topics: 10851
Posts: 137952
Newest Members:
joanie, hunmari01, lydia.vertu SP, Thavence SP, tcaron21, Ustiana SP, DennisRathbone SP, Dan, JoeCase, r0n
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16535, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, JoakimSimplePress: 0, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 6086